BMW’s XB7 Alpina is a super upscale haven for luxury
When it comes to luxury, what more could you ever want? I am not sure about you but, in the luxury SUV market, we consistently see new and exciting options and packages stacked upon already upscale vehicles. For this weekend, we got a special three-day insight to the newly designed BMW XB7 Alpina, one of the finest seven-passenger SUVs tested in Grasso’s Garage.
Coming in with a roaring 4.4-liter V8 Bi-Turbo 612 horsepower engine with 590 lb.-ft. of torque, this SUV is smooth, fast and quiet, going from zero to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds. This luxury-type, first class cannon-launcher, brings the almost 6,000 pound SUV to its feet exceptionally quickly. With a wheelbase of 122 inches and riding on 23 inch Alpina 16spoke wheels, it is so plush looking.
Although our $154,000 tester came with every bell and whistle, the overall ride height control is my favorite feature of the XB7 Alpina. You can simply, while driving, adjust the ride height to give the Alpina that extra special low look, which is tremendous.
Wrapped in Mineral White Metallic and Satin Aluminum trim, the XB7 glows gorgeously. On the interior, it had Coffee Full Merino Leather, what a dream riding machine. The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system paired with a Harmon Kardon Surround Sound system were exceptional. A panoramic sky lounge LED roof was also present and for a bargain, only $750. The rear seat entertainment system, which controlled just about everything from volume controls to the sunroof was $2,200.
“BMW does a lot of things right and in their XB7, it’s business as usual,” said John Paul, AAA Northeast’s senior manager of traffic safety and public affairs. “The BMW Alpina XB7 like all BMW vehicles doesn’t just focus on performance but also prioritizes safety. The systems are a combination of both passive and active safety systems. BMW starts with some of the best headlights available, the Icon Adaptive LED Headlights with Laserlight. Add Active Protection System that potentially detects imminent crashes and then pre-tensions the seat belts and if needed closes the windows and moonroof and activates braking. Plus semi-autonomous features such as steering, lane keeping, lane change and emergency stop assistant. As good as all of these systems are, think of the BMW systems as part of a team that you are on. These systems are not designed to replace a fully engaged driver but to work with one.”
I’m not sure about you, but I love my couch. There is nothing like a good relaxing spot to take a breath after a long day, but with the XB7 Alpina in my garage, I find myself going for a ride for a small drive instead of taking a seat!