Alpina’s new B7 will do 0-60mph in 3.6s

This, ladies and gentlemen, is what a 600bhp, 193mph, modified BMW 7-Series looks like. It is the brand new Alpina B7.

Seen for the first time earlier this month, but revealed today at the Geneva Motor Show, this is the third generation of Alpina’s 7-Series, and comes with a lot of very intriguing, very impressive numbers. Alpina don’t forget, has a long, fine, 50-year history of taking BMW models and adding numbers.

The first of which involves power. Underneath the B7 lies BMW’s 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8. Here, Alpina has installed two specially developed turbos positioned within the ‘V’ of the engine, featuring bigger inlets and outlets.

The entire cooling system and airflow has been rejigged too, to “remove bottlenecks” (we never realised the standard 4.4-litre V8 had a ‘bottleneck’). There are larger volume coolers, bigger, wider hoses and an air-to-water intercooler, along with external water and transmission coolers.

The engine itself has had a going over too: there are new pistons, spark plugs and a stainless steel Alpina sports exhaust. This reduces back pressure and weight, and comes with the necessary valves for additional noise.

The result? 600bhp, and a whopping 590lb ft of torque available from 3,000rpm (494lb ft is ready at just 2,000rpm). This revised engine is hooked up to an eight-speed automatic gearbox which has been beefed up to deal with the additional torque, driving all four wheels (though in the UK, we’ll probably get a RWD version).

It’ll do the headline 0-60mph sprint in just 3.6secs – nearly a second quicker than its B7 predecessor – and rock on to a top speed of 193mph. That’s only a preliminary figure, too. It’ll probably go faster still…

There’s air suspension combined with active dampers and roll stabilisation, and adjustable ride height. Like, for example, when you reach speeds of above 140mph and it drops by 0.8in. Neat.

Want more? There’s active steering, Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres, huge forged alloys, and rear-wheel steering. Oh, and bigger brakes.

You’ll spot the trademark Alpina flourishes: stuff like the new aero-honed front and rear ends, those classic Alpina wheels, lots of leather and ceramic inserts inside, blue and green paint finishes and a nice head-up display.

The new B7 will be available in the States from September this year, and prices – along with UK-specific info – will be revealed in due course. Always fancied a sub M-Power Seven? Step right up...