Six model generations (photo gallery)
- E23 -
BMW ALPINA B8 3.2/B9 3.5
Burkard Bovensiepen and then chief engineer Dr Fritz Indra already came up with a comprehensive package of ALPINA redesigns for the very first BMW 7 series (E23), which was launched on the market in 1977. The 240 hp injection engine of the BMW ALPINA B8 3.2 with specially forged pistons, ALPINA exhaust system and ALPINA chassis including Bilstein dampers made the ALPINA version of the first BMW 7 series the flagship of the portfolio at that time with a top speed of over 225 km/h. In a second development phase (BMW ALPINA B9 3.5), the straight-six engine actually provided 245 hp and 320 Nm of torque.
- E32 -
BMW ALPINA B11 3.5
The BMW ALPINA B11 3.5 is based on the BMW 735i (E32). B11 stands for engine type B, so for a 3.5-litre straight-six engine with chain-driven crankshaft in the eleventh development phase. Initially, the BMW ALPINA B11 was available with or without catalytic converter, with power of 240 hp for the variant with catalytic converter or 250 hp for the variant without. From the end of 1987, the power was increased to 254 hp. Between 1987 and 1993, 332 units of the BMW ALPINA B11 3.5 were produced in Buchloe.
BMW ALPINA B11 4.0
A real rarity: the models produced by ALPINA on the basis of the BMW 740i between 1993 and 1994 enjoy a high scarcity value. Only seven automobiles were fitted with the so-called F1 engine, a 4.0-litre V8 engine.
BMW ALPINA B12 5.0
The ALPINA B12 5.0 is based on the then top model of the BMW 7 series, the 750i, and hit the market in July 1988. As well as a significant increase in power to 350 hp, the BMW ALPINA B12 5.0 with V12 engine offered a top speed of over 275 km/h and even more precise handling. Production of the BMW ALPINA B12 5.0 ended in January 1994, with 305 units produced in total.
- E38 -
BMW ALPINA B12 5.7 E-KAT
SUPER-CAT: ALPINA was the first automobile manufacturer in the world to introduce an electrically-heated metal catalytic converter, the SUPER-CAT, as standard, in the BMW ALPINA B12 5.7 E-KAT. With this completely new emissions control technology, it was possible to undercut the 1996 European emission standard by 80 % with regard to HC, NOx and CO. Between 1995 and 1998, 202 units of the BMW ALPINA B12 5.7 E-KAT were produced.
BMW ALPINA B12 6.0 E-KAT
The second stage of the BMW ALPINA B12 E-KAT had a 12-cylinder engine with 6.0 litres of displacement. This gave the top model nominal power of 430 hp and provided 600 Nm of torque. In total, 94 units of the B12 6.0 were produced up to 2001, with 23 of these being the long version.
- E65 / E66 -
BMW ALPINA B7
This was the first BMW ALPINA to include the number 7 in its name as a reference to the BMW 7 series. After a long development time, ALPINA launched the BMW ALPINA B7 in 2004 – almost three years after production of the B12 6.0 E-KAT ended. What made the new drivetrain special was its mechanically driven radial compressor. Performance-wise, it boasted power of 500 hp and a torque of 700 Nm. The BMW ALPINA B7 was the first non-limited ALPINA model to be launched on the American market. The start of a success story.
- F01 / F02 -
BMW ALPINA B7 Bi-Turbo
In 2009, ALPINA launched the BMW ALPINA B7 Bi-Turbo based on the BMW 750(L)i. The powerful and high-torque V8 Bi-Turbo drive was also available for the first time with an all-wheel system from 2010 – for even more traction in all driving situations. The US market became increasingly important. Even before the facelift, almost 1,000 of the BMW ALPINA B7 Bi-Turbo were shipped to the United States.
BMW ALPINA B7 Bi-Turbo
The name affix “Bi-Turbo” also promised a powerful, high-torque start to the second evolutionary stage of the B7. The power of 540 hp and 730 Nm of torque are transmitted to the road via an 8-speed sports automatic transmission with ALPINA SWITCH-TRONIC. Production ended in 2015. Over its lifetime, a total of 1,999 models of the BMW ALPINA B7 Bi-Turbo were produced on the basis of the BMW F01/F02 series.
- G12 -
BMW ALPINA B7 Bi-Turbo
The latest model generation based on the BMW 7 series was exclusively available as a long version at ALPINA. The twin turbocharged, 4.4-litre V8 engine with a high torque of 800 Nm delivers outstanding driving performance. The flagship of the ALPINA model portfolio reaches its top speed at 330 km/h. In 2018, an exclusive special series of the model, the BMW ALPINA B7 CANADA Edition, was produced for the North American market. It was limited to just 21 units.
BMW ALPINA B7
Further optimisations to the drive meant the maximum torque of 800 Nm was available from just 2,000 rpm. A benchmark in this segment! Over 2,000 BMW ALPINA B7 automobiles were produced on the basis of the G12 series between 2016 and 2022, around 1,750 of which were shipped to North America..