For the first time ever Alpina is applying its sporty styling, luxury touches, and big power upgrades to an SUV for the U.S. market. The 2021 BMW Alpina XB7 will set you back over $142,000, has an equally large 612 HP, and can get to 60 MPH in a scant four-seconds flat. While this SUV is massive, it is also very quick and packed with impressive bespoke luxury touches. You can order your own now, with deliveries starting this fall.
What is an Alpina?
“Elegant understatement is at the very core of ALPINA’s brand philosophy, which is manifested in an interior with the focus on comfort, above-average driving performance and a discreetly sporty exterior.”
If you’re not a European tuner BMW enthusiasts you might be asking yourself what is an Alpina? Alpina is a German car manufacturer that specializes in taking BMW models to the next level of refinement. Alpina vehicles have a very distinct sporty exterior appearance while being extra luxurious inside, packing tons of power under the hood, and offering up sporty underpinnings.
Since its beginnings in 1965 Alpina has been a privately owned company. Over the years it has built a close relationship with BMW, and now sells some of its creations at U.S. BMW dealerships. These new vehicles are fully covered by BMW’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty and applicable maintenance programs.
BMW Alpina XB7
The BMW Alpina XB7 SUV joins Alpina’s U.S. lineup alongside the B7 Sedan. The XB7 is based on the BMW X7 three-row luxury SUV. Think of the Alpina XB7 as a top-spec BMW X7 with OEM quality upgrades to nearly everything on the vehicle. This big SUV is surely a pinnacle family mover for the well-off.
You get a custom-tuned all-wheel drive and an all-wheel-steering systems in the Alpina XB7. BMW’s intelligent xDrive system gets the big power to all four wheels. The “Integral Active Steering” system allows the rear axle to pivot up to 2.3-degrees, for impressive maneuverability and agility at all speeds.
Massive 15+inch Brembo brakes at all four corners make sure this beast of an SUV can stop quickly. The calipers feature white Alpina logos and an Alpina Blue finish.
Bold Distinclty Alpina Looks
The exterior design improving both appearance and aerodynamic properties such as reduced aerodynamic lift for maximum high-speed stability. Alpina has updated the bumpers at both ends of this big BMW SUV. Up front the bumper is designed to optimize downforce and cooling, while framing the free-floating “ALPINA” lettering. The rear bumper showcases the twin tip Alpina sport exhaust and is accentuated by central small diffuser fins.
A signature touch on all Alpina vehicles are very distinct large wheels. The XB7 rides on 21-inch Alpine Dynamic custom wheels as standard. Those big rims are wrapped in equally big rubber, 285/45R21 tires at all four corners. You can specify performance summer or all-season runflat tires on the XB7.
As seen in these teaser images, the XB7 is also offered with new 23-inch forged 20-spoke Alpina Classic wheels. These wheels are each a full 7-pounds lighter than the standard 21-inch Alpina Dynamic wheels. These massive 23-inch wheels are wrapped in exclusive Pirelli tires, 285/35ZR23 in front and 325/3ZR23 in the rear. This combo provides insane levels of grip, and a big presence both moving and standing still.
Alpina Luxury Interior
The Alpina XB7 gets all the nicest interior features you can get on the BMW X7. Think merino leather, soft-close doors, Alcantara headliner, leather instrument panel, and the massive panoramic glass roof, all standard. You also get the BMW full-color 12.3-inch display, which has been custom configured by Alpina.
Alpina also pulled technology from BMW’s sister brand Rolls-Royce to offer an exclusive “Panorama Sky Lounge LED Roof” on the XB7. This glass roof has an LED lighting system that can generate more than 15,000 graphic patterns and recreate the look of a starlit sky.
The XB7 interior also offers a ton of unique Alpina details. It has a custom iDrive controller, blue illuminated gear selector switch, Alpina production plaque, illuminated Alpina door sills, and the Alpina sport steering wheel hand-finished in high-end Lavalina leather and featuring trademark Blue/Green stitching.
The 2021 BMW Alpina XB7 also gets a custom wood interior. You can choose from the standard Myrtle Luxury Wood or the optional Piano Lacquer or Natural Walnut Anthracite.
Alpina XB7 Performance
The BMW Alpina XB7 is a massive SUV that might look fast, but you wouldn’t expect it to be truly quick. Those assumptions would be wrong though, as this big SUV puts down supercar performance numbers.
The XB7 is powered by a 4.4-liter bi-turbo V8 producing 612 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. That is good enough for a top speed of 180 MPH and a 4-second flat 0-to-60 MPH time. Somehow this big machine is even able to cover a quarter-mile sprint in just 12.6-seconds!
“The engines character is best described as early, torque-filled urgency followed by a surge of mid-range power and a hard charge to redline.”
An 8-speed automatic transmission sends that big power to the wheels. It is designed specifically to cope with the copious volume of torque coming from the engine. You can enjoy this transmission in full auto mode, or select your own gears through the steering-wheel-mounted Alpina Switch-Tronic shift buttons. An electronically-variable active limited-slip rear differential allows the big power to get to both rear wheels at the same time for maximum grip.
The Alpina XB7 also allows you to hear the big bi-turbo V8 noises, if you want to. A stainless-steel Alpina sport exhaust system offers active exhaust flaps. This system allows you as the driver to easily switch from Comfort mode to Sport mode. Cruise down the highway like you’re in a normal family SUV, or let it be known that you’ve got 612 HP of fury under the hood by letting this beast bark.
ALPINA XB7 Sport Suspension
Alpina injects its sporty DNA into every part of every vehicle it produces. The BMW Alpina XB7 is no different and gets a cutting-edge suspension system that provides both the luxury and sporty ride you expect from Alpina. The suspension system uses the BMW X7’s two-axle air suspension, with an Alpina specific set-up. This system can change the ride height by up to 1.6-inches. Not only can the XB7 easily get over the steep speed bump at your local store but can also hunker down in SPORT+ mode or for speeds over 155 MPH.
To get a sporty ride, handle the big power, and improve high-speed stability Alpina has greatly stiffened up the X7 chassis. The XB7 has upgraded dome-bulkhead strut, reinforced torsion struts, and stiffer rear axle bushings. Combine all that with the electromechanical anti-roll bars of the standard BMW Active Roll Stabilization system and you have a very controllable big SUV at any speed.
Buy Your Own 2021 BMW Alpina XB7
You can order your own 2021 BMW Alpina XB7 this month. Deliveries are scheduled to start in September. Pricing starts at an eye-watering $141,300, plus a $995 destination charge. For comparison the 2020 BMW X7, which the Alpina XB7 is based, has a starting price of $73,900.
The BMW Alpina XB7 will be built at a plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
