- Alpina enhanced V8-powered BMW 7 Series
- 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds, top speed of 205 mph
- Exclusive performance and design upgrades
- Executive sedan on sale in third quarter
- New 2020 Alpina B7 will be priced from $141,700
BMW today unveiled the 2020 Alpina B7 xDrive sedan, the latest version of its flagship 7 Series sedan that has been massaged by longtime BMW collaborator Alpina.
As with the BMW 750i, the B7 uses the German luxury automaker’s 4.4-liter turbocharged V8. But where the 750i makes 443 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque, the new Alpina B7 is tuned to make 600 horsepower and 590 units of twist. At those figures, the 2020 Alpina B7 nearly equals the outputs of the V12-powered M760i, which makes 601 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque.
Built for performance as much as it is luxury, the third-generation B7 is the fastest of the 7 Series lineup. The new BMW Alpina B7 does 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. That beats the V12-powered 7 Series’ time of 3.6 seconds, and makes even the 750i’s 4.3-second time look slow. Furthermore, BMW says the new Alpina B7 will hit a top speed of 205 mph. That would be a sight to behold on Germany’s famed autobahns.
As with the 750i xDrive, the Alpina B7 is all-wheel drive (AWD), and power is transmitted through an 8-speed automatic transmission. Both the AWD system and transmission have been tweaked by Alpina for greater performance. Standard integral active sport steering, meanwhile, allows the rear wheels to turn, thereby making BMW’s largest sedan corner better and have tighter maneuvering.
The performance upgrades also extend to the brakes, exhaust and wheels, which are 20-inches in size and wrapped in Michelin performance rubber. Optional are even larger 21-inch Alpina Classic wheels. With the Alpina Sport+ drive setting, the chassis automatically lowers 0.6 inches for better high-speed handling. Conversely, the vehicle can be raised 0.8 inches at up to 20 mph for increased ground clearance when needed.
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Design upgrades, too
More than just a compilation of go-fast parts, the Alpina treatment extends to this 7 Series’ design inside and out.
Below the massive grille that is impossible to miss on the new BMW 7 Series is an Alpina-specific front bumper with functional air intakes and Alpina lettering. In back, an Alpina stainless steel exhaust system ends with twin elliptical tailpipes integrated into the bumper. Specific paint finishes include Alpina blue metallic and green metallic.
Inside, Alpina treatments only enhance what is already an exceptional cabin that includes Nappa leather upholstery, climate-controlled seats, soft-close doors, and ceramic controls. Exclusive to the Alpina B7 model are Lavalina leather steering wheel with special stitching, Alpina inscriptions and an individual production plaque.
Optional is the 4-passenger Rear Executive Lounge Seating setup that puts two rear passengers in the lap of luxury with quad-zone climate control, reclining and climate-controlled bucket seats with a massage function and 7-inch tablet for controlling various features of the vehicle.
As it builds on a top-line version of the 7 Series flagship, the Alpina boasts BMW’s latest infotainment, safety and other tech features.
How much is the new Alpina B7?
The new Alpina B7 will cost $141,700, plus a $995 destination fee when it goes on sale in the third quarter of this year.
At that price, which is just over $2,000 more than the 2019 Alpina B7, this 2020 model will again slot between the BMW 750i that starts just under $100,000 and the V12-powered M760i, which begins at nearly $157,000.
