The Alpina B7 Is A Monstrous AWD BMW 7-Series With 600bhp

If you want a full-size luxury hooner, you’re fairly spoilt for choice. Jaguar has its XJR, Mercedes sells an S63 version of is S-Class luxobarge, there’s the ‘Plus’ version of the Audi S8, and if you want something different, you could go for a Maserati Quattroporte. But, there’s no entry from BMW, as it’s yet to make an ‘M7’ to sit at the top of its 7-series range. Worry not though, as Alpina has the answer: the new B7.

The US version of the car has just been revealed, and it’s blessed with the same twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 as the 5-series-based B5, which means an ungodly 600bhp and 590lb ft of torque at your disposal. 0-62mph takes just 3.6 seconds, and it’ll top out at 193mph. For something 7-series sized, that ain’t bad. The V8 fury is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Clever air suspension should stop the vast Bavarian cornering like a ship, with the help of a system called ‘Active Roll Stabilization’. There’s something rather smart hiding in the car’s kidney grilles too: an active air flap which opens and closes depending on the engine’s cooling needs. And yes, you do get some of Alpina’s trademark multi-spoke wheels, in this case a gorgeous 20-inch set.

This is all well and good, but what about us lot in Britain? We contacted Alpina UK, and while nothing can be confirmed, the expectation is for a rear-wheel drive, short wheelbase version (both SWB and LWB versions are available in the USA) to arrive on our shores later in the year.