Alpina E60 B5

Mayfair. 1 of 715. It's the BMW V8 4.4 as found in the E60, E63 and the early E65/6/7, but supercharged. Quite an interesting strategy, I gather, to go to eight cylinders instead of 10 or 12.

The engine in standard tune pushes out 333 bhp, but after a visit to Buchloe, delivers 500 bhp. In comparison to the V10 found in the M5, there are significant upsides in regards to economy and reduced mass. The car will take approximately 4.4 seconds to 60mph and 186mph with your foot all the way down, and when first release allowed Alpina to proclaim that it was the fastest production car in the world.

I'd choose this over the standard M5 personally but wouldn't opt for the rear boot spoiler (if that was possible). Another thing I like that Alpina does is to improve the exhaust note over the standard cars.

In March 2007, Alpina released the 'S' version that amongst other changes incorporated a power hike (500 to 530 bhp) and a totally new suspension system.