It takes one ankle flex in the Alpina B7 to instantly know what this company is about.

All of a sudden the eight-speed transmission and 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 explode into action. And the two-tonne, 5.2-metre long sedan rocks back before surging forward like a runaway Maglev train. Fast BMWs are Alpina’s game, and this is its take on the 7 Series.

Inside it’s ‘regular’ 7 Series, in that you’re greeted by a high-end cabin that’s as spacious as it is sumptuous (though a little sterile) with a few changes; that iconic valve-spring and camshaft emblem on the wheel is one, the sci-fi-style dial graphics another.

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Unleash the throttle and the 295mm-wide rears squirm a bit. Acceleration isn’t as visceral as the outputs suggest, but it piles on the pace in an unrelenting manner. It’s a treat watching the lime-green dial zing for the 7000rpm redline, but the B7 upshifts 500rpm earlier than that, or not at all in manual mode.

The rear-steering hustles the B7 into tight bends surprisingly well, while the brakes squeeze with decent power, and the dampers shrug off big bumps. Even without an optional LSD traction is good once the Michelins are warm. But push hard in corners and the physics are simply too overwhelming for enjoyable, rapid progress. Its Sport Plus mode feels a bit underbaked.

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2018 ALPINA B7 SPECS: Engine: 4395cc V8, DOHC, 32v, twin-turbo Power: 447kW @ 5750pm Torque: 800Nm @ 3000-5000rpm Weight: 2035kg 0-100km/h: 4.1sec (claimed) Price: $369,000

Like: Amazing powertrain; grip Dislike: Lack of engine note; body control Star Rating: 4 out of 5 stars