BMW has unveiled the refreshed 2023 BMW Alpina XB7, a high-performance SUV set to rival the Cadillac Escalade-V.
The heart of the 2023 BMW Alpina XB7 is its twin-turbo 4.4L V8 engine, featuring a pair of twin-scroll turbochargers and mild-hybrid technology. Output from the boosted V8 is rated at a maximum of 621 horsepower (630 PS), 18 more than the previous-generation engine, plus 590 pound-feet of torque. That’s enough to slingshot the SUV from a standstill to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, with the quarter mile completed in 12.4 seconds and top speed clocking in at 180 mph.
The Alpina XB7’s twin-turbo V8 connects to an eight-speed Sport Automatic Transmission with steering wheel-mounted shifters, which feeds the xDrive all-wheel drive system and electronically variable limited-slip differential in the rear axle.
Keeping the Alpina XB7 shiny side up is variable air suspension with Alpina-specific dampers and kinematics, offering variable ride height and settings to suit either comfort or performance. There’s also electromechanical anti-roll bars and an Active Roll Stabilization system, as well as four-piston Brembo brakes with 15.5-inch discs up front, and 15.7-inch discs in the rear.
In the corners are standard 23-inch alloys in a classic 20-spoke design, finished in Anthracite, while 21-inch wheels are optional. Further styling enhancements include a modified lighting design and illuminated kidney grille. In back is a quartet of oval tailpipes set in an Alpina rear apron.
Inside, you’ll find the latest BMW iDrive system and plenty of customization options, plus various driver assists like Active Driving Assistant Plus and Parking Assistant Professional, both equipped as standard.
Pricing for the 2023 BMW Alpina XB7 starts at $145,000, plus $995 for destination and handling. Orders open this month, with initial deliveries ramping up early next year.
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Comments
Why
BMW have doubled volume this century & become largest American exporter of vehicles on X crossovers, buyers have been paying a premium for Alpina for years, BMW just bought them. Rolls are doing record volume on waitlisted Bespoke Cullinan, BMW’s 2nd. dedicated M vehicle is hybrid SUV XM, it will be their largest & most powerful vehicle ever. That ALL of these vehicles sell for 6 figures should tell you Why.
BMW, whatever ugly they do, USA buy as Hot Dogs or Big Mac in Burger King, none a problem for them… Amazing the way they do Wild Business, exploring third enterprises cheap of course, as me between 1998 to 2007 doing projects to them as 3rd like one million guys do, very unfair, but they do their money, in a way they are 1st in Forbes here in Germany, Queen Suzane Klatten has nothing to complain, egal the Design the thing is… it is really impressive the Disney Muenchen
Might sell in Europe but nobody knows what an Alpina is in the US.
It doesn’t project a 6-figure image. When GM made a $50k Tahoe into a $100k Escalade, they slapped a completely different body on it. This thing looks like any old BMW crossover.
A person on the street is going to take one look at this and think mid-size family SUV and say “My Subaru Ascent is far cheaper and reliable than this European thing”.
S T R A N G E
they don’t even compete
I don’t think they’ll be cross shopped.
The BMW Alpina XB7 is certainly not a competitor to the Cadillac Escalate V. The BMWs as well as the next Alpinas like the XB7 have become mass-produced.
But the “V-Series” Cadillacs are niche, low-volume models. The 6.2L V8 compressor (LT4) also has a unique selling point forever.
A BMW V8 with 627 HP is installed in the Alpina, which you will find in every BMW from 523HP to 627HP, depending on the tuning level. So nothing special and all European OEMs install the same 3.9L – 4.4L V8 Biturbo engines in their vehicles. What else is supposedly premium or technologically new and interesting here?
The BMW Alpina XB7 is a heavy huge monster SUV for a few customers worldwide. In Europe, these vehicles are only leased by a few business customers because they are 100% subsidized by the state tax office. Or BMW leases the X7 to their employees, so at least some of them are on the roads of Europe.
Later (2026) when BMW has taken over Alpina, Alpina may become a mass manufacturer of expensive vehicles. Although I can’t imagine that real Alpina customers would ever want mass-produced goods!
