B7 Supercharged

STORY

The B7 has long been Alpina's 7-Series flagship, and the E65 generation of 2003-2008 marked a technical milestone: it was the first Alpina to use forced induction of the supercharged kind. A centrifugal supercharger on BMW's 4.4-litre V8 lifted output to 500 PS and 700 Nm, enough for 0-100 km/h in about 4.8 seconds and a top speed near 300 km/h, and independent testers recorded even more.

Unveiled at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show, the B7 offered a discreet, luxury-first alternative to a hot 7-Series, reaching North America in 2007. Later B7 generations (F01/F02, then G11/G12) switched to twin-turbocharged N63-family V8s, ultimately making over 600 PS while keeping the signature Alpina calm: soft-riding, torque-rich and trimmed in Lavalina leather.

Across its generations the B7 defined the Alpina idea of a super-limousine, as fast as any rival super-saloon yet built to waft rather than attack.