THE FORCE OF EMOTIONS

For 2023, the BMW ALPINA XB7 benefits from several updates, including a new generation engine, an even sharper, more progressive design, and advancements in driving assistance and connectivity.

Written by Andre James / Photography by Frederic Schlosser, courtesy of BMW

Although tuning house ALPINA, based in Buchloe, Bavaria, has been making BMWs speedier for more than five decades, the partnership was only formally cemented this past March when BMW acquired the rights to the ALPINA brand. The long- standing cooperation agreement will expire on December 31, 2025. “Acquiring the trademark rights will allow us to shape the long- term course of this brand steeped in tradition. We are delighted to welcome the ALPINA brand to the BMW family,” said Pieter Nota, member of the Board of Management responsible for Customer, Brands, and Sales.

The 2023 BMW ALPINA Xb7 features an all-new V8 engine, now with BMW mild hybrid technology, placing it firmly among the highest performing Sports Activity Vehicles worldwide. It produces 630 hp (up 18 hp from the previous generation) and 590 lb-ft of torque, available from 1,800 rpm to 5,600 rpm. As a result, the luxury seven-seater SAV accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds, completes the quarter-mile sprint in 12.4 seconds, and can reach a top speed of 180 mph with the available 21-in wheel and performance tire package (a no-cost option).

Responding within milliseconds to driver inputs, the 8-Speed Sport Automatic Transmission with industry-original ALPINE SWITCH-TRONIC wheel-mounted shift buttons delivers effortless and instantaneous power. Effective torque distribution is guaranteed by the intelligent xDrive all-wheel-drive system and an electronically- variable limited-slip differential at the rear axle.

The two-axle air suspension with ALPINA-specific dampers and kinematics is primarily responsible for the balance of driving dynamics and ride comfort, allowing for a noticeable 1.6-inch change in ride height, depending on the driving situation or the chosen suspension mode. In addition, the rear wheels can pivot up to 2.3-degrees left or right, increasing agility at low speeds and aiding maximum directional stability at high speeds.

The BMW iDrive 8 Operating System allows for even greater degrees of personalization. Per the BMW design principle of “eyes on the road – hands on the wheel,” all displays offer logical orientation and can be tailored to drivers’ individual needs. Among the available upgrades to the driver assistance systems is the Maneuver Assistant, which uses GPS and trajectory data from steering inputs to record and store up to ten maneuvers covering a distance of up to 200 meters.

Inside the cabin, several distinguishing characteristics separate the ALPINA model from the pack:

• A glass IDrive controller with the ALPINA design. • Blue illuminated great selector. • ALPINA production plaque. • Illuminated ALPINA door sills. • ALPINA sport steering wheel hand-finished in LAVALINA leather with trademark blue-green stitching. • Myrtle wood interior trim (piano lacquer and natural walnut anthracite are available options).

“The ALPINA brand has matured alongside BMW over the past 50 years and has everything it takes to make the heart of an automotive connoisseur beat faster all over the world. It finds the right balance between cultivated sportiness, luxury, and exclusivity,” said Jens Thiemer, Senior Vice President of Customer and Brand BMW. sl

Pricing for the Alpina XB7 starts at $145,995, with deliveries scheduled to begin in early 2023.