Alpina has recently announced their plans on launching their version of the 2013 BMW 7-series, boasting an increase in performance and efficiency, enhanced features and a slight change in aesthetics. The engine in the B7 has been tuned-up by Alpina and it now produces 540 horsepower instead of 500, and 538 lb-ft of torque instead of 516.
The package includes a BMW Valvetronic throttle-less intake technology as well as Alpina's 8-speed high performance transmission. It all sounds very fancy and the final results are quite noticeable, the top speed of the luxury sedan now being 194 miles per hour, a notable increase of 19 miles per hour when compared to the 175 MPH 7-series. The acceleration has also improved, but not by too much and the B7 will go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, 0.1 seconds faster than the standard model.
On the exterior, notable changes include a redesigned set of headlamps, a slightly reshaped front grille, revised tail lamps, LED front fog lights, the usual Alpina Blue Metallic paint and a new set of 21-inch alloy wheels featuring a familiar 20-spoke design. Alpina claims that the changes in aesthetics also affect aerodynamics and the design modifications are more efficient in channeling the cooling air to keep beefed-up engine going.
Standard equipment includes Automatic Start-Stop system, ceramic secondary controls and active protection system. Furthermore, a set of options are placed at the buyer's disposal such as full LED headlights, additional choices of interior upholstery, new exterior colors and a Bang & Olufsen sound system.
The B7 is available to purchase as a special order and its production will be limited. The body of the B7 will be manufactured at BMW's factory in Dingolfing but it will be hand –finished at the Alpina factory in Buchloe Germany.
Prices start at $127,600 for the rear-wheel drive variant, $130,600 for the xDrive, whereas the long-wheelbase versions of the RWD and xDrive will cost $131,500 and 134,500 respectively. In case you're interested in buying the Alpina B7 in the US, the luxury sedan will make its debut in August at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and will go on sale in September for the price of $128,495 RWD, $131,459 for the xDrive, whereas the long wheelbase will cost $132,385 and $135,395 respectively. That's almost as costly as the S63 AMG which on paper is quite similar to the B7 when it comes to numbers such as the amount of horsepower and performances.
