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Alpina B7 (E65 / E66)

The glory days of mad, turbocharged Alpina muscle seemed over and it was widely held that Alpinas were merely soft alternatives to BMW's in-house M cars. It was a fitting time then, that Alpina should introduce their mad, turbocharged 500-hp B7! Do you want power that will shame a 760Li in a chassis that weighs no more than the 745i's? Me too! This car is for us.

Alpina uses as its starting point the 745i, which weighs nearly 400lb less than its 12-cylinder brother, and achieves its power increase while keeping displacement constant. The extra power comes from a radial compressor that is being moved by a mechanical compressor over a belt that is connected to the crankshaft, thus creating 'half a turbo,' in Alpina's words. A separate valve, closed under light throttle to save fuel, regulates the air reaching the compressor. Got that? Me neither. But when it comes to technical mumbo-jumbo, trusting the Germans is probably a good idea!

Out on the road you'll notice the nice V8 sound accompanying the constant, lag-free acceleration, but not the smooth, imperceptible gear changes of the ZF 6-speed automatic. The imposing 21-inch wheels hold a lot of grip, and even with the traction control's rein on the 500 horses switched off, wheel-spin is minimal. Low profile ZR tires and a lowered suspension help the B7 conceal its 2 tons from the driver with precise and neutral handling worthy of a much smaller car. Best of all, the comfort and noise levels of the 7-series are preserved, despite the aggressive setup. It does everything right then, and that should come as no surprise. Alpinas were always this good! - by Traian Popescu

Specifications