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As a BMW Alpina enthusiast, for me Alpina´s stand at the IAA is one of the most enjoyable. The people from Alpina are always very nice and service-minded and together with the amazing cars and the nice design of the stand, it oozes class. This year Alpina had five cars on display; B3 S Touring, B3 S Convertible, Roadster S (world-premiere), B7 and the B7 L as pictured above. The B7 had been shown one time before, at Geneva 2003, but not with final specifications and not in L-version. As I found the B7 to be an amazing car, I will begin this article with it so keep on reading.

The E65 7-series has received a lot of critisicm because of it´s looks. I didn´t like it at all when it first came out but after seeing it on the road I started to like it. Now I think it´s a nice car even though it may not be the most beautiful. But after seeing the B7 in real life, here at the IAA and at Alpina´s headquarters, I can say that Alpina´s modifications to the 7-series make it look great and it has huge presence. At front, Alpina have fitted a newly re-shaped front valance and spoiler as you can see on the pictures above. The spoiler-kit for the B7 have been developed in BMW´s wind tunnel and it´s primary function is of course to make the car as stable as possible at high speeds. The B7 has a drag coefficient of 0,31.

Since the B7 is based on the BMW 745i/Li it uses a modified version of the 4,4-litre V8-engine. The reason for choosing the V8-engine as a base instead of the V12 from the 760i/Li is that it saves around 150 kg in weight which make the car much more agile with better handling. The biggest difference from the standard engine is that Alpina´s version is supercharged. Here is what the brochure says about the engine:

"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."

At the Geneva show Alpina claimed that the engine produced 470 bhp and 650 NM of torque which made the B7 the most powerful road-car ever built by Alpina. But it turned out to be even more powerful. The B7 now has 500 bhp at 5500 rpm and a maximum torque of 700 NM at 4250 rpm. That is exactly the same as the Mercedes S55 AMG. Alpina haven´t published the final performance-figures yet but they claim that the B7 will accelerate from 0-100 km/h in under 5,5 seconds and have a top speed of around 300 km/h.

Here is a close-up of the supercharger. It is made by a company called ASA. The B7 has a 6-speed automatic gearbox with Alpina´s Switch-Tronic system. This engine will also be available in the E60 5-series and the E63 6-series. But because of the tighter engine-compartments of those cars, Alpina can´t just put the engine in there. So, we will have to wait around 18 months, from september 2003, for the development to be ready. That means Geneva 2005 or the IAA in 2005.

This is a B7 L which means it is based on the long-wheelsbase version of the 7-series. As you can see this car only has a striped front-spoiler but, of course, the Alpina deco-set is available as an no-cost option for the whole car, in either gold or silver.

This is the prototype B7 that was shown at the Geneva show. Here you can see the rear-spoiler that makes the car look much better IMO. Together with the modified light-ramp on the trunk it makes the rear of the car look much more harmonious than the standard 7-series. Alpina actually thought of design a new trunk but that would have been very expensive and I don´t think BMW would have appreciated it. This car is finished in Alpina-blue, one of two special Alpina colours, with gold stripes. At the two last IAA´s, 1999 and 2001, all Alpina cars have been finished in Alpina blue but this year two of the cars were in different colours.

The B7 looks very good from this angle, I think. The spoiler-kit, the 21" wheels and the lowered suspension transforms the 7-series into quite a looker.

Here is Mr. Alpina himself, Burkhard Bovensiepen, standing next to the B7 and talking to two gentlemens.

This is a nice detail that Alpina´s been using for a couple of years. The model-designation on the B-pillar. Notice the green stitching on the steering-wheel. This car also has chrome trim around the windows. The production B7´s will have high-gloss Shadow Line as standard, as seen on the B7 L.

The BMW Alpina B7 uses new instruments finished in traditional Alpina blue with red needles. Notice the blue stitching on the steering-wheel. As you may know Alpina´s colours is blue and green so the upper section of the steering-wheel has blue stitching and the lower part green. Looks very nice.

Here is the interior of the short wheelbase B7 that was on display. This is the same car that was on display at Geneva but one think has changed in the interior since then; the steering-wheel. Alpina have changed the steering-wheel to a 5-series style steering-wheel. The reason for this is that this one is smaller, 385 mm diameter, which according to Alpina made the steering feel better and that the buttons for the Switch-tronic is more comfortable to use. The steering-wheel is finished in Lavalina leather, which is very soft and feels great. The B7 has sport seats as standard finished in leather Pearl in Alpina design while the B7 L has the comfort seats finished in leather Nasca in Alpina design.

The two-tone middle-console, one side finsihed in black leather and the other one in champagne-coloured leather, is just something Alpina tried out on this prototype and will not be standard equipment. The wood-interior on the other hand is standard and is called "Luxury wood Alpina ´Curled maple´".

This interior is custom-made in ultra-soft Alpina Lavalina leather. As always, Alpina has succeeded in making an interior feel incredibly luxurious while still keeping that sporty touch. The price of this interior wasn´t decided at the time but it costs around 7000-10000 Euros. The rear I-drive is for controlling the TV that´s located between the front seats.

A truly beautiful door-panel. Alpina´s curled maple wood works great with the grey and white Lavalina leather with blue and green stitching.

The B7 comes equipped with special Alpina door-sills that says B7. Notice Alpina´s incredible attention to detail in this pic; not only the seats have piping in white but also the pockets at the back of the front seats have it.

The B7 L is extremely well equipped as standard. Here are the buttons for the electric sunblinds for the rear and side windows and of course the electric window.

