ANN ARBOR, Mich. — It takes a car-minded particular person, and even somebody well-versed in BMW, to actually discover an Alpina in passing. The Bavarian tuner, which trades solely in BMW, doesn’t plaster its performance-enhanced vehicles with carbon fiber or overwrought aerodynamics. As a substitute, there are refined, Alpina-specific design cues: particular wheels and decrease physique work, plus Alpina badging, together with the extra “B” within the mannequin designation. All of it appears constant for a BMW, however for those who look lengthy sufficient, you’ll be able to select an Alpina in a parking zone, particularly for those who’ve spent a variety of time trying on the BMW fashions they’re primarily based upon.
However for a sub-brand that has traditionally dealt in vehicles — with the 7 Collection-based B7 lengthy being the one providing in america — Alpina has now given its particular therapy to BMW’s flagship SUV, the X7. The Alpina XB7 tops the X7 lineup when it comes to energy and worth, and carries on with a practice of tactful styling and sterling high quality. Whereas BMW didn’t precisely maintain again when penning the X7, Alpina didn’t go overboard with something … besides possibly efficiency. It’s a superlative BMW that someway has nothing to show.
Alpina’s visible upgrades to the already-flashy X7 are tasteful. In case you can pry your eyes from that huge kidney grille, you’ll be able to see the Alpina has tweaked the entrance fascia, notably including its identify/brand to the very decrease lip of the bumper as in its previous creations. Whereas our tester wore the 21-inch Alpina Dynamic wheels shod in Pirelli winter tires, the optionally available 23-inch, 20-spoke Alpina Basic turbine wheels are extra sure to catch the attention of different drivers whereas nonetheless being, effectively, traditional. Significantly, they’re rad. In again, the XB7 sports activities a rear diffuser flanked by quad chrome steel exhaust shops that promise to offer the Alpina a voice all its personal.
Inside, we see extra particular touches. The Alpina emblem on the steering wheel — a coat of arms containing a pair of velocity stacks and a crankshaft aspect by aspect on a crimson and blue subject — is the very first thing to catch one’s eye when sliding into the driving force’s seat. Our tester got here upholstered in ivory Merino leather-based with Alpina-specific Myrtle Wooden trim that is roughly the colour of Mars. There’s one other Alpina brand etched into the trim on the passenger’s aspect of the sprint in addition to on the iDrive wheel interface, plus a steel plaque affixed to the duvet of the cubby containing the cupholders beneath the middle stack. Our automobile featured second-row captain’s chairs and the LED panoramic “Sky Lounge” roof that offers it an ambient, digital starlight have a look at evening. It appears stylish, not saucy.
However the visible modifications are really secondary to what actually defines the XB7’s character. Crucial work Alpina performs is mechanical. For the XB7, it took BMW’s 4.4-liter V8 and tuned it to a powerful 612 horsepower peaking from 5,500-6,500 rpm, and 590 pound-feet of max torque out there from 2,000-5,000 rpm. Bear in mind, very similar to the 7 Collection, there isn’t any M model of the X7: the Alpina is probably the most performance-oriented model out there. Alpinas have all the time been much less hardcore than M vehicles, extra about Autobahn street journeys than Nurbürgring monitor days, which undoubtedly appears applicable for a three-row SUV.
Alpina additionally applies its personal “Swap-Tronic” tuning to the eight-speed automated to handle that energy in fast, clean shifts. That goes to all 4 wheels through an Alpina-calibrated model of BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system. Alpina additionally tuned the two-axle air suspension for a smoother trip with sportier dealing with, plus a decrease trip top within the Alpina-exclusive Sport mode.
You’re in all probability questioning what all this prices, and also you may not be shocked to be taught that it’s loads. The Alpina XB7 begins at $142,295, which incorporates BMW’s comparatively affordable $995 vacation spot charge. For that princely sum, although, you get loads. The upgraded powertrain, suspension, exhaust, brakes and extra-special consolation options like heated armrests, massaging entrance seats, distant begin, the hands-free visitors jam assistant, head-up show and heated and cooled cupholders are baked in as customary. Our tester’s sticker worth totaled $156,345, which included an upcharge for the Ametrin Metallic paint ($1,950), the white Merino leather-based ($1,500), a rear-seat leisure system ($2,200), a Bowers & Wilkins sound system ($3,400), five-zone local weather management ($800), these captain’s chairs ($500), the trick LED sunroof ($750), and the 23-inch wheels ($2,600) which can be in all probability sitting in a storage someplace till late spring.
