Alpina has just revealed its 2020 model year super sedan based on the BMW 750i G12 which just received its LCI update.
Part of the upgrade is actually quite controversial as it includes an uber large version of the signature kidney grill:
2020 BMW 7 series
The Alpina front spoiler and chrome arrangements do their best to curb the somewhat awkward looking over sized grill of the BMW counterpart.
2020 Alpina B7
30 Year Legacy of Autobahn Stormers
This was the very first large Alpina super cruiser on basis of the 2nd gen BMW 7 series designated E32. It was available with a 3.5L straight 6 as well as a 5.0L V12 in the top of the line B12. In both engines Alpina refrained from increasing displacement and instead got more power and efficiency out by replacing the pistons, tuning the valvetrain, ECU mapping and the exhaust system.
To this day this is probably one of the most iconic of all Alpina 7 series variants.
The third generation 7 series dubbed the E38 received Alpina's treatment for the first time in 1994 in the guise of the B12 5.7. This was a stroked version of BMW's second generation V12 which retained the 2-valve per cylinder design of the first gen. This lead to power peaking way up in the rev range and silky smooth characteristics along with the signature turbine like power delivery.
The car above is actually the late B12 6.0 which featured a heavily modified and stroked M73 delivering 430hp from 6.0 liters displacement. The engine featured tweaked intake and exhaust, specially forged pistons, fine tuned valvetrain actuation and valves, ECU mapping as well as the cleanest emission values at the time of production.
The E38 only came with V12s from Alpina and is the highest valued B12 at the moment mostly due to the subdued and classic styling of this generation which many fans feel is the best looking 7 series of all time.
The fourth generation 7 series was the E65 and Alpina's third treatment of the 7 series which for the first time was called the B7 in line with Alpina's nomenclature of calling their models the B3, B5 and B7 accordingly.
For the first time Alpina deployed what they called a 'Radialverdichter' or 'Centrifugal Compressor'. In essence it combines a turbocharger with a supercharger meaning the turbine is driven by both the crankshaft via a supercharger coupling and the engine's exhaust gases via a turbocharger routing. It features a complex cooling system and various belts and couplings to deliver a smooth and wide power band without any turbo lag.Max torque is available almost from idle up to 5.500rpm.
With all this impressive tech the model did not reach the status with fans of its predecessors mainly due to the controversial styling especially in the very first iterations of the E65. On the flipside the B7 was the best performer when it came to sales and was for the first time officially offered directly in the US through BMW dealerships.
Most of the engine and drivetrain technology carried over into Alpina's fourth 7 series and second B7 albeit with a much more likeable bodyshell. Power and performance as well as efficiency increased slightly but in general the shift from E65 to F01, which it was called internally, was mainly upgraded design and new technology in terms of interior comfort and safety features.
The Alpina B7 F01 was the first big 7 ever to be offered with all wheel drive utilizing a tuned version of BMW's X-Drive AWD system which runs through an electronically controlled torque sensing differential (TORSEN). In addition, the F01 was the first BMW to come with 'carbon core' which is a chassis which is highly rigid and mostly consists of carbon fibre making the car extremely stable when it needs to be and dynamic when you want it.
2020 Alpina B7 (G11/12 LCI)
The new B7 is mostly known by now for being the fastest production sedan in the world at the moment. The acceleration and top speed numbers compete with the fastest super cars in the world and Alpina makes it a point that the performance is maintained even with 4 passengers and luggage :).
Right now it is only available in two colors Alpina-Blue and Alpina-Green which you can see on display here. Pictures courtesy of BMW Blog taken during this years 'Test Fest' which is a BMW/Mini/M event where over 80 models are presented and can be tested. Due to Alpina's close relationship with BMW they get involved in the development early on and are able to present their model alongside BMW's LCI car without any delay.
As you can see the car also features Alpina's standard 20 spoke wheels which have gone through only two revisions since 1986 for the 7. The wheels up until 2009 featured a characteristic lip which was removed then and the spokes went right to the edge of the wheel. With this new so called 'classic wheel' the styling has gone full minimalist after getting used to it really works well with the new bodystyle.
Interior of this display car featuring ceramic applications on all buttons.
The exhaust setup continues the four tip exhaust which was standard on E38 and F01 while the E32 and E65 featured dual exhaust tips on the left.
While Alpina tried their best to work around the kidney grill the size of a small moon it can't fully distract from the dominating styling element which I personally find absolutely too large.
The engine setup is still based on a 4.4L V8 with dual overhead variably adjustable camshafts but instead of the centrifugal compressor it now features a 'hot V' twin-turbo setup where the turbos sit inside the V of the engine instead of on the sides next to the exhaust mainfolds. This setup is very popular in the industry right now and while not entirely new it offers a number of very impressive advantages over traditional turbo arrangements mainly to do with great throttle response, lower consumption, close to no turbo lag. In combination with direct fuel injection, variable camshaft and valve actuation as well as twin-scroll turbochargers the power, torque, throttle response and efficiency are very impressive.
Back to the interior the black roofliner interestingly extends not only half way down the A, B and C pillar but is also continued in the upper part of the doors along the shoulder line. In combination with bright leathers such as this one it offers a very interesting experience inside.