Alpina and BMW have a long history. The former has been tuning Bimmers for over five decades and even provides graphic packages, different alloy designs, etc. Realizing the rising demand of Alpina-tuned cars, BMW started selling them through its own dealerships in the U.S. This time, BMW and Alpina have worked on the former's big-face flagship luxury sedan to create an explosive monster known as the 2020 Alpina B7. The 2020 B7 was unveiled earlier this month in Palm Springs and is the sixth-generation luxury model from Alpina.

2020 ALPINA B7 xDrive Sedan Exterior

If you can take your eyes off the Brobdingnagian front grille, the 7 Series is actually a smart, sophisticated model. The grille is a lot larger than the preceding model, but it looks like something that will grow on us. The slim adaptive LED headlights make with laser option offer perfect form and function. The Alpina B7 accentuates its appearance and performance character through the aerodynamic bits and elements and a deeper front splitter that makes the car look slightly fiercer than the BMW 7 Series. The new front bumper comes with functional air intakes, Alpina lettering, and horizontal character lines to enhance the character of the car. The hood also looks a bit muscular, thanks to the sharp and pronounced creases.

The profile of the luxurious sedan is sedate when compared to the front and the back, and I'm saying this in a good way. Lower side skirts have pressed into the body, giving it a sporty, low-slung, feel. The 2020 B7 rides on 20-inch Michelin Performance tires as standard, while 21-inch rollers are available as an option. The fenders seemed to have gained muscles, too.

The B7 looks rather futuristic in the back. For a car of this magnitude, people generally expect a sedate, sophisticated look; but the 2020 Alpina B7 does not follow that suit. The Alpina stainless steel sports exhaust system features two circular twin tailpipes on either side of the bumper. Over here, I think BMW did a better job by providing slim, rectangular tailpipes that complement the front bumper in a healthier manner.

Alpina is offering the 7 Series' alter-ego in two exclusive exterior shades - Alpina Blue Metallic and Alpina Green Metallic. Although the 7 Series color palette will be accessible to the B7, these two shades will not be offered on the BMW 7 Series.

2020 ALPINA B7 xDrive Sedan Interior

On the inside, there is not a lot of difference between the BMW 7 Series and the Alpina B7. The changes lie in the details of the car, like the Alpina badge on the steering wheel, more stitched leather, contrasting stitching on the seats, etc. On the space front, well, we don't need to talk about that in this German limo. Alpina has used Nappa leather on the seats and instrument panel. The touch command unit is a seven-inch removable tablet that can be used from any seat and even outside the car. It allows you to operate functions such as seat adjustment, interior lighting, and climate control, as well as the infotainment, navigation, and communication systems. The 2020 Alpina B7 comes with a surround-view camera with Remote 3D view function that allows gives drivers the ability to see a three-dimensional live image of their car and its surroundings on their smartphone!

The 2020 Alpina B7 is extensively loaded. On the standard model, Alpina provides you with features like keyless entry, panoramic sunroof, front ventilated seats, heated steering and front seat armrests, heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, Wireless Charging, and Apple CarPlay.

The Optional package includes:

-* Full-Color Head-Up Display

-* Rear View Camera

-* BMW iDrive 7 Navigation

-* Rear Executive Lounge Seating

-* Rear-Seat Entertainment

-* Four-Zone Automatic Climate Control

-* Individual Electrically Adjustable Comfort Seats With Massage Function

-* Active Seat Ventilation

Talking about the safety system, the Alpina B7 comes with BMW's Active Driving Assistant package as standard equipment for the new ALPINA B7. It features:

-* Collision and Pedestrian Warning

-* Lane Departure Warning

-* Blind Spot Detection

-* Speed Limit Info system,

-* Rear Collision Preparation

-* Cross Traffic Alert

-* Active Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go

2020 ALPINA B7 xDrive Sedan Drivetrain

This is where all the action lies. The 2020 B7 Series is powered by a reworked version of the 7 Series' 4.4-liter, twin-turbo, V-8 engine. It is offered with Alpina-specific intercoolers that equalize and reduce pressure between the two cylinder banks of the mammoth engine. Tap the throttle slightly, and you will immediately feel the surge of power because the 2020 Alpina B7 hits its peak torque between 2,000 rpm and 5,000 rpm. Talking about its sprinting capabilities, this powerhouse zooms to 60 mph from a standstill in just 3.5 seconds and tops out at 205 mph. This makes it the fastest production sedan, beating the Dodge Charger Hellcat by 1 mph, but it's not the fastest to 60 mph; that record still belongs to the Tesla Model S P100D.