This picture didn´t come out very well. Anyway, this is the production plaque which is fitted to all Alpina cars. This one says that this is BMW Alpina B7 L #001, the first one built. The base-price of the B7 L is 117000 Euro but this particular car costed around 145000 Euro. It is now sold to BMW Alpina Japan. The "standard" B7 costs 111000 Euro. The L-version has more standard equipment but both cars are really well equipped. CD-changer, glass sunroof, Navigation system Proffesional, PDC, Voice control system, Car telephone Professional, Xenon headlights and a lot more comes as standard. Alpina plans to sell around 200 B7´s a year.

There was actually another Alpina world-premiere at the IAA; the Alpina luggage set for the B7/E65 7-series. This is specially designed just for the E65 7-series and is made by extremely nice leather. The price will be around 7000 Euros.

This is the handle to one of the briefcases that´s included in Alpina´s luggage set. Notice the Alpina logo in gold at the top of the handle.

The BMW Z4 has been very successful since it´s introduction at the Paris Autoshow in 2002. But since BMW doesn´t offer any M-version of the Z4, yet anyway, the most powerful version is the Z4 3,0 with 231 bhp. That´s a very nice car with an incredible chassis that could easily handle more power. So Alpina had an golden opportunity to fill a segment in the market by offering a more powerful Z4 and it was shown here at the IAA 2003 for the first time; the BMW Alpina Roadster S. The Roadster S uses the same engine that´s been available in the B3 S for a while which means a 3,4 litre straight-six which produces 300 bhp at 6300 rpm and has a maximum torque of 362 NM at 4800 rpm with the rev-limiter set at 7200 rpm. It has a ZF six-speed gearbox, not the same as the B3 S uses.

Alpina claims the Roadster S can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 5,3 seconds, 0-1000 metres in 24,6 seconds and has a top speed of 265 km/h. But if you choose the optional hardtop the top-speed increases to 270 km/h.

The Roadster S has a new front spoiler and a new rear spoiler in typical Alpina-design. But they fit nicely to the design of the Z4. The wheels has the new so called Dynamic-design which also were fitted to the BMW Alpina Roadster V8. The wheels are 19" with 235/35 tires at front and 265/30 at rear. The classic Alpina wheels as in the previous picture are available as an option.

If you see this badge you will know that it´s no ordinary Z4. Actually this red Roadster S is #001.

The interior changes include a hand-sewn leather steering-wheel, door-sills in aluminium that says BMW Alpina Roadster, a new gear-knob, special Alpina carpets and the BMW sport seats are finished in leather with Alpina-design. The interior-lists on the dashboard, door-panels and the middle-console are finished in leather but also available in high-gloss as seen on this car.

Here are the new Alpina instruments fitted to the Roadster S. They are finished in traditional Alpina blue with red needles.

These seats are really nice to sit in with good support while also very comfortable. The Alpina logos in the back rests makes the interior look more exclusive.

I can´t imagine a much more beautiful estate than this; the BMW Alpina B3 S Touring. This one is finished in Alpina-blue with high-gloss shadowline and gold stripes. The B3 S has been on the market for a while so there´s nothing new with this car. It has a 3,4-litre straight-six with 305 bhp and 362 NM of torque and a Getrag 6-speed gearbox as standard. A 5-speed automatic with Switch-Tronic is also available. Alpina claims the B3 S Touring can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 5,8 seconds with a top-speed of 266 km/h. The base price for the B3 S Touring is EURO 50600. But the B3 S is also available in all different bodyshapes of the 3-series. The cheapest one is the saloon with a base-price of EURO 48800.

This particular car had an interior in ultra-soft Alpina Lavalina leather which made it feel very luxurious. Notice the floor-mats with leather edging in the same colour and that the steering-wheel has stitching in the same colour too. As standard the B3 S has Alpina cloth interior but you can specify almost anything you want.

All Alpina cars have the silver-plated production plaque as standard and this B3 S Touring is obviously the 66th car built.

Here´s lots of room for grocerys. Notice that the Alpina boot floot mat has leather edging in the same colour as the interior. A very nice touch!

The last car on the Alpina stand; the B3 S Convertible in Alpina-blue. This car has the same engine as the B3 S Touring as pictured above. A manual B3 S Convertible can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 5,8 seconds and has a top-speed of 264 km/h. With the 5-speed Switch-Tronic gearbox as fitted to this car, 0-100 km/h takes 6,6 seconds and the top-speed is 259 km/h. The base-price for the B3 S Convertible is EURO 54950.

The B3 S is discrete, sporty and elegant at the same time. Alpina´s changes include a front spoiler, which can be seen on the previous picture, the discrete rear-spoiler, the bigger exhaust pipes and of course the 18" wheels in classic Alpina design.

A nice detail on this car is that everything is painted in body-colour. As you see the whole mirror is painted, even the inner part of it that is usually black.

The interior in this car isn´t exactly to my taste but I wouldn´t mind owning this car anyway. It has blue Alcantara almost everywhere, even on the pockets on the back of the front seats. What´s not Alcantara is white leather.

An advantage of having Alcantara in a convertible is that it doesn´t get so hot in the sun. It also feels very good to sit in. Whatever you think of this interior you can´t blame the quality of the material or the work, just incredible.

Alpina showed some of their skills of working with leather and other materials at their stand. The parts on the table is for the red BMW Alpina Roadster S that had the high-gloss interior option.

Here is a better view of the sewing-machine with the B7 in the background. Notice the blue and green sewing-thread in the machine, it´s ready for some work!

After seeing and enjoying all the beautiful cars it can be nice to have something to drink and take it easy for a while. And what can be better than the Alpina bar?

Since the other part of Alpina´s business is importing wine and as they has germany´s biggest stock of high-quality wine we decided, of course, to order a glass of wine. As you probably expected, it tasted very good.

That´s all from Alpina for now. I really look forward to the IAA in 2005 where we hopefully will see the Alpina-versions of both the new 5- and 6-series. I can´t wait...