The all-imposing Alpina SUV can do 0-60 in 3.9 seconds onto a top speed of 180 mph.
BMWThe Alpina XB7 is back for 2023. The high-riding super SUV has represented the very top of BMW’s utility vehicle lineup for years, and now, we know all the details on this newly refreshed model. In addition to the new looks, it gets 630 hp from a twin-turbo V-8, along with a mild-hybrid system, air suspension, and an active limited-slip differential.
We first saw this newly refreshed XB7 back in April after it leaked on Alpina’s official site shortly after BMW revealed its updated X7. Most of the car’s design is unchanged save for the fascia, which gets a new split-headlight design that’s becoming more and more popular among automakers. Like all Alpina-fied models, the XB7 gets specific bumpers to set it apart from the normal X7, along with unique graphics and a set of 21-inch Alpina wheels as standard. Buyers fond of Alpina’s design heritage can also option the firm’s signature 23-inch 20-spoke wheels at an additional cost.
Though the new XB7 still sports a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 under the hood, it’s not the same motor. The new engine, designated S68, comes from the company’s XM crossover and employs a 48-volt mild hybrid system to improve efficiency and dissipate turbo lag. It makes 630 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque in this application—up 19 hp from the previous model.
BMW
Power gets to all four wheels via ZF’s venerable eight-speed auto, with an electronically controlled limited-slip differential out back, distributing torque to the rear wheel with the most grip at any given time. Underneath the XB7 you’ll find height-adjustable air suspension, active anti-roll bars, and rear-wheel steering, all there to help improve the SUV’s dynamics.
BMW claims the 2021 Alpina XB7 can sprint from zero to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds, onto a top speed of 180 mph. The quarter-mile comes in just 12.4 seconds.
Order books for the XB7 are set to open this month, with first deliveries scheduled for “early 2023,” according to BMW. MSRP comes in at $145,995 including destination, making it the most expensive model BMW currently offers.
Brian Silvestro Road & Track staff writer with a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing.
Keyword: 2023 BMW Alpina XB7 Gets a New Face and 630 HP