Powertrain families
ALPINA twin-turbo V8
B7 / B11 / B12 (G11/G12) — Long-wheelbase Sedan
2016–2022
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- ALPINA B7 G12
- Production
- 2016–2022
- Body style
- 4-door long-wheelbase sedan
- Platform
- longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive
Body variants
B7 / B11 / B12 → G11/G12 → Long-wheelbase Sedan
B7 / B11 / B12 G11/G12: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected long-wheelbase sedan fits into the family.
The G12 B7 Bi-Turbo was the long-wheelbase ALPINA flagship of the G11/G12 7 Series family. It combined a twin-turbo V8, all-wheel drive, rear-wheel steering and ALPINA chassis/aero tuning; the catalog retains G11/G12 as the BMW family code but the production B7 body is G12.
Initial and updated cars differ in output, engine/emissions hardware, design and infotainment. North American hp figures and European PS figures describe regional ratings and should be stored with their measurement standard.
Production ended in 2022 with no immediate independent-era successor. The announced post-2026 BMW ALPINA 7 Series-inspired product belongs to a new brand chapter and must use a separate future code and dossier.
2016–2022generation lifecycle
1body branches
1engine/drive families
3range designations
G11/G12factory code
longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drivearchitecture
Long-wheelbase Sedan: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length5,268 mm
Width1,902 mm
Height1,491 mm
Wheelbase3,210 mm
Luggage515 L
Fuel tank78 L
Seats5
Doors4-door long-wheelbase sedan
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long-wheelbase Sedan | ALPINA B7 G12 | 2016–2022 | 4-door long-wheelbase sedan / 5 | 5,268 mm | 515 L |
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented long-wheelbase sedan applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B7 Bi-Turbo / B7 xDrive | 2016–2019 | ALPINA 4.4 L twin-turbo V8 | 608 PS / 600 hp US | 8AT Switch-Tronic | AWD | Global range | BMW ALPINA B7 Bi-Turbo |
| B7 Bi-Turbo LCI | 2019–2022 | ALPINA 4.4 L twin-turbo V8 | 608–621 PS / 600 hp US | 8AT Switch-Tronic | AWD | Global range | BMW ALPINA B7 Bi-Turbo |
Factory designations
B7 Bi-Turbo · B7 Bi-Turbo Allrad · B7 xDrive
High-performance powertrain
Engine, cooling, exhaust, software and transmission form a distinct M or ALPINA specification rather than an option package on the base model.
Diesel derivatives
Where diesels were offered, output, injection generation and emissions hardware are recorded market by market.
Electrification
Mild- and plug-in hybrids are separate derivatives; combustion-engine output must not be substituted for total system output.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body-branch dimensions
- ALPINA B7 G12: 5,268 mm × 1,902 mm × 1,491 mm
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
G12 B7 launch
The long-wheelbase all-wheel-drive V8 flagship entered production.
Market expansion
Regional names, ratings and equipment created distinct records.
Lifecycle update
Design, output, emissions and cabin technology changed.
Independent B7 ends
G12 B7 production concluded without a same-era successor.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
Long-wheelbase Sedan
ALPINA B7 G12B7 / B11 / B12 ALPINA B7 G12 is a distinct G11/G12 body branch. A wheelbase-extended sedan developed for markets where additional rear-seat room is a defining requirement. Engines/drive: ALPINA twin-turbo V8.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Identify first
- Match VIN on body and documents
- Obtain the factory option list
- Confirm market and production date
Inspect the structure
- Check repairs and corrosion
- Assess suspension, brakes and tyres
- Compare fitted parts with factory specification
Mechanical history
- Read faults with compatible diagnostics
- Verify engine and transmission maintenance
- Separate invoices from unsupported verbal history
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | CBS/factory schedule; time and mileage for historic cars | Oil approval follows the exact engine and market. |
| Brake fluid | Time-based factory schedule | ABS/DSC-compatible bleeding procedure is required after hydraulic work. |
| Coolant | Factory schedule and condition | Fluid specification and bleeding method are generation-specific. |
| Transmission & final drives | Unit type and operating conditions | Use the exact approved fluid; no one interval fits every derivative. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- Factory body codes
- ALPINA B7 G12 — Long-wheelbase Sedan
- Range designations
- B7 Bi-Turbo, B7 Bi-Turbo Allrad, B7 xDrive
- Powertrain families
- ALPINA twin-turbo V8
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01AlpinaWikipedia contributors
Secondary manufacturer, model and period context.
- 02BMW ALPINA B7 Bi-TurboALPINA Automobiles
Factory archive or brochure for base BMW, ALPINA engine type, production dates and derivative specifications.
- 03Expanding the portfolio: BMW Group acquires the ALPINA brandBMW Group PressClub
Primary BMW Group record for the production cooperation ending after 2025 and subsequent brand ownership.
Notes and limitations
- Research revision dated 2026-08-10: English Wikipedia was used as a subject and bibliography map; key claims were checked against the listed primary BMW Group material.
- Production B7 is the long-wheelbase G12 body; do not display a short G11 B7 route.
- Post-2026 BMW ALPINA 7 Series product is a separate future generation.
- Tree years describe the worldwide generation lifecycle; individual market dates may be narrower.
- Exact dimensions, power, weight and emissions belong at body, engine, market and model-year level.
- Known-issue guidance is editorial context and never replaces inspection of the individual vehicle.
3 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; wikimedia commons 1,800 px derivative downloaded; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026