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

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