I didn’t tread gingerly with the XB7 within the snow — this large boy felt as assured as you’d count on an X7 to really feel in inclement climate — however I didn’t precisely flog the factor, both. The excessive trip and all-wheel drive deal with the powder simply high-quality, and the winter tires helped this 5,860-pound behemoth tread solidly and brake rapidly on the packed snow. In truth, a lot of our driving, performed throughout the bounds of sanity and prudence on public roads, was uneventful. In informal, on a regular basis driving, little of the Alpina character shines by means of. In case you pay shut consideration, you start to note what you don’t discover; issues like noise, vibration and physique roll are stored in test brilliantly. Kudos to the adaptive suspension specifically. When working errands, we might simply overlook concerning the 612 horsepower and the gearshifts taking place quietly within the background.
A well-timed inexperienced gentle on the appropriate street or a freeway on-ramp could make it easier to keep in mind, although, that that is the sportiest model of the X7 you may get, by far. When requested, the Alpina XB7 springs to life, hurling ahead with a brappy growl issuing from the exhaust. Oh yeah, it jogged my memory because the roads started to clear up later within the week, this factor can occasion.
Ultimately, there was sufficient dry pavement on some respectable roads to get up this sleeping large. After placing it into Sport mode at a stoplight, watching the physique calm down onto its haunches helps set the tone for what’s about to occur. Slam the fuel, and the XB7 leaps to life, with the twin-turbo V8 kicking you again into your seat. BMW claims a 0-60-mph time of 4.0 seconds, which, for one thing weighing virtually three tons, is a testomony to Alpina’s powertrain tuning chops. It pulls laborious from the get-go and thru the mid-range, simply truly fizzling out subtly excessive within the rev vary. The transmission manages swift shifts with out interrupting the sensation of utter pace. It’s clean, refined, even well mannered because it pulls your scalp rearward. The exhaust be aware — aggressive, however not overly intrusive — is the ultimate ingredient to this wealthy reward.
We didn’t fling the XB7 round corners at full tilt, however It felt adept at managing its bulk as forces acted upon it from their numerous vectors. The suspension managed to maintain me from sliding round in my seat because the XB7 mitigated physique roll and managed the chassis’ relationship with the crumbling pavement beneath it. The tuning that manages consolation in herky-jerky metropolis visitors does an equally adept job at offering poise when one decides to reap the benefits of the facility at hand.
Our Alpina XB7 arrived one snowstorm after our slushy week with the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600, so it’s practically unimaginable not to attract comparisons. Whereas the Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 is perhaps a extra immediately analogous, the Alpina appears to mix a little bit of the ethos of each AMG and Maybach, after which interprets it right into a Bavarian dialect. There’s no denying that Alpina places efficiency on the forefront, however it doesn’t achieve this on the sacrifice of sophistication. The XB7 is extra temperate in its styling than the brash AMG and definitely the opulent Maybach (that two-tone paint, man!). It doesn’t shout at you with carbon fiber and extreme strains, however it additionally doesn’t ply you with throw pillows and a champagne fridge. Alpina, as a substitute, rewards its driver with the sort of consolation that doesn’t fairly cosset, and the sort of efficiency that doesn’t wage battle on the occupants’ senses. And that someway makes this $140,000, 612-hp crossover appear … effectively, sensible will not be the appropriate phrase. “Good worth” is not proper, both. How about “a extra tasteful center floor than its Mercedes rivals”?
In case you have the means and are in search of a usable however remarkably potent German ute, the Alpina XB7 delivers. In case you want your full-size crossover to precede your character — whether or not you’re an aggressive one who wants an aggressive trip (AMG), or need to point out that you simply’ve in all probability bought a factor for ornamental fountains (Maybach) — Mercedes has some excellent choices for you. In case you like good, quick, snug issues, however don’t want your three-row automobile to make a daring assertion for you, strive the Alpina. Simply be prepared for the push when the pedal hits the ground.
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