BMW exports most of the SUVs from their factories, as there are very few customers in the US, Canada and Mexico.
The next laugh at BMW will be the Monster BMW M XM! Ugly, heavy and a petrol guzzler contrary to all BMW eco marketing!
By the way!
Did you know that BMWs are cheaper in the US than in Germany?
You are severely mistaken, BMW have doubled volume this century, become full range manufacturer, #1 global premium & largest exporter of vehicles on X crossovers out of their largest factory, expanded Spartanburg. Alpina have been niche boutique tuner for years (as AMG was before Daimler were compelled to buy them to compete with M after Cosworth couldn’t do it)., BMW buying them ensures their future. Rolls Royce are doing record volume on waitlisted Bespoke Cullinan, between Individual & now Alpina, BMW will be doing the same under their own label. Mass-produced (& record-selling) BMW still only sell a fraction of the majors, incl. GM, since V are tuner version of existing mass-produced volume SUV, how are they “niche, low volume”? Only in sales #s, don’t they come off the same assembly lines as the rest? GM have been marketing this way most of their history, Sloan’s cradle to grave marketing, my parents had a Pontian Safari station wagon with the largest V8, it was a beast but it didn’t compete with BMW then, either. I doubt in reality there will be any cross-shopping, as you call it Escalate not available globally, while X7 is BMW’s 1st 3 row SUV & Alpina will be very limited production, as they always are, I didn’t even know they were available in North America. Your “unique” LT4 is sold in other models, while Bavarian MOTOR Works share drivetrains & platforms because century old German independent engineering firm builds them to their highest standards – why do you think they’ve been expanding for 60 years & buyers pay a premium for them & which needed bailout? The XM will be BMW’s largest, heaviest vehicle, but also hybrid so no doubt Greener than existing Ferrari, Aston, VW (Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley) performance SUVs. Since GM have no such hybrid performance drivetrain, they won’t be competing there, either. Rather than “eco marketing”, BMW have been winning sustainability awards for years & their new factories are Green, given varying taxation, capital fluctuations & Spartanburg domestic manufacture, why shouldn’t BMW be cheaper than in Germany & how is that relevant to anything? As with Hyundai N & so many other performance labels, would V even exist without BMW M establishing that market for past half century?
The thing is that in Europe that’s a “huge heavy monster SUV”, but in the US/Canada market, it’s the size of a mid-size SUV for families. Every brand in the US has something that size: Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia, Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota Highlander, Subaru Ascent, Kia Telluride, Ford Explorer, Dodge Durango… The characteristic is 3 rows of seats, it replaces the minivans people used to buy.
That’s why BMW doesn’t sell many in the US, nobody wants to pay $78,000 for a family car that starts around $35,000 otherwise. Subaru’s selling point for the Ascent is literally that it has 19 cupholders. Your kids are going to wreck the interior anyway.
Many brands have a real “full size” SUV, based on a body-on-frame half-ton pickup: Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban, GMC Yukon, Ford Expedition, Nissan Armada, Toyota Sequoia.
The lack of highly profitable mid- and full-size SUVs is why European brands have not been successful in the US market. GMC, with rebadged Chevrolets, sells more cars in the US market, with a higher average selling price than BMW.
The BMW doesn’t compete with ANY of the vehicles you mention. X7 is 1 of the vehicles that have doubled BMW’s volume this century, made Spartanburg their biggest factory & themselves largest Amerikuhn exporter of vehicles. 1 reason BMW have been expanding for 60 years is they sell as many niche configurations of shared platforms & drivetrains as possible, this is largest version of CLAR platform with multiple shared drivetrains available. Your last paragraph is 💩, Mercedes & BMW not only manufacture their SUVs here, they sell them in sufficient volumes & margins that they are bankrolling their new EV fleets. Since BMW annually sell a fraction of majors’ volumes, comparison is moot,
Even base X7 model beats the escalade in 0-60. Escalade is too big and slow while X7 can be faster and with smaller engine and get better millage. GM should have used turbo engines a while a go but i guess we will see electric before any turbos.