For BMW, the main event at the 2016 New York Auto Show was the presence of the first ever M Performance 7 Series – the BMW M760Li xDrive. The other important premiere for BMW was the North American unveil of the ALPINA B7 Biturbo.
The M760Li is the closest we can get to an actual M7 without the M division going all out. It’s part of the ever-growing M Performance line of models and it can be regarded as a close competitor to the Mercedes S65 AMG models. Both use V12 engines, however, Mercs are all-out AMG versions while the M760Li is an M-tuned 7 Series.
Even so, when you take a look at the spec sheet, you have to appreciate the engineering work that has gone into creating the M760Li. The 600 HP and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque coupled to the xDrive all-wheel drive system and a revised version of the ubiquitous ZF 8-speed gearbox allow this limousine to hit 60 mph from a standstill in 3.9 seconds. That’s faster than the S65 that has more power and more torque at its disposal.
However, if you prefer the sound of a V8, the ALPINA B7 might be the car for you. The latest iteration of this legendary model is based on the 750i and comes with a reworked version of its 4.4-liter V8 twin-turbo engine making the exact same amount of power as the M760Li xDrive: 600 HP and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque. The B7 Biturbo is also all-wheel drive and it accelerates even faster to the 60 mph benchmark speed, doing so in 3.6 seconds.
At the New York Auto Show, fans of the brand had the chance to see both of them shine, as you can see in the video below. However, we can’t help but wonder how the two would match up on the road. Hopefully, we’ll get to see for ourselves in the near future.
