The Alpina B7 Has Arrived, And Now It Can Hit 205mph

The B7 first appeared a year ago with a predicted top speed of 193mph, but longer gears and performance upgrades have pushed the uber-saloon past the 200mph mark, making it the fastest four-door production car in the world
The Alpina B7 Has Arrived, And Now It Can Hit 205mph

If you want a BMW 7 Series, but have never bought one simply because they’re not, y’know, fast enough for you, Alpina has arranged a rather peppy solution. And it’s rear-wheel drive…

We first heard about the B7 Bi-Turbo a year ago, but the specially-tuned, long-wheelbase, twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 monster has just landed in the UK, with an improved final spec that has pushed the car’s top speed on to an, erm, satisfactory 205mph, up from a predicted 193mph.

There’s a little more power, at 600bhp (vs 591bhp), and the same 590lb ft of torque as before, but a new indirect ‘air/water/air’ intercooler system, an equally new wide-bore intake system and Alpina-spec pistons and spark plugs trigger the extra power and speed.

The Alpina B7 Has Arrived, And Now It Can Hit 205mph

The acceleration benchmark has suffered slightly, with 0-60mph dropping to 4.0 seconds, but that’s the price you pay for longer gearing that will make high-speed cruising even more comfortable. Speaking of which, the eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox uses strengthened gear clusters and a larger torque converter versus the BMW-spec unit, and it gets extra cooling to help it manage all that waft.

Like all Alpinas, the 7 Series-based B7 gets a full BMW-backed warranty, lasting three years or 120,000 miles. It shares the car’s rear-wheel steering and air suspension, but in Alpina-specific states of tune. The steering has been retuned and there’s more negative camber at the front for more direct turn-in.

The Alpina B7 Has Arrived, And Now It Can Hit 205mph

Where the standard 7 Series costs around £82,400 for the higher-powered V8, you don’t get the long wheelbase and Alpina tweaks. You also have to make do with a paltry 444bhp. The V12-motored 760Li xDrive flagship is four-wheel drive but tops out at a limited 155mph, and it costs an alarming £135,340.

All that makes the Alpina B7’s £115,000 look like great value if you’ve just signed an €865,000-per-week contract at Paris St Germain. Space, speed, luxury, comfort, excitement, scarcity… is this the perfect mile-munching super-saloon?

Comments

Tomislav Celić

This car is perfect for bankers. You know, they need fast cars, but not the one that are flashy. Mainly becouse they don’t want everybody to know that they are loaded with money.

08/03/2017 - 07:40 |
36 | 1

I remember that letter read out on Top Gear before the 760Li & S63 AMG track test 🤣

08/03/2017 - 08:46 |
5 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

JEEBUS THAT’S FAST

08/03/2017 - 11:16 |
0 | 0
DL🏁

Waiting for Aplina to get their hands on the M760Li
Rip Brabus Rocket 900

08/03/2017 - 08:49 |
9 | 0
Aaron 15

The Brabus Rocket CLS with the V12 from all those years ago could hit 227mph! I’d say that’s the fastest 4 door production car…

08/03/2017 - 09:12 |
3 | 0
Mohammed Azhar Khan

600 bhp and 205 mph? Cute

08/03/2017 - 10:28 |
3 | 1
Nobody01

sits here patiently till dodge releases charger demon.

08/03/2017 - 12:54 |
8 | 0

Keep sitting; it’s not gonna happen.

08/03/2017 - 15:13 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

A football reference,never would have thought I’d see it

08/03/2017 - 13:11 |
2 | 0
DJ N

200 mph in anything, let alone a luxury German saloon, is amazing if you ask me. I think I need to experience something with over 200 horses right about now…

08/03/2017 - 23:48 |
1 | 0
Anonymous
08/03/2017 - 23:49 |
1 | 0
Anonymous

Bentley flying spur W12S was already faster than 200MPH! Will Bentley upgrade it to its 700HP Supersport engine?

08/04/2017 - 05:28 |
1 | 0

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