This week there were two, different 7-series announcements. First, BMW tuner Alpina launched the 7-series based B7 xDrive that had some serious performance to make us think that it will be the basis for the M7. The second announcement came days after the Alpina. The new top of the line 7-series has arrived in the BMW M760i xDrive. This one still ain’t the M7 we hoped for. Let’s break down some of the things the new M760i has compared to the B7.
The BMW M760i vs. the B7 xDrive
The main difference is under the bonnet with the M760i sporting a new 6.6-liter twin turbo V12 that produces 600bhp and 590 lb-ft of torque. The B7 also has the same power output but from a smaller 4.4-liter twin turbo V8 engine.
The M760i can get from 0 to 60mph in 3.9 seconds and tops out at 155mph due to an electronic limiter. The B7, on the other hand, is quicker to 60mph at 3.6 seconds and can reach speeds of 193mph. Both have 8-speed Steptronic Sport automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
The new M760i has some nice features like the Active Comfort Drive with Road Preview which is an active suspension system that improves the driving experience. The flagship 7-series also features the M-Performance (not M-Power which is the badge of the M-series cars) M aerodynamic package with a redesigned front and rear grille and rear spoilers to improve the grip and handling of the car.
The M760i features the iDrive 5.0 touch screen display with gesture control. The car also features the BMW heads-up display unit with 75 percent increase in projection area of compared to previous models. And the new M760i also has a semi-automated driving system called the BMW ConnectedDrive.
The launch of the new BMW M760i xDrive has had a lot of people wondering: why get this over the Alpina B7?
The B7 proves to be the better performer in a lot of areas and has all the bells and whistles of the M760i. It also makes you wonder if BMW should have announced the M760i first before the B7.
There is still no word on what the price of either 7-series variants will be. Industry experts say it will be marginal. And you surely won’t go wrong with either of the two.
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