Alpina Officially Reveals the B7 xDrive

2017 BMW Alpina B7

A few weeks back, Alpina teased us with its fill-in for the not-soon-to-be-produced M7. This hopped-up version of the big Bimmer sedan is known as the 2017 B7 xDrive, and Alpina has finally pulled the veil from it, showing us the rig in all of its glory.

Let’s start with the goods that lay under that long hood. Under here lurks a retuned version of BMW’s 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 monster. Alpina meddled with all the bits that make this engine awesome and cranked it to a whole new level. Thanks to the reworked intake system, intercooler, turbocharger configuration, cooling system, and more, Alpina turned the juice up to 600 horsepower from 5,750 to 6,250 revs and 590 pound-feet of torque at 3,000 rpm. Just off idle—at 2,000 rpm—this force-fed V-8 already has 494 pound-feet of twist at the mercy of your right foot.

2017 BMW Alpina B7 (Credit: © BMW)

This extra 155 horsepower and 110 pound-feet of twist from the 4.4-liter is delivered to an eight-speed Sport Automatic Transmission then to all four wheels to deliver a 0-to-60 time of just 3.6 seconds—0.8 seconds quicker than the 750i. Terminal velocity of this big sedan comes in at a monstrous 193 mph.

Going in a straight line is a helluva good time, but it’s not all Alpina is interested in. Instead, the BMW specialists tweaked the chassis to deliver agility not typically available with the 7er. A two-axle air suspension with Dynamic Damper Control and Active Comfort Drive with Road Preview delivers both comfort and sportiness. At speeds in excess of 140 mph, the entire car drops by 0.8 inches. When cruising at speeds under 20 mph, the driver can raise the B7 by 0.8 inches to clear speed bumps or obstacles in a parking lot.

Also adding to the chassis is the Electronic Damper Control system. This system allows the driver to dial in the dampers for varying conditions, ranging from a comfy cruising mode to a rattle-your-guts Alpina Sport+ mode.

At the corners, Alpina wraps up the chassis with a set of 20-inch Alpina Classic wheels wrapped up in Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubber.

2017 BMW Alpina B7 (Credit: © BMW)

As always, Alpina spent some time modding the exterior too. Here, you’ll find an aggressive, yet elegant, body kit that zeros out lift on the front and rear axles. This kit also features plenty of openings and winglets to help direct air where it’s needed most: the engine’s cooling system. Around back is a matching rear apron with elliptical twin tailpipes that are sure to emit one awesome growl.

Inside, are the typical wares expected from Alpina. These include high-end materials like Nappa leather, ceramic inserts, Timeless Piano lacquer, Alpina trim, a digital instrument panel, and more.

All in all, the Alpina B7 xDrive is everything I expected and more. It is fast, elegant, stylish, and, best of all, the M7 we have yet to see. The 2017 BMW Alpina B7 xDrive will hit Bimmer dealers in September 2016, so get those checkbooks ready. Unfortunately, there are no pricing details available yet.