Autoblog

America, these are your top 10 most expensive cars to own

Zach Bowman — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Performance, Etc., Audi, BMW, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Earnings/Financials, Luxury

Picking up a used luxury car is a great way to save some coin. Letting the previous owner take the fall on depreciation is a smart move, but it's worth remembering that high-end autos carry with them high-end maintenance and repair costs. Using Edmunds.com data, 24/7 Wall Street has compiled what it says are the 10 most expensive vehicles to own, and the list is populated by some not-so-surprising names. BMW and Mercedes-Benz soak up the lion's share of the offenders, though other manufactures make a showing as well. Perhaps not surprisingly, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG takes top honors as the most expensive of them all with a "true cost of ownership" of $245,469. That's in addition to the gullwing supercar's $210,875 MSRP.

The calculations not only factor in deprecation, but also things like fuel, maintenance and insurance costs.

All told, Mercedes-Benz models takes four of the 10 spots on the list. That's twice as many as BMW, and the rest are split between makes like Land Rover, Audi and Nissan. If that last one seems a bit out of place, keep in mind Nissan makes the mighty (and mighty complex) GT-R. Check out our gallery below for a full list of the biggest offenders.

America, these are your top 10 most expensive cars to own originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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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2011 Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo - Full details and images

Zach Bowman — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:01:00 EST

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

2011 Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo - Click above for high-res image gallery

Alpina has finally graced the world with a handful of images and all of the gritty details about the all-new 2011 B5 Bi-Turbo after its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The company has managed to bless the BMW 5 Series with a mythic 507 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. How, you ask? The B5 makes use of the same twin-turbo, all aluminum V8 found in the car's big brother, the B7. That means that there's a full 4.4-liters of displacement sucking down 1 bar of pressure for the two turbos under the hood. Sounds like a party.

The eight-pot is bolted to an eight-speed automatic transmission that Alpina co-developed with the gear-swapping gurus at ZF. If the mood strikes you, the driver can click through the gears via buttons mounted on the back side of the steering wheel, though given the massive amount of work Alpina put into the transmission, odds are you're better off letting the car do the work for you.

There's also a completely reworked suspension on board that includes slightly shorter springs and unique control arms that help eek a little more camber out of the front wheels. Combined with the electronically adjustable suspension, the company claims to provide an altogether sharper driving experience. Speaking of wheels, Alpina has equipped the B5 Bi-Turbo with a set of the company's epic 20-inch rollers. Check out the gallery of high-res images below and then click past the jump for the granddaddy of a press blast.

Gallery: Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo

[Source: Alpina]

Continue reading 2011 Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo - Full details and images

2011 Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo - Full details and images originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2011 BMW Alpina B7 breaks the luxo-barge mold

Rex Roy — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:58:00 EST

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

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

Alpina is as familiar to German enthusiasts as Shelby, Hurst, Saleen and Yenko are to American gearheads. And like its American counterparts, Alpina has made a business out of taking the best vehicles from one marque and making them substantially better than anything rolling off the assembly line.

The relationship between BMW and Alpina started in 1962 when a German enthusiast named Burkard Bovenseipen realized his BMW 1500 had plenty of untapped potential. Bovenseipen developed a dual carburetor kit for the 1500's four-cylinder, and as the carbs flew off the shelves, he realized there was a serious market for BMW-based performance parts. Mr. B formed ALPINA Burkard Bovenseipen KG in 1964 and in the decades since, the company has become known simply as Alpina.

But while the name has changed, its mission remains the same, and its line of upgrades have grown considerably since its inception. Bovenseipen's team continues to recognize the potential in almost every new BMW product, and the small but competent company, now managed by Bovenseipen's son Andreas (his staff calls him Andy), delivers better, less compromised, higher-performance versions of BMW production cars.

In Europe, Alpina offers variants of the 3 Series, 5 Series and 6 Series, dubbed the B3, B5, and B6, respectively. However, production constraints (and some concerns about M cannibalization, we're sure) prevents sales of these hotted-up Bimmers in the States. That's a crime, because the Alpina B7 - the only Alpina available in the U.S. - is easily the best 7 Series we've driven.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 BMW Alpina B7

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 BMW Alpina B7 breaks the luxo-barge mold

First Drive: 2011 BMW Alpina B7 breaks the luxo-barge mold originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 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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Tokyo 2009: Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo LWB is longer, and therefore better

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:40:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, Tokyo Motor Show, BMW, Luxury

Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo Long Wheelbase - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo long wheelbase revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show today doesn't add anything to the less well-endowed Alpina B7 we saw at Geneva except length, but isn't that enough? The double-turbo'd 4.4-liter V8 brings 507 romping horsepower and 516 lb-ft. of torque - all of which is enough to get the white whale to sixty in 4.8 seconds.

Alpina's custom 21-inchers support an interior package touched up with the tuner's logo throughout. Our only cause for pause: the much larger steering wheel; the smaller diameter unit in the regular BMW helps to make the execu-barge a hoot to throw around a track. See it all for yourself in the gallery of high-res images below.

