Earlier this year, Alpina took the veils off the V8-powered B7 Bi-Turbo. A few days later after the announcement, BMW responded with the V12-powered M760Li. Although they’re pretty much neck and neck as far as output is concerned, the Alpina has the upper edge as far as styling is concerned.
As you might have experienced with your ex, there’s no substitute for bad boys. And yes, the Alpina is the bad boy, while the BMW is the too-formal guy in a nice suit. Pricing isn’t yet available for the M760Li, but the B7 Bi-Turbo has one. In its domestic market, the super luxurious and super fast sedan is accompanied by a €121,008 sticker. In the United Kingdom, the place where the B7 Bi-Turbo will make its dynamic debut at the 2016 Goodwood FoS, you’re looking at £115,000.
First deliveries are due this fall and, to be frank, £115,000 is not that bad when you think about how much you get in return. The 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8, for example, soothes your fevered brow with 600 horsepower available between 5,750 and 6,250 rpm, as well as 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque from 3,000 rpm. Of course, all that power is handled by an eight-speed transmission and... the rear wheels?
That’s right! UK models will be exclusively available in RWD form, at least for the time being. xDrive all-wheel-drive would’ve been reassuring, though. Because Britain’s roads are ridden with potholes, the 2016 Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo comes as standard with a suspension system that can raise the ride height by 2 centimeters. At more than 140 mph (225 km/h), however, the fancy suspension lowers itself.
20-inch Alpina wheels come as standard, as do four-piston calipers on all four corners. The interior isn’t all that different from that of the donor car, yet there are some subtle add-ons that make the difference when taken as a whole. Nappa leather seats, Nappa leather on the dashboard, blue-and-green contrast stitching on the steering wheel, wood or Piano Black trim, you name it, Alpina can do it. So there you have it.
If you want to stand out in the full-size luxury sedan crowd, the B7 Bi-Turbo should be on your shortlist.
First deliveries are due this fall and, to be frank, £115,000 is not that bad when you think about how much you get in return. The 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8, for example, soothes your fevered brow with 600 horsepower available between 5,750 and 6,250 rpm, as well as 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque from 3,000 rpm. Of course, all that power is handled by an eight-speed transmission and... the rear wheels?
That’s right! UK models will be exclusively available in RWD form, at least for the time being. xDrive all-wheel-drive would’ve been reassuring, though. Because Britain’s roads are ridden with potholes, the 2016 Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo comes as standard with a suspension system that can raise the ride height by 2 centimeters. At more than 140 mph (225 km/h), however, the fancy suspension lowers itself.
20-inch Alpina wheels come as standard, as do four-piston calipers on all four corners. The interior isn’t all that different from that of the donor car, yet there are some subtle add-ons that make the difference when taken as a whole. Nappa leather seats, Nappa leather on the dashboard, blue-and-green contrast stitching on the steering wheel, wood or Piano Black trim, you name it, Alpina can do it. So there you have it.
If you want to stand out in the full-size luxury sedan crowd, the B7 Bi-Turbo should be on your shortlist.