BMW is reviving the B7 badge for the ALPINA B7 7 Series, and the decision carries more weight than nostalgia. The V8-powered G72 arrives in spring 2027 as the first B7 since the G12 left production in September 2022. The naming choice tells us exactly where ALPINA wants to sit in the market.
Keeping the ALPINA B7 7 Series Name
On paper, the naming logic is straightforward. Any alternative badge would have collided with BMW’s own flagship. In October, BMW returned the V8 to the 7 Series in the M760 xDrive, which uses an evolution of the 4.4-liter twin-turbo S68. A rival ALPINA 760 with close engine kin and very different pricing would confuse every showroom. Still, the badge ties the sedan to a lineage that includes the Alpina’s First Car In The BMW Era, which already hit 186 mph during testing.
BMW took over ALPINA on January 1, 2026, and the brand has been clear about its ambitions. Oliver Viellechner has described the lineup as filling a gap between BMW and Rolls-Royce. A badge that read like another 7 Series trim would undercut that message. Instead, the B7 gives the sedan a heritage tag that stretches back to the E65 era.
| ⚙️Engine / Powertrain | 4.4L Twin-Turbo V8 (est.) |
| 🐎Power Output | ~589 hp (est., from BMW HUD figures) |
| ⚡Peak Torque | 784 Nm (578 lb-ft) (est.) |
| ⏱️0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) | 0-60 mph in ~3.5s (est.) |
| 🚀Top Speed | 186 mph (300 km/h) tested |
| 🔄Drivetrain / Gearbox | 8-Speed Automatic / AWD (est.) |
| 💰Starting Price / Est. | Not yet announced (est. $190,000+) |
Output Figures Point Past the M760
BMW has confirmed the V8 but has not released official output. A prototype passed 300 km/h at the Nardò Technical Center, and the head-up display in BMW’s video showed 439 kW and 784 Nm. Those translate to roughly 589 hp and 578 lb-ft. Those numbers are not final, but we still expect more than 600 horsepower in US-spec trim.
According to BMW, the first ALPINA production model arrives in 2027. Meanwhile, the B7 will sit above the M760 xDrive on the spec sheet, which is precisely the point.
Pricing Pressure Above the Ghost
The B7 will slot between the M760 xDrive and the Rolls-Royce Ghost, a narrow corridor where pricing discipline matters. BMW has not announced a figure. Ultimately, buyers will compare the ALPINA against the Ghost, so expect a substantial premium over the BMW badge.
Our bold prediction: the B7 becomes the enthusiast sedan to own before values climb. Earlier reports mentioned a six-cylinder and possibly an electric version, which raises one question. Will every ALPINA 7 Series carry the B7 name, or will the V8 be the only car to wear it?
For more coverage, visit Auto News Magazine. The badge works, and the timing feels deliberate. The B7 is ready to reclaim a name that ALPINA earned long before the BMW era began.
Liam Campbell
Industry Intelligence & News Editor at Auto News Magazine. Tracking prototype spy shots, Nürburgring development mules, automaker corporate moves, and breaking global automotive scoops.
View all articles by Liam Campbell →
