So you wanted to place an order for a new
BMW Alpina XB7; well, you can’t because the entire production for 2020 has been
officially sold out for the U.S. and Canada already. BMW North America
announced that series production of the new Alpina XB7 has started at the
Spartanburg factory, along with the launch of their “Build Your Own”
configurator, but apparently dealer and customer orders “have already satisfied
available production capacity” for the calendar year 2020.
That means that while you can’t place an
order with your desired spec and take delivery this year, you can still buy an
Alpina XB7 directly from a dealer lot. The Alpina XB7 is basically the
range-topping version of the X7 and the closest thing we’ll ever get to an X7M;
power comes from a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 with 612 HP and 800 Nm of torque. This sort of power allows the big BMW SUV to complete the 0-100 km/h in 4.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 290
km/h.
BMW North America, which began accepting
orders for Alpina’s first full-size SUV following its mid-May debut, says that
the new XB7 will remain a member of Alpina’s very exclusive family, as the
production volume will be kept stable at just under 2,000 units per year.
Alpina’s engineers have re-programmed not
only the eight-speed automatic transmission for better performance in its most
aggressive modes but they also retuned the xDrive all-wheel-drive system, altering
the torque distribution for maximum traction and neutral driving dynamics. The
company also added a limited-slip differential on the rear axle.
The suspension geometry has also been
revised, as has the air suspension, which features specific dampers and a new
kinematic setup. The body rigidity of the new XB7 has been improved with
Alpina’s dome-bulkhead strut and reinforced torsion struts while bigger Brembo
brakes ensure that this heavy beast will always remain under control.
Prices for the 2021 BMW Alpina XB7 start
from US$ 142,295, including a US$ 995 destination and handling fee.