The Alpina b7 has been an iconic performance car since it was first introduced in the end-1970s. The B7 Turbo was the world`s fastest car when it was introduced at the IAA 1978. It`s still very fast by today`s standards. In Motor und Sport`s test, the B7 accelerated from 0-100 km/h in 6.1 seconds, 0-160 km/h in 13.8, 0-200 km/h in 23.6 and a top speed of 250 km/h. Between December 1978 and February 1982 a total of 149 cars were made.
The E28 5 series had many Alpina models, with the B7 Turbo/3 taking a unique place. This was the last Alpina to be built on this second 5 series generation, manufactured between July 1985 and December 1987.
The Alpina B7 Turbo/3 was based on the 535i model, and its engine type was the B7/3, which was a 6-cylinder inline architecture with a total displacement of 3,430 cm3. The Alpina B7 Turbo/3 had a turbocharged engine that produced 235 kw / 320 ps (316 hp) and 520 Nm (384 lb-ft) of peak torque. It could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds and had a top speed of 262 km/h.
4-litre V8 featured in the BMW 745i, as the 750i and its 4.8-litre engine were not available when development began. As an alternative, the 6.0-litre V12 of the 760Li was deemed too heavy to offer a sporty offshoot, leading to 2011 Alpina B7’s twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 and 6-speed automatic transmission being utilized instead. The Alpina B7 is both faster and more cost effective than its F01 sibling, the 2010 BMW 760Li which utilises a twin turbo 6.0 litre V12 mated to an 8 speed automatic transmission. The B7’s motor, derived from BMW’s N63 series, has comparable fuel economy levels to that of the BMW 750i despite improved performance; additionally its lighter weight than that of the 760Li’s V12 engine gives it much better weight distribution and handling than that of its heavier sibling.
BMW of North America, LLC offered 800 Alpina B7s as limited edition models for 2007 and 2008, which all quickly sold out.
The F01 B7 became available for the 2011 model year in the United States in four configurations: B7, B7 L (long wheelbase), B7 xDrive (all wheel drive) and B7 L xDrive.
The B7 is powered by a 4.4-litre V8 engine assembled by hand at Alpina’s facility in Buchloe, Germany and shipped to BMW for installation. It produces more torque and horsepower than a stock BMW 750i, but with some turbo lag due to the larger turbos.
For the 2013 model year, the Alpina B7 received a series of updates comparable to those seen in other 7 series models, including a 8-speed automatic transmission. The engine on this model has been equipped with Valvetronic to produce 540 hp and 538 lb-ft of torque — an impressive amount that allows it to accelerate from 0–100 km/h in 4.3 seconds and reach a maximum speed of 300 km/h. In comparison to BMW M’s 4.4l twin-turbo motor (as found in the f10 BMW M5), Alpina’s engine offers 20hp less but more torque at lower rpm ranges; thus, handling on the 2013 Alpina B7 surpasses that of BMW’s own 760Li V12 performance vehicle.
The fifth-generation Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo, based on the BMW 7 series (G12), was unveiled at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. Building on from the F01 model, G11 incorporated carbon core technology involving carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic in its chassis for increased durability and a lighter frame. This model also marked the last time a V12 engine was featured, with an exclusive M760i xDrive available only to those who had prior ownership of V12s. The Alpina B7 has now been upgraded to include 600 horsepower and standard xDrive, with hybrid models in both four-cylinder and six-cylinder variants. This paved the way for BMW’s upcoming i7 electric car.
