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Upcoming new Alpina B7 teased

BMW does not make an M7. It never has, despite rumors, trademark filings, and the actual desires of the people that would build such a car. That means that while we're stuck waiting for BMW to see how foolish not building an M is, the most potent 7 Series you can get wears an Alpina badge on the nose. Meet the newest version of that car... sort of. BMW and Alpina haven't taken the wraps off the next B7 just yet, opting instead for an opera-accompanied teaser of the new car undergoing track testing. The car is lightly camouflaged – there's enough to make it clear it's a 7 Series, but not so undisguised as to reveal too much of the Alpina bodywork. There's a more aggressive bumper, a meaty rear spoiler, and sharper side sills, along with what are probably Alpina-specific wheels, but more precise details are hard to discern. What isn't difficult to pick out, though, is ear-tingling exhaust note. The last two Alpina B7s have built on the standard 7 Series' engine, and this new model likely won't be any different. That should mean a breathed upon 4.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 which goes well above the unfettled car's 445 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque. The extra power, along with the donor car's new lightweight carbon-fiber passenger cell, should make for tantalizing performance capabilities. The current 750i xDrive takes 4.3 seconds to make the sprint, and the B7 model that this new machine will replace hits 62 in 4.6. We'd expect the upcoming B7 will do better. The teaser from BMW and Alpina doesn't indicate when the new model will debut, but we'll eat our proverbial hat if it doesn't happen in Geneva. Related Video:

Plug-in BMWs, long-term updates and the best of SEMA 2018 | Autoblog Podcast #560

On this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Associate Editor Reese Counts. The pair discuss the BMW 740e xDrive iPerformance plug-in hybrid as well as our long-term Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid and Honda Ridgeline. They also discuss the best of SEMA Show 2018, including some pretty wild cars from Dodge and Chevy. Finally, we spend your money. This week, rather than pulling questions in from our email, we head to Reddit to answer some questions on r/cars.Autoblog Podcast #560 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown 2018 BMW 740e xDrive iPerformance 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid long-term 2018 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E long-term SEMA Spend My Money Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video: Green Podcasts BMW Chrysler Dodge Honda chrysler pacifica

BMW debuts 435i ZHP edition coupe [UPDATE]

Performance enthusiasts enamored of the BMW 4 Series but not quite ready to step up to the M4 will be excited at the arrival of the new ZHP edition. Reviving a code last seen on a package for the E46 series a decade ago, the 2016 BMW 435i ZHP Edition boasts a series of performance upgrades aimed not only at "improved optics and aerodynamics; it is also notably quicker with more precise handling." The special 4 Series packs a series of BMW M Performance accessories to give it a more aggressive attitude, including a new Track Handling Package, M Sport Package, limited slip differential and a range of M Performance parts. The Track Handling Package alone includes 18-inch alloys, M Sport Brakes with four-piston calipers up front and two pistons in the back and incorporates the Active M Suspension with variable dampers and steering. With revised software and a new air intake, the M Performance Engine Kit kicks in an extra 35 horsepower for a total of 335 hp and either 32 more pound-feet (with the automatic transmission) for a total of 332 lb-ft or a 17-lb-ft boost (with the manual) for a total of 317 lb-ft. That's enough to drop 0.2 seconds off the 435i's 0-60 time and 0.5 seconds off the run from 50 miles per hour to 75. BMW also promises better accelerator response and engine note. There's a sport exhaust that sheds 8.8 pounds of weight, a full carbon-fiber aero kit and visual enhancements inside, out and under the hood. The German automaker will only be offering 100 examples of the enhanced coupe starting in July, with pricing to be announced closer to the launch date. UPDATE: Of course, if you miss out on one of these special editions, you can always spec out your own from the M catalog with parts installed at BMW's Vehicle Distribution Center. And, as BMW points out in correspondence with Autoblog, you could even order one up with all-wheel drive and in convertible or four-door Gran Coupe body-styles if that's more your pace. Related Video: BMW UNVEILS THE SPECIAL EDITION BMW 435i ZHP COUPE Woodcliff Lake, NJ – May 19, 2015... Paying tribute to the iconic ZHP Performance Package, BMW today released details for a 2016 BMW 435i ZHP Coupe Edition.