Because BMW was reluctant to offer an M version of the 7 Series, people went to Alpina for more power, bigger wheels and chin spoilers. However, the Bavarians now want a part of the action and introduced the M760Li at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show.
It's not a real M car like the M2 and M3 sitting beside it, but we don't see it as an M Performance vehicle either. It's more of a dressed-up luxury limo with the potential to go fast. That's what many customers want these days, the potential to go fast once in a while if they want to.
A few things have changed in this regard since the last time we saw this car. Initially, it came out with a 600 PS version of the M Performance TwinPower Turbo 12-cylinder gasoline engine and was capable of reaching 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. However, BMW realized the Alpina B7 was better and revised its numbers. Now, the same 6.6-liter monster makes 610 PS (2 more than the B7) and gets to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.7 seconds.
For the record, the B7 only has a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, so it's missing almost a full E30 M3 engine under there. We don't know how a nose-heavy 7 Series will handle, but at least the M Sport people had the wisdom to install xDrive, unlike their counterparts at AMG. As a result, the M760Li will outsprint an M5 by about 0.6 of a second.
The M Performance division played with the body of the 7 Series without trying to make it look like the M7 that it's not. The front bumper features slightly larger intakes and side skirts have been installed. In Geneva, we were able to see what BMW doesn't want us to, that the dual exhaust pipes on either side are just pieces of trim attached to the bumper. The real exhaust pipes are much smaller and can be seen further back, together with some heat shielding.
The V12 brute also gets bespoke alloy wheels and blue brake calipers. Frozen black was used to showcase the car in Geneva, but if you're rich enough to afford this thing, you can probably afford any kind of finish. The interior is mostly about luxury, and the tiny M Performance steering wheel with thick bolsters clashes with the cream leather and chromed surfaces.
A few things have changed in this regard since the last time we saw this car. Initially, it came out with a 600 PS version of the M Performance TwinPower Turbo 12-cylinder gasoline engine and was capable of reaching 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. However, BMW realized the Alpina B7 was better and revised its numbers. Now, the same 6.6-liter monster makes 610 PS (2 more than the B7) and gets to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.7 seconds.
For the record, the B7 only has a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, so it's missing almost a full E30 M3 engine under there. We don't know how a nose-heavy 7 Series will handle, but at least the M Sport people had the wisdom to install xDrive, unlike their counterparts at AMG. As a result, the M760Li will outsprint an M5 by about 0.6 of a second.
The M Performance division played with the body of the 7 Series without trying to make it look like the M7 that it's not. The front bumper features slightly larger intakes and side skirts have been installed. In Geneva, we were able to see what BMW doesn't want us to, that the dual exhaust pipes on either side are just pieces of trim attached to the bumper. The real exhaust pipes are much smaller and can be seen further back, together with some heat shielding.
The V12 brute also gets bespoke alloy wheels and blue brake calipers. Frozen black was used to showcase the car in Geneva, but if you're rich enough to afford this thing, you can probably afford any kind of finish. The interior is mostly about luxury, and the tiny M Performance steering wheel with thick bolsters clashes with the cream leather and chromed surfaces.