Alpina B7 defies physics as a 194-mph cruiser: Motoramic Drives

As luxury flagships increase in amenities and consequently weight, they alienate those who relish getting behind the wheel rather than being chauffeured to the next cocktail party. Such is the case with the Audi A8L, which lumbers through the bends compared to the previous generation, and the massive 2013 BMW 7 Series. Thankfully, for the latter there's the BMW Alpina B7.

One editor at the BMW event in Monterey aptly described the refreshed Alpina B7 as a car that secret agents drive. Like the BMW M5 snaking through the urban landscape in the movie "Ronin," the Alpina saloon can drive with dignified restraint or with track-tuned fervor—achieving what the standard 7 Series could not. In the 750i the Comfort Plus mode punishes the driver with tepid throttle response and a detached steering feel; with the B7 it's creamy smooth without sacrificing drivability. And although the B7 isn't supposed to be as amped and frenetic as an M vehicle, on the track it feels as agile as the 2013 BMW M5. It's also a bona fide Bahn Burner—with a mammoth 540 hp on tap (6 more than the 760i) it briskly picks up speed in spite of its 4,655-lb. curb weight. And whereas the chassis in the factory 7 Series feels a bit unsettled, the Alpina B7 encourages you to go faster with its stout chassis—up to a blazing 194 mph. That's supercar territory.