Gallery: Tokyo 2009: Alpina B7 Long Wheelbase

Tokyo 2009: Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo LWB is longer, and therefore better originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2009: An M7 by any other name - 2009 BMW Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo

Noah Joseph — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:19:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, BMW

Click above for high-res gallery of the BMW Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo

All indications are that BMW won't, in the end, be producing an M7 based on its new-generation F01 7 Series. That would've been cool, but before the Mercedes S63 AMG and Audi S8 can breathe a sigh of relief, Bavaria's pseudo-factory partner Alpina has something to say about it, and this is what it spake: the B7 Bi-Turbo - a BMW 7 Series with an attitude. At its heart is a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8, which produces 507 horsepower thanks to larger-vane turbos and a new intercooler, driving through a retuned Switch-Tronic ZF six-speed automatic transmission, and a recalibrated suspension designed to optimize the balance between supercar control and luxury sedan comfort. 4.7 seconds is all it takes to hustle to 60 mph, while custom 21-inch rims riding on conventional rubber replace the stock run-flats and a bespoke leather and wood interior round out the package. You can read more about in the press release after the jump and view all its angles in the gallery below.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: BMW Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo

Continue reading Geneva 2009: An M7 by any other name - 2009 BMW Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo

Geneva 2009: An M7 by any other name - 2009 BMW Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: BMW Alpina B7 caught in traffic ahead of Geneva debut

Noah Joseph — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:57:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Spy Photos, Tuners, Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, BMW

Controversial BMW designer Chris Bangle may be out of the picture, but Bimmer's new 7-Series still bears his hallmarks. That aside, the new F01-generation holds much promise, with the possibility of a seemingly endless succession of performance variants speeding down the autobahn in hot pursuit.

Rumors of an M7 may turn out to be unfounded, although a V12 version looks to be on the way. But not before pseudo-works tuning house Alpina lays their new B7 on us. The high-performance luxury sedan is tipped to bow next month at the Geneva show, but an undisguised prototype has just been spotted on German streets.

Following the teaser sketch released by Alpina back in December, this is the most we've seen of the upcoming bahn-stormer. Visible mods to the standard 7 remain low-key on the Alpina version, but the spy shots show small lip spoilers on the lower fascia and on the trunk lid, rounded out by bigger wheels. But the real treat will come under the hood, where Alpina's performance gurus are thought to have pulled 500 juicy horsepower out of the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8. Thanks to Andrus for the tip!

[Source: GlobalMotors.net]

Spy Shots: BMW Alpina B7 caught in traffic ahead of Geneva debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alpina to debut B6 GT3 and B7 at Geneva show

Noah Joseph — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Geneva Motor Show, BMW

Click above to view the Alpina B6 GT3 in high-resolution

BMW may have its own tuning division that carries its vaunted M badge, but Alpina enjoys a close relationship of its own with the Bavarian automaker. Alpina's tuner cars are built right off the BMW assembly line and available directly through BMW dealerships. One of the largest tuner firms in the industry, Alpina is preparing to debut two of its newest offerings at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March.

First up to bat is the B6 GT3, the racer with which Alpina has returned to motorsport competition after a 20-year absence. Those details have already been released, but joining the race-tuned 6 Series is tipped to be the new B7, Alpina's take on the latest F01-generation BMW 7 Series sedan that's anticipated to pull over 500 horsepower out of its centrifugal-supercharged 4.4-liter V8. So far, all we've seen is a teaser sketch and a raft of speculation on the supercharged 7, but we'll be looking forward to getting more solid information as we get closer to the Swiss show in the coming weeks..

[Source: topcarblog.ch]

Alpina to debut B6 GT3 and B7 at Geneva show originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alpina teases with sketch of next B7 sedan

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Tuners, Sedan, BMW, Specialty

This is a sketch of the coming Alpina B7, to be based on the new BMW 750i. Outside, there won't be much happening -- nor necessary -- beyond Alpina's new front lip, rear wing and trademark wheels. Inside, Alpina might have some minor cluster mods in store, but we wouldn't expect too much change there, either. As with the 2007 B7 and its 500 hp and 4.8-second 0-60 time, we figure the engine and suspension will be heavily redressed on this next version. Alpina could opt for the centrifugal supercharger routine again, but whatever they do will surely put healthy distance between the B7 and the 400 hp of the donor car's 4.4-liter V8. The B7 might also get BMW's rumored 8-speed transmission. It will definitely get a stratospheric price tag.

[Source: Next Autos]

Alpina teases with sketch of next B7 sedan originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2007 Chicago Auto Show: BMW Alpina B7 - An M7 in all but name

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Sedan, BMW

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

They finally brought it out, so we covered it. Actually, we shouldn't sound so aloof. After announcing the BMW Alpina B7 way back in February of 2006, the Bavarians finally decided to show us the production version here in Chicago. And although it wasn't much of a revelation, it WAS a rather impressive vehicle in person. As we just told you last week, it's basically an M7 in all but name. The slightly streamlined 7-series adds the not-so-subtle Alpina classic rims (all 21 inches of them), a revised dash with a unique cluster, and the signature Alpina front and rear aero aids. Oh, and that supercharger underhood helps this particular V8 pump out 500 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. Channeled through an Alpine refined version of the 6-speed auto tranny, that's good enough for a 0-60 sprint of 4.8 seconds and a VMAX of 186 mph. All for a starting price of $115,695. That's a full 40 large over a standard run-of-the-mill short wheelbase 7-series, but with only 200 of the B7s coming to these shores, it's likely they won't have any problem moving them. Original press release can be found after the jump.

Gallery: BMW Alpina B7

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading 2007 Chicago Auto Show: BMW Alpina B7 - An M7 in all but name

2007 Chicago Auto Show: BMW Alpina B7 - An M7 in all but name originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Feb 2007 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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