Auto News 5

Alpina debuted the new B7 sedan at this year’s Chicago auto show and the big news was the car’s availability in either short- or long-wheelbase configuration. The previous B7 was only available as a SWB car in the U.S. and ended up stepping on the M5’s toes as a result. With significant revisions to BMW's standard 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 that include new pistons, larger intercoolers, and increased boost pressure, the B7 was said to be good for a well-rounded 500 horsepower and a full 516 pound-feet of torque. Hook that type of power up to the B7's rear wheels and the improvements were good for 4.5-second 0 to 60 mph launches when the sun is shining and roads are dry. So what about when conditions aren't quite so good?inline_mediumwraptextright26744771/features/news/1003_2011_bmw_alpina_b7_xdrive2011-bmw-alpina-b7-front-three-quarter-1.jpgTrue

The full-size SUV market may be shrinking, but it's still an incredibly profitable piece of the pie for manufacturers with desirable products. So if you've got a platform to use (such as the Nissan Patrol sold overseas, for instance) it makes a lot of sense to add the requisite luxury features, re-skin it and charge a lot more for it. That's just what Infiniti did to create the 2011 Infiniti QX56 which is bowing at the 2010 New York show.inline_mediumwraptextright28617211/features/news/1003_2011_infiniti_qx562011-infiniti-QX56-front-three-quarter-view.jpgTrue