2019 BMW ALPINA B7

High-performance large luxury sedans are a special breed, pairing extremes of both acceleration and refinement in the hunt for ultimate exclusivity. Even in this small, rigorously competitive group of vehicles, the 2019 BMW Alpina B7 is a standout.

The B7 starts as a BMW 7 Series. From there, Alpina, a German company that's closely aligned with the automaker, applies its special sauce. Changes range from modification of the engine and suspension to revised bodywork and unique colors and interior layouts. This all-wheel-drive sedan also sports 600 horsepower. In our testing, it rocketed from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds. Keep your foot in it and BMW says the B7 will top out at 193 mph.

Speed is a mere bonus, though, as the B7's focus is primarily on driving comfort and finesse. Its front seats are among the most comfortable and supportive you'll find, for instance, and this big sedan is also one of a few that can be ordered with rear-seat upgrades that include a reclining function and a footrest.

There are a few sedans that provide similar levels of opulence and performance, with the Audi S8 and the Mercedes-AMG S63 being the most obvious competitors. They're all great, of course, yet B7's rarity makes it a more exclusive choice.

The 2019 BMW Alpina B7 is available in one highly equipped trim level. There's only one engine choice, and it's a good one: a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 that produces 600 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive are standard.

As you might expect, the B7 packs many standard features. They include an adaptive air suspension that can raise the vehicle for greater ground clearance or lower it for high-speed aerodynamics. Rear-wheel steering is standard, improving both low-speed nimbleness and high-speed stability. Perhaps the most interesting piece of technology is the Active Comfort Drive with Road Preview system, which uses cameras to watch the road ahead and adjusts the suspension in anticipation of bumps.

Alpina-specific exterior features include specially styled bumpers, quad exhaust finishers, a rear spoiler and 20-inch wheels. Other standard exterior equipment consists of LED headlights with auto high beams, heated and power-folding side mirrors, soft-close doors, parking sensors, a rearview camera, automatic wipers and hands-free trunk operation.

The interior boasts 20-way power-adjustable front seats (with heating, ventilation and massage), premium leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, BMW's iDrive interface with a 10.2-inch display, a head-up display, adjustable ambiance lighting, a power-adjustable steering wheel, four-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof and power side window shades.

Other technology features include a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a one-year subscription of Apple CarPlay support, wireless phone charging, an in-car Wi-Fi hotspot, a large key fob with an LCD touchscreen, a surround-view parking camera system, and automated parallel and perpendicular parking.

Standard active safety and driver assistance features include blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning and mitigation, lane departure warning and speed limit information. An optional Driving Assistance Plus package adds lane departure intervention and adaptive cruise control.

The Luxury Rear Seating package installs extra-plush seats with ventilation and massage function, heated armrests, and a 7-inch tablet to control vehicle functions. The Rear Executive Lounge Seating package adds a reclining rear seat and footrest, rear-seat entertainment, and a table that folds out from the center console. This package also removes the rear center seat along with the front-passenger seat massage, side bolster, lumbar and headrest adjustments.

Stand-alone options include an Ambient Air package that infuses the climate control with various scents, a 16-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround-sound system, a system that allows you to park the car using only the key fob, and a night-vision camera.

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the BMW Alpina B7 (turbo 4.4L V8 | 8-speed automatic | AWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2017, the current Alpina B7 has received some revisions, including the addition of a subscription-based Apple CarPlay support system and active safety and driver assistance features. Our findings remain applicable to this year's Alpina B7.