BMW Alpina B7 – the closest you’ll get to an M7

The BMW Alpina B7 - now available in the US

BMW has made it clear that they won’t be making an ‘M’ version of the 7 Series. I know, we’ve hear that all before with the X5, but they seem adamant. In fact, one of our readers questioned our story about ‘No BMW M7‘ a couple of months ago after his local dealer said the M7 was coming in Spring 2010. So we spoke to BMW who re-iterated what they’d said before. There will be no M7.

So the announcement that BMW will bring the Alpina B7 to the Chicago Motor Show next month means that this is the only way to get a more powerful 7 Series. You can take any of the BMW 7 Series models and add an M Sport Package, but if you want more oomph then the Alpina B7 is the only way to go. We already know the B7 is available in Europe and after the Chicago Motor Show it will also be up for grabs in the US.

The B7 uses BMW’s 4.4 litre twin-turbo V8, but instead of the normal 400bhp Alpina has cranked that up to 500bhp. That will be enough to scoot the enormous B7 to 60mph in around 4.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 175mph. Shod with 21″ Alpina wheels, a more aggressive Alpina front air dam and a spoiler on the bootlid, the Alpina B7 looks the part without going over the top.

The Alpina B7 will be available in both standard and long wheelbase versions. BMW US hasn’t released prices for the new B7, but in the UK you’re looking at a starting point of £95k.

By Cars UK