2013 BMW Alpina B7

Matt Davis — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, BMW, First Drives, Luxury

Alpina Makes Biggest Bimmer Act A Lot Like An M3

For the time being, BMW has left it up to close collaborator Alpina to create a turbocharged V8-powered rival for the Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG and Audi S8. We've been lucky enough to take a few spirited drives in Alpinafied BMWs on the no-limit Autobahns around the company's headquarters in Buchloe, Germany, over the years, and each experience has been solidly hair-raising.

Other than creating what may be the country's ultimate everyday Autobahn missiles, Alpina does wonders for the ride and handling of the BMW models they touch, along with providing impressively reworked transmission interfaces and improved overall responsiveness. In the case of this B7, Alpina turns the 7 Series into the best big Bimmer going.

In the niche of thundering bi-turbo V8 luxury sedans, only this 532-horsepower Alpina B7, 512-hp Audi S8 and the 536-hp Mercedes S63 AMG (563 horses, that is, with the $7,300 AMG Performance Package) really reach this particular level. The $139,625 Porsche Panamera Turbo and the $176,275 Turbo S are both fine rides, but they aren't traditional sedans, and their unusual aesthetics don't always appeal to the buttoned-down execs that buy traditional premium saloons.

It's not surprising that buying either the B7 Bimmer or the S63 Benz will likely set you back some $140,000 to $145,000 once they are spec'd exactly the way you'd want 'em (the SWB-only Audi is a bit cheaper, at about $124k happily optioned). Base price for the Alpina B7 short wheelbase is $127,600 or $131,500 for the long wheelbase model, with a further $3,000 premium for xDrive. Following these, as a curveball, there's the 503-hp Jaguar XJ/XJL Supersport at around $126,000. The US comes closest with its Chrysler 300 SRT8 at 465 hp and a price of $60,000 tops in your driveway. It's like two separate worlds.

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2013 BMW Alpina B7 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW reveals Alpina B7 upgrades for 2013

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 14:14:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, BMW, Luxury

We've already read about the new features that will be available on the refreshed 2013 BMW 7 Series, but now, the German automaker has spilled the beans about its delicious Alpina B7, as well.

As you'd expect, the B7's 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 has been massaged for the new model year (including the addition of start/stop), and drivers will now be able to enjoy 540 horsepower and 538 pound-feet of torque - increases of 40 and 22, respectively. All of this runs through a new eight-speed automatic transmission and can be sent to the ground via standard rear-wheel drive or through BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system. BMW says that depending on drive configuration and wheelbase length, the sprint to 60 miles per hour can be achieved in either 4.3 or 4.4 seconds.

The slight visual enhancement to the 2013 7 Series is indeed noticeable here on the Alpina B7, with the larger kidney grille up front flanked by redesigned headlamps. Revised taillamps are found out back, and of course, the B7 is offered in its signature Alpina Blue Metallic rounded off with the car's signature 21-inch, 20-spoke wheels at all four corners.

BMW will officially debut the 2013 Alpina B7 at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in August. Short-wheelbase models will be priced at $127,600 (rear-wheel drive) and $130,600 (xDrive), with long-wheelbase B7s retailing for $131,500 and $134,500, respectively. Scroll down for the full details in BMW's press blast.

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BMW reveals Alpina B7 upgrades for 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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