XB7 doesn’t roll off the tongue easily but neither does RSQ8 or MP4-12C. BMW still sells an in-house X7 M50i, but that only produces power figures in the mid-500s. Alpina has done us all a favor and re-tuned the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with larger twin-scroll turbochargers, two additional water coolers, a larger transmission oil cooler, new intercoolers, and a new stainless steel exhaust system, for a grand output of 612 horsepower and 590 lb-ft. That’s enough to scoot you and six other passengers from 0-100 km/h in 4.2 seconds.
Aesthetically, the XB7 sets itself apart with a new body kit. That includes standard 23-inch wheels with the classic Alpina 20-spoke design (21-inch wheels are optional), larger front air intakes, front splitter with Alpina script, and twin tailpipes outback. Oh, and that gorgeous palette of Alpina Blue and Alpina Green. Inside you will find the typical Alpina garnish with Myrtle Wood panels, an Alpina badged steering wheel wrapped in blue and green stitching and logos along with the center console and rotary dial.
If the X7 M50i was any indication of how absurd yet effective a performance three-row SUV can be, we can only imagine how this more powerful Alpina will perform on the road. It’s a good move from BMW, as the Mercedes-AMG GLS 63, Audi RSQ8, and Range Rover SVAutobiography have all been insanely popular with the masses. But I don’t see why BMW does not see a business case for an X7 M, as it’s competitors do.
One interesting note: whereas Alpina would traditionally take a BMW vehicle straight off the factory floor and ship it to Buchloe for tuning, the XB7 will instead be built alongside the X7 in the Spartanburg factory in South Carolina. We asked BMW if they plan to invest more money and revamp part of the plant to configure Alpina-only vehicles, and they mentioned that a dedicated team of Alpina engineers will be on-site for the XB7. You can see their full e-mail response below. Fingers crossed for more of these rarified German unicorns to hit our shores.
