Buchloe-based automaker ALPINA has filled a trademark for potential X7 and X4-based SUVs. The fillings were for the XD4 and XB7 nameplates. In no share or form this confirms that ALPINA has green-lit the two Sports Utility Crossovers, but it simply shows that they are being considered for production.
Currently, ALPINA sells a single SUV, the XD3 BiTurbo, powered by a a straight-six, aluminum 3.0-liter engine with two turbochargers, common-rail direct injection and variable turbine geometry. It has a maximum output of 350 horsepower (257 kW) at 4,000 rpm and a peak torque of 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) reached between 1,500 and 3,000 rpm.
Both the X4 and X7 by ALPINA are a normal progression for the brand, considering what they stand for. The X4 is a mass-produced SUV with elegant and sporty lines which can be easily enhanced by the craftsmanship in Buchloe. The X7 will be BMW’s jewel, a high-end SUV which will be priced above $100,000 offering a suite of luxury items specific to that segment. It will arrive in 2019, likely just a few months before the ALPINA XB7, if it gets approved.
The XB7 will cater to specific markets, like the U.S., China and the Middle East, where large, luxury trucks are the norm. The XD4 – as the name implies – is powered by a diesel motor which makes the European market the perfect surrogate for it. If it gets approved for production, the XD4 is likely to arrive before 2018.
