Alpina’s 2021 XB7 is the large ‘M’ performance SUV BMW won’t build itself – Driving

Say youre BMW, and youre unwilling to produce a true M-badged large SUV that would be one with the M in front of its alphanumeric designation rather than with the vaunted letter at the end, as with, say, the X7M 50i what do you do to satisfy the demand from you clientele for an even faster, more luxurious sport-brute?

Well, you turn to Alpina, your brother-from-another-mother while Alpina is recognized as a completely separate automaker, BMW does assemble certain of the companys cars with parts sent to its factories from Alpina and get them to upgrade your uber-SUV offerings. Hence, the new 2021 Alpina XB7, a, well, more luxurious and powerful version of BMWs flagship SUV.

So, starting with BMWs top-flight engine, the 523-horsepower 553-foot-pounds 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8, Alpina massages both turbochargers (using 53-millimetre turbochargers) and the cooling system larger intercoolers and then two extra coolers to handle all the extra horsepower to pump out a thoroughly stellar 612 hp and 590 lb.-ft. of torque.

That makes the XB7 one ginormous SUV capable of accelerating to 100 kilometres an hour from zero in 4.2 seconds, and scamper a full quarter-mile in just 12.6 seconds. A contextual note here: one of the biggest, baddest muscle cars of yore, 1969s Chevy Camaro ZL1, needed a little over 13 seconds to trip the lights fantastic. Indeed, so endowed is BMWs beastly SUV it needs to be limited to a 290 km/h top speed, lest it melt its tires.

Alpina doesnt stop there. The X7s eight-speed automatic transmission gets beefed up and the driver gains Alpinas Switch-Tronic wheel-mounted shift buttons. It also gains a larger oil sump so it can survive all that extra power. The XB7 also gains a beefier limited-slip rear axle Alpina claims 1,475 foot-pounds of locking torque to better handle the engines greater twist.

The 7s suspension also gets beefed-up rejigged dampers and springing. More importantly, said air suspension can be dramatically lowered for greater stability at speed. So, for instance, at speeds above 160 km/h, the XB7 hunkers down some 20 millimetres. Stretch its legs past 250 klicks and it squats down another 20 mils (40 mm in all, or about as much as a McLaren Senna does in Race mode) for seriously ground-hugging aerodynamics.

I was just testing my Sport+ modes air suspension, however, will not be a legal defense if you get caught exercising Alpinas new dimension in driving dynamics. And making sure that everyone understands how fast you could be going if you so chose, the XB7 runs on gargantuan 23-inch dubs, the rear Pirellis measuring an incredible 325/30ZR23.

And because it would not be an Alpina without some truly outrageous hedonism inside, the XB7s Merino leather seats, Alcantara headliner and leather instrument panel are joined by a Panorama Sky Lounge LED Roof, which according to BMW Canada, has LED lighting spread across the roofs glass surfaces to illuminate more than 15,000 graphic patterns and generate a display reminiscent of a starlit sky.

Lastly, though Alpina is technically a separate company, it will be sold through select BMW dealers in Canada and serviced by the same network. No price has been set, but considering that the B7 is a $53,300 jump from the basic 7 Series sedan, dont expect much change from $150,000.

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Alpina's 2021 XB7 is the large 'M' performance SUV BMW won't build itself - Driving