30 Jul 04
People often say that numbers don't tell the whole story. When it comes to the Alpina B7's vital statistics, though - 500bhp and 516lb ft of torque - they're enough to fill a Tolkein trilogy. These figures are made all the more remarkable by the fact that they've been extracted from the 4.4-litre Valvetronic V8 unit from BMW's 745i, which produces a healthy (if less than spectacular) 333bhp in standard tune.
While the B7 unashamedly shares links to the V8-powered 7-Series, to call the machine a souped-up 745i would do Alpina a great disservice. The Bavarian firm has worked hard to establish itself as a marque in its own right, working closely with BMW. It has set up a dedicated factory in the village of Buchloe where the cars are redesigned, re-engineered and painstakingly assembled to the highest possible standards, largely by hand.
As you'd expect from a company renowned for its subtle, understated driver's machines, the B7's visual differences aren't over the top. The front spoiler is deeper, with larger air intakes, the side sills and lowered suspension combine with 21-inch alloys to give the car a more aggressive, ground-hugging stance, and the rear has been decorated with a minimalist lip spoiler. The latter is perhaps the most significant modification from an aesthetic point of view, as it gels nicely with the stepped bootlid to create a much more dynamic side profile. I'd even go as far as saying that it makes sense of the 7-Series controversial rear-end styling. Well, almost...
