The Italian offensive is upon us.
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio, the second product from the Italian carmaker as part of its ongoing transformation, will be arriving on our shores towards the tail end of Q1 2018. And so ahead of its launch, Alfa Romeo Australia has dropped some details on the sharply-styled SUV that has every intention of making its mark felt on the mid-size SUV segment.
Two new engine variants will arrive first, followed by the hot Stelvio Quadrifoglio, making it a three-pronged approach to the market. The Stelvio promises to offer great value on arrival, with all models enjoying the marque’s proprietary ‘Q4’ all-wheel drive system, with power fed by a carbon-fibre driveshaft that helps ensure that the Stelvio comfortably retains its claim to be the lightest SUV in its segment.
The Stelvio features perfect 50:50 weight distribution, and when paired with its low centre of gravity and segment-best power-to-weight ratio, it means that its claim as one of the most driver-focused SUVs out there is not just hot air. The Stelvio’s extensive use of aluminium throughout its construction, as well as the aforementioned driveshaft, means that the Stelvio weighs in at a pert 1660kg, which is not bad for something this size.
“The all-new Alfa Romeo Stelvio, named after one of the world’s greatest driving roads — Italy’s Stelvio Pass — will set a new benchmark for the segment in Australia. Alfa Romeo’s blend of expert engineering and emotion creates a premium mid-size SUV for try driving enthusiasts, and one that will stand out in one of the largest and fastest-growing segments in Australia” — Steve Zanlunghi, CEO, Alfa Romeo Australia
On arrival the Stelvio will see motivation from a 2.0-litre petrol engine and a 2.2-litre diesel, both featuring forced-induction and mated exclusively to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The petrol 4-pot puts out a healthy 149kW/330Nm and is capable of rocketing the Stelvio from rest to 100km/h in just 7.2-seconds. Figures for the diesel are quoted at 154kW/470Nm, and is able to hit 100km/h in just 6.6-seconds.
Later next year we can expect to see the Stelvio Quadrifoglio, replete with its biturbo 2.9-litre V6, with no less than 377kW and 600Nm, capable of launching the Stelvio to 100km/h from rest in just 3.9-seconds. This will undoubtedly put it in good stead against competitors like the Porsche Macan, Jaguar F-Pace, and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Coupé, and you can read more about it here.
When the Stelvio arrives in Oz, it’ll be offered with two option packages that are fairly easy to distinguish. The first is dubbed the ‘Super Lusso’ pack, which turns up the plush in the cabin. Seats and interior panels get finished in Pieno Fiore luxury leather, while steering wheel gets swapped out for a luxury variety replete with heating, with the whole cabin treated to walnut wax accents throughout.
On the other end of the spectrum is the ‘Veloce’ pack, which emphasises the sporty nature of the Stelvio. Sports leather seats get checked in along with a performance-oriented steering wheel, and the walnut wax from the Lusso pack gets ditched in favour of aluminium, with the same metal being used on the pedals too. And to top it off, there are red brake callipers to make everything that little bit better.
Prices and further details were not given at the time, though we expect a continuous drip of info leading up to the Stelvio’s formal introduction to our market. Expect to see the SUV command a slight premium over the Giulia saloon it’s based on, of course.
For more information on Alfa Romeo, check out our Showroom.