The 2020 Alpina B7 comes with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission with Alpina switch-tronic. It also features the famed xDrive all-wheel-drive system and larger disc brakes. The B7 is offered with a stainless steel variable exhaust system. The active exhaust valves allow the driver to change the sound experience by using the Driving Experience Control switch to select between Comfort and Sport Mode. It rides on a special air-suspension system that lowers itself by 0.6 inches when Sport+ is engaged and uses cameras to scan the road ahead and adjust accordingly. The luxurious sedan can also be raised by 0.8 inches at speeds less than 20 mph to avoid scraping it on the ground.

2020 Alpina B7 drivetrain specifications

2020 ALPINA B7 xDrive Sedan Prices

BMW and Alpina have gone berserk with this sedan in terms of performance and features. Of course, you are charged for everything you get in this car, and Alpina has put a price tag of $141,700 on the 2020 B7.

2020 ALPINA B7 xDrive Sedan Competition

Mercedes-AMG S63

The third German musketeer is the next rival for the Alpina B7. The car looks absolutely fantastic, especially in the black shade with those five spoke alloys. The huge air dams on the face don't look that great, but otherwise, the S63 is a handsome car. I don't even have to get started on the features front - you name it, and the Mercedes-AMG S63 has it. There's a 12.3-inch central display and a same-sized digital instrument cluster, COMAND system with touchpad, and AMG head-up display, to name a few. There is plenty of room inside the cabin, and this is a more chauffeur-friendly car than its rivals.

Talking about the powertrain, the Mercedes-AMG S63 is powered with a 4.0-liter, biturbo V-8 that churns our 603 horses and 664 pound-feet of torque. It can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds! The car is electronically limited to 155 mph. Power is sent to all the wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission. All-in-all, this car can be a perfect daily-commuter as well as the beast waiting to explode on empty stretches.

Read our full review on the 2018 Mercedes-AMG S63.

Audi S8 Plus

The S8 is Audi's trump card to take on the Alpina B7. The S8 plus is based on the short-wheelbase version of the company's flagship A8 sedan. In terms of aesthetics, it is not as intriguing as the B7, but you cannot deny its presence on the road. The S8 Plus is offered with features like four-zone climate control, panoramic glass roof, and a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen speaker system. Shockingly, the infotainment system in here supports neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto.

It comes with a 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V-8 engine under the hood that produces 605 ponies and 553 pound-feet of torque. It can sprint from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph - 190 mph if you opt for the optional package. Audi has plonked a sport-tuned suspension, an enhanced all-wheel drive system, and upgraded brakes for better ride quality. Although it is a great package overall, the Alpina B7 and the Mercedes-AMG S63 are better than the S8 Plus in many aspects. But let's not rule out the huge price difference!

Read our full review on the 2018 Audi S8 Plus

Jaguar XJR575

This car has been under a lot of pressure, and it is fair to say that it has succumbed to the same. Even though it belongs to the XJ family and was touted to carry the legacy on its shoulder, the XJR575 has not risen to prominence as much as the automaker and the Jag fans would have liked. In terms of looks, this is the car I'll place my bet on that will age gracefully. The British limo looks calm and a little older than its competitors, but Jaguar has infused a lot of new tech inside the car. Even the material selection is quite good. There is gloss black trim on center console, door handles, and HVAC vents, aluminum on the pedals, and Jaguar has offered diamond quilting of the seats.

Coming to the main point, the Jaguar XJR575 is offered with a monstrous 5.0-liter, V-8 engine that churns out 567 horses and 516 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed ZF transmission that helps this cat leap to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds. The XJR575 tops out at 186 miles per hour. In conclusion, the Jaguar XJR575 is an understated and underrated car.

Read our full review on the 2018 Jaguar XJR575

Conclusion

The 2020 Alpina B7 is a brilliantly well-equipped package that has everything going in favor of it. If I were to nitpick, it would be the design philosophy. I would have personally liked a slightly less attention-seeker as my driver; but to each his own and I'll leave that to your discretion. But in terms of features and performance, Alpina has done a great job and has it all to triumph in this niche market. Although it is mainly pitted against the Mercedes-AMG S63, let's not forget that there is a 'leaping jaguar' ready to pounce on the market and eventually turn out to be the dark horse. It has not happened to date, but you never know!

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2020 BMW 7 Series.