By Otsile Kadiege

Just a few hours after BMW revealed the facelifted X7, tuning company Alpina, which was recently acquired by BMW, revealed their iteration of the luxo-barge dubbed the XB7. The Alpina XB7 benefits from a host of product updates, including the latest V8 engine generation, an even sharper, progressive design and the most up-to-date driving assistance systems and connectivity options.

Exterior design

Like the BMW X7 M60i it’s based on, the BMW Alpina XB7 boasts an opinion splitting front-end thanks to split headlights flanked by a large illuminated grille (optional on the normal X7) and a redesigned front splitter with ‘Alpina’ lettering. The side profile gains Alpina’s signature rims, which are 21-inches in size as standard, and Alpina vinyls. Rear-end images are yet to be published but we should expect quad tailpipes and redesigned tail lights with 3D effect.

Interior and technology

Inside, the XB7 is said to have a first class feel thanks to premium materials abound with an extensive standard equipment list which now also includes BMW Parking Assistant Professional. Alpina interior details like the blue illuminated gear selector, a hand-finished steering wheel and the Alpina production plaque add an exclusive touch to the interior. It also gets the updated X7’s new curved display with a 12.3-inch information display and a 14.9-inch control display. It’s running on BMW’s latest operating system – iDrive 8 with Alpina’s iconic blue/green colour scheme.

Performance

Powering the BMW Alpina XB7 is a new BMW M sourced 4.4-litre V8 engine with bi-turbo charging and BMW mild hybrid technology. The engine produces a total output of 457kW/800Nm available from just 2,000 rpm. The BMW Alpina XB7 claims it accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in just 4.2 seconds and can reach a top speed of 290km/h. The XB7 sends its power via BMW xDrive AWD system via an 8-Speed ZF Sport-Automatic.