BMW ALPINA B7 Reviews

"...the B7 will indulge your drifting fantasies until you tire of painting jet-black arcs on the pavement (we had to try). Brake-pedal feel is excellent, and the one-inch-larger brakes (from the Euro-spec 760i) resisted fading despite repeated 150-mph stops..."

"While the regular 7 Series is arguably the most entertaining full-size luxury sedan, Alpina's delicate touch has turned it into an even more adept canyon-carving weapon. Steering feel and response are practically telepathic for such a large car. Just eye a line and the B7 perfectly responds to your inputs."

"The ride is unexpectedly compliant considering those huge wheels, but there is an element of trust needed to push the B7's limits, as heavy steering and a general sense of isolation make it less involving than we might like, not instantly syncing the driver to the car?s capabilities as does a Porsche Boxster."

"Its jumpy throttle response can make daily driving a bit of a chore, though, as the supercharger can kick in with massive authority when you're not quite expecting it to."

"How's this for thrust? The B7 ties the Audi R8, which is 1100 pounds lighter, at 12.8 seconds through the quarter-mile, at which point the gargantuan Alpina starts pulling away. The 551-hp Bentley Flying Spur can?t keep up, and Audi?s 450-hp S8 is so much slower it?s hardly worth mentioning. To 60 mph and through the quarter, the B7 is within 0.2 second of the 510-hp, twin-turbo V-12 Mercedes S600, which means the Alpina will likely outrun the less torquey, naturally aspirated 518-hp 2008 Mercedes S63 AMG."

"The B7 ties the Audi R8, which is 1100 pounds lighter, at 12.8 seconds through the quarter-mile, at which point the gargantuan Alpina starts pulling away. "

"Warning to Corvette drivers: You will not be able to ditch the [Alpina B7s] already on the loose. "