Famed BMW tuner Alpina has lifted the covers off its own version of the X7, dubbed the XB7, which applies the company’s signature touches and plenty of added power to the biggest car the Bavarians have ever made.

Based on the X7 M50i, it utilises the same 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged engine you’d normally find in BMW’s current X7 flagship – however, Alpina has turned up the wick on it from 390kW and 750Nm to a mammoth 457kW and 800Nm, which is enough to make is the most powerful Alpina model currently available.

The same eight-speed automatic and xDrive all-wheel drive system with an electronically-controlled rear limited-slip differential also remain, but have similarly been fettled by Alpina to tweak their performance to handle the engine’s added grunt.

As Alpina has also given the upcoming B3 Touring, the XB7 will feature a unique Comfort+ setting in addition to the regular Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ drive modes, each of which adjust the exhaust settings, ride height by as much as 40mm, and air suspension damping.

Four-wheel steering and electromagnetic sway bars are also fitted to aid the XB7 in the handling department, while four-pot Brembo brakes are fitted to help bring the 2665kg leviathan to a stop, with the option of light-weight cross-drilled discs and even more hardcore brake pads also available.

While 21-inch wheels are fitted as standard – one-inch smaller than the 22s that are standard on the M50i and M50d, which highlights Alpina’s traditional focus on having comfort to accompany performance – a set of forged 23-inch wheels are also available as an optional extra.

Of course, the typical Alpina styling cues are also applied to the exterior of the XB7 – not just in terms of the wheel designs themselves, but also the new badging and fascia with the Alpina name emblazoned across the lower grille.

On the inside, the most notable change is the option of a six-seat layout with second-row captain’s chairs, although the X7’s regular seven-seat is also available. Either way, however, Lavalina leather upholstery now features, as do some other subtle touches such as the Alpina logo laser-etched into the rotary controller for its iDrive infotainment system.

The Alpina XB7 is set to go on sale in Australia in early 2021, following its launch in the US this September, and the UK in late 2020.

Patrick Jackson
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