When you are handed the keys to a test vehicle priced at $152,000, several things start running through your mind...

A: There are a lot of people living in this country whose home is worth less than that!

B: Does anyone really need to lay out that kind of money to transport themselves from A to B?

C: (the obvious) Do you think that they will notice if I don't return it?

Seriously though, that is a large chunk of change, by anyone's bank account, and yet, if I were totally honest, if I could afford it, I would be standing in the dealership today, cheque book in hand.

Now that is quite an admission for a journalist to make, especially considering the several other similarly-priced luxury sedans on offer in today's marketplace. However, in my opinion, there are few, if any, which can truly live up to this Bavarian beauty.

So what makes this particular car so special? Why would I, or anyone else for that matter, contemplate such a large financial outlay for what, at first glance, appears to be a nicely dressed 750i?

Well, looks can be deceiving! The Alpina Company, who has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with BMW, is well renowned for its subtle, understated "drivers' machines".

I can appreciate that philosophy, as I'm not really into the useless bling which we see on lots of cars today. No, I prefer what I might term "the sleeper". A vehicle which, without drawing too much attention to itself, could, if I so desired, wipe the smile off the face of pretty much any driver on the road!

Now before you all start writing in, complaining that I am promoting speeding or street racing, let me explain exactly what I mean by that.

Very few, and as the Alpina B7 is being sold in limited numbers, I do mean very few, will ever be able to fully experience the true performance of this vehicle. However, that is not really what this vehicle is all about. Ownership of an Alpina B7 can be summed up in one simple sentence. "If I wanted to, I could".

Alpina is a company that understands this line of thinking, which is why they build their cars predominately for the true BMW connoisseur.

Whilst most drivers may not guess close to the performance figures of this car, avid BMW fans will knowingly smile and simply say, "That's an Alpina B7, isn't it, Wow"!

In fact, to the average driver, it might well be difficult to distinguish the Alpina B7 from the base 750i model. The front spoiler is just a little deeper, with slightly larger air intakes. The lowered suspension combines with the 21-inch wheels to give the vehicle a tad more aggressive stance, and the rear has been decorated with a rather modest trunk lid spoiler.

All of the above is quite pleasant, but in order to begin to understand this vehicle, one needs to get down and take a look under the rear end, because they didn't put that super-wide rubber on there just for laughs and giggles!!! (285/30/21 Michelin Pilots)

Oh No! The B7 Alpina boasts of an incredible 500 bhp, and 516lb/ft of torque. In real life terms, this means that it can accelerate from a standing start to 100kph in 4.9 seconds, or roughly the same amount of time as it would take someone to put their signature on the purchase cheque.

Oh, and while we are on the subject of kph, if you allow it to fully stretch its legs, it will propel you, and four of your friends, to a top speed of 300kph!!!

Propel, now that's a nice word, and one which perfectly describes the acceleration characteristics of the Alpina B7.