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Review: 2011 BMW Alpina B7

Michael Harley — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, BMW, New Car Reviews, Luxury

Alpina Delivers Its Best Impression Of An M7

2011 BMW Alpina B7 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Try as it might, the BMW M3 Coupe can't lose the Alpina B7. The two of us are an unlikely automotive pair, playing cat-and-mouse on one long road to nowhere deep in the reaches of an unincorporated area of the California coastal mountains. The air is cool and the canyons are mostly quiet. Only the sound of two wailing V8s breaks the silence.

While the M3 dives into the corners with confidence, the B7 launches out with ferocious conviction. The M3 pulls energetically on the short straights, but the B7 puts its power down with resolve and steadily reels the smaller coupe back in. Even mid-corner, when the M3 is in perfect step, the B7 clenches a slightly wider line but still holds its ground.

We've been at this game for more than an hour, and neither of us is willing to raise a white flag. Only the illumination of the low fuel light in the smaller coupe has us calling it quits. Want to learn what it takes to harass an M3 owner?

Continue reading...

Gallery: 2011 BMW Alpina B7: Review

Continue reading Review: 2011 BMW Alpina B7

Review: 2011 BMW Alpina B7 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All-wheel-drive BMW Alpina B7 xDrive slated for New York debut

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, BMW, Luxury

2011 BMW Alpina B7 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Even though BMW recently unveiled the hot new Alpina B7 at this year's Chicago Auto Show, the fun won't stopped there. At next week's New York Auto Show, Ze Germans will debut a second iteration of the B7, equipped with BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system.

Like the standard Alpina package, the B7 xDrive will be available on both the short- and long-wheelbase 7 Series. Official pricing hasn't been released, but based on the non-Alpina 7 Series models, adding xDrive to the B7 should add roughly $3,000 to the sticker. BMW's press release is available after the jump, and stay tuned for the full details from the New York show floor next week.

Gallery: 2011 BMW Alpina B7

Gallery: 2011 BMW Alpina B7 at Chicago Auto Show

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading All-wheel-drive BMW Alpina B7 xDrive slated for New York debut

All-wheel-drive BMW Alpina B7 xDrive slated for New York debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chicago 2010: BMW ends three year Alpina B7 drought for 2011

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Sedan, Performance, BMW, Luxury

2011 BMW Aplina B7 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Not only will BMW not make an M7, but they even stopped making the incredibly-close-to-an-M Alpina B7 a few years ago. That car could hold its head high against competitors like the Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG, Audi S8 and Bentley Flying Spur Speed, with extra horsepower, refined handling and unique looks setting it apart from standard 7 series fare. Sadly, that car was only produced from 2007-2008 and since '09 there's been nothing to fill the void.

Today in Chicago we saw a bright light on the horizon. Just in time to do battle with the upcoming Jaguar XJR, Porsche Panamera Turbo and the like, BMW unveiled the 2011 Alpina B7. Functional front and rear fascias and spoilers, 20-spoke, 21-inch Alpina wheels, hand-stitched "Lavalina" leather and Alpina badges and sills differentiate this from lesser 7s.

Underhood there's a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 500 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque - 100 hp and 66 lb-ft better than the 750i, with a 0-60 dash of 4.5 seconds. Available in short wheelbase for $122,875 or extended wheelbase at $126,775, it's a helluva car for helluva lot scratch. Press release after the jump and live gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 BMW Alpina B7

Live photos copyright (C)2010 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: BMW]

Continue reading Chicago 2010: BMW ends three year Alpina B7 drought for 2011

Chicago 2010: BMW ends three year Alpina B7 drought for 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 BMW Alpina B7 comes in two spicy, pricy flavors

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Europe, BMW, Luxury

2011 BMW Alpina B7 - click above for high-res image gallery

Problem: BMW will not make a M7. Despite making the M5 Wagon and the X6 M, the boys from Bavaria want no part of the Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG, S65 AMG, Audi S8, (soon) Jaguar XJR, Porsche Panamera Turbo or Bentley Flying Spur Speed market. Odd, yes, especially from the company that discovered a new segment between the 5 Series wagon and the X5. Anyhow, no M7 for you.

Solution: the Alpina B7, as its an M7 in everything but name. Some of you might want to argue the point that no way is the Alpina B7 good enough to wear a vaunted M badge. To which we say... you might have a point. So think of it as the 750CSI. Either way, this here new Alpina B7 is going to be a pretty worthy competitor to all them big, fancy super sedans up above. Here's why.

From the outside the changes include front and rear fascias and spoilers that not only set the B7 apart from lesser 7 Series but are functional. The front spoiler provides 30% more downforce while the rear tacks on an additional 15%. Not only that, but the front spoiler provides specific cooling to new transmission and oil coolers. Also impossible to miss are the 20-spoke, 21-inch Alpina wheels. Inside nearly every surface gets covered with hand-stitched "Lavalina" leather (whatever that might be) and Alpina badges. The areas not swathed in Lavalina get treated with Alcantara. There's also a heated steering wheel and illuminated blue Aplina door sills.

Of course, what's underneath matters most. Specifically the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 gets pumped up to 500 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque (as opposed to the 750i's 400 hp and 450 pounds of twist). The press release notes that all that torque is, "available across an unusually broad engine range, from 3,000 to 4,750 rpm," which is either wool-over-the-eyes PR hype, or a typo. We'll go with typo, as the regular strength 750i makes its 450 pound-feet from 1,800 to 4,500 rpm. Either way, the Alpina B7 can hit 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. And now, the kicker: the short wheelbase B7 costs $122,875 and the extended wheelbase B7 will set you back $126,775. Both prices are before the $875 destination fee. Press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 BMW Alpina B7

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading 2011 BMW Alpina B7 comes in two spicy, pricy flavors

2011 BMW Alpina B7 comes in two spicy, pricy flavors originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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