Competes with: Mercedes-AMG GLS63, Mercedes-AMG G63, BMW X7 M50i
Looks like: A really fast tiny house
Powertrain: Twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 producing 612 horsepower and 590 pounds-feet of torque; eight-speed automatic transmission; standard all-wheel drive
Hits dealerships: Ordering opens in May; dealership arrival September
BMW is adding another performance SUV to its lineup, but rather than give it the full M treatment like it did with the X3, X4 and X5, the X7 is instead handed off to Alpina, the BMW-affiliated tuning house and manufacturer. Thus, the XB7 is born.
Related: 2019 BMW X7 Review: Late to the Party, Bringing Caviar
Alpina long has been associated with BMW, dating back to the 1960s, and modifies other vehicles in BMW’s lineup as well. Alpina is, in fact, so closely associated that its cars are marketed and sold by BMW in many global markets, with the Alpina B7 — a modified 7 Series — currently sold in the U.S. and the Alpina B6 previously sold here. Alpina vehicles are also covered by BMW’s warranty and maintenance programs.
The XB7 will join the B7 in BMW’s lineup as a large and luxurious vehicle with enough power to possibly rip a hole in the fabric of space and time, and like the B7 it will cost a pretty penny to wield that power: The XB7’s starting price is $142,295 (including $995 destination fee).
Exterior
On the outside, the XB7 gets the usual sort of accoutrements to let onlookers know this is a performance vehicle. That includes standard 21-inch wheels wrapped in performance rubber, with 23-inchers as optional equipment. The front bumper is covered in massive air intakes, and there’s “Alpina” lettering above the front splitter. The rear bumper showcases the XB7’s Alpina sport exhaust and has diffuser fins to improve aerodynamic performance.
Interior
Despite the performance of the XB7, Alpina doesn’t forget about luxury, with standard Merino leather upholstery covering BMW’s multicontour front seats with standard seat heating, a leather-wrapped instrument panel and an Alcantara simulate suede headliner. A three-panel panoramic sunroof is also standard, and BMW’s ambient Panorama Sky Lounge LED Roof is optional. Taking a page from BMW-owned Rolls-Royce, this can replicate a starlit night sky or display over 15,000 different patterns. Seating is for six or seven, with either a second-row bench seat or optional captain’s chairs.
Other high-end touches inside include an Alpina sport steering wheel with Alpina’s signature blue and green stitching, BMW’s Crafted Clarity glass finishes and an Alpina-specific controller for the iDrive infotainment system, which has been further customized by Alpina and is displayed on a 12.3-inch screen. A second 12.3-inch digital display is used for the instrument panel.
Engine and Transmission
Under the XB7’s giant hood is a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 that pumps out 612 horsepower and 590 pounds-feet of torque. BMW claims that’s good enough to hustle the three-row SUV from 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds, and with the standard 21-inch wheels and performance tires BMW says the XB7 can finish a quarter-mile in 12.6 seconds on its way to an electronically limited 180 mph top speed.
Alpina cars also use their own ZF-developed transmissions, in this case an eight-speed automatic that was designed specifically to handle the massive amounts of twist produced by the V-8. Sport and Sport Plus drive modes optimize shift points for increased performance, while Comfort and Comfort Plus modes keep the revs lower for leisurely cruising.
An electronically controlled limited-slip differential helps get all that torque to the wheels with the most grip, and has been “specifically calibrated to suit the dynamic character of the BMW Alpina XB7 and it operates in conjunction with the other driving dynamic systems.”
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Safety
All-wheel drive is standard, and to help slow down the big SUV it’s been equipped with Brembo brakes — the front has four-piston calipers and 15.5-by-1.4-inch diameter discs, and the rear uses floating calipers and 15.7-by-1.1-inch discs.
BMW’s Driving Assistant Professional Package is standard equipment, giving the XB7 standard forward collision detection with automatic emergency braking capable of detecting pedestrians and cyclists, as well as blind spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert, lane keep assist with side collision detection and adaptive cruise control with BMW’s Extended Traffic Jam Assistant.
Also standard is BMW’s Parking Assistant Professional Package, which is capable of detecting a suitable parallel parking space and parking automatically. A surround-view 3D camera and parking sensors assist drivers in manual parking situations.
The Alpina XB7 will be available for ordering this month with deliveries scheduled to begin in September.
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