There is a small circle of enthusiasts, people who enjoy getting behind the wheel themselves, who yearn for the sportiness provided in a smaller car, but don’t want to miss out on an automobile in this class. To achieve optimum agility and handling, ALPINA made a point of basing the B7 on the BMW 7 Series with V8 engine. The V8 offers the best jumping-off point in terms of dynamism, with an ideal 50/50 weight balance, also weighing around 150 kg less than the comparable V12 model
The B7 designation carries with long tradition, and has stood for charged engines at ALPINA since the late 1970s. The heart of the B7 is a 4.4 litre V8 engine that is charged through the use of a radial (Nautilus-type) compressor. The combination of Valvetronic and charging represents a premiere. Through the use of Valvetronic’s complete functionality, the charge is controlled by varying the valve opening depth and the boost pressure. This frees up the engine to a degree and provides better fuel economy at partial engine loads. The radial compressor is driven by a dedicated poly-V-belt, separate from the serpentine belts running other aggregates. At low rpm, a clutch de-couples the compressor from its drive-belt. The compressed air charge reaches the engine via an air-to-air intercooler. The EMITEC metallic catalytic converters are mounted quite close to the engine. In combination with secondary air induction, the EU4 standard is achieved
This charging helps the ALPINA engine generate impressive performance figures: 368 kW (500 bhp) at 5,500 rpm, and maximum torque of 700 Nm at 4,250 rpm. The result is excellent performance coupled with a saloon‘s unique comfort. The feeling of jet-engine acceleration reaches heights of around 300 kph, with 100 kph flashing by in under 5.5 seconds
The silhouette of the B7 is markedly more dynamic and graceful through the 21” ALPINA wheels and the rising wedge shape at the rear of the automobile, finishing harmoniously in a rear deck spoiler. With the help of the newly re-shaped ALPINA front valance and spoiler, the B7 achieves a coefficient of drag of only 0,31 in the BMW wind tunnel, helping to ensure stability at the highest speeds.
BMW S7 nice car but not many was sold..