Sergio Marchionne's plan to turn Alfa Romeo into FCA's global premium brand would have to include an SUV, it was inevitable. And the Stelvio is Alfa Romeo's first SUV, but it won't be the last.
The expectation is that the Stelvio will guarantee results for Alfa Romeo as the Cayenne guaranteed for Porsche or the F-Pace is guaranteeing for Jaguar. Presented in Los Angeles last year in the Quadrifoglio version, today we introduce you to the Stelvio “civilians”.
a matter of style
When we talk about Alfa Romeo, we necessarily have to talk about design and styling. Even more when it comes to an unprecedented SUV of the scudetto brand.
The Stelvio wants to be the most agile and sporty SUV in the segment, but achieving an appearance that expresses that agility is a difficult mission. Blame it on the excess volume characteristic of SUVs, which undermines proportions. From Giulia, Stelvio draws its main formal features and identifying elements.
The wheelbase is identical to the Giulia (2.82 m), but it is longer 44 mm (4.69 m), wider 40 mm (1.90 m) and a substantial 235 mm taller (1.67 m). Naturally, it stands out from Giulia in terms of volumes and proportions.
The Stelvio is a hatchback, the norm for SUVs, but with a steeply pitched rear window, it's almost like a fastback SUV.
Thus, it gains a profile somewhere in the middle between the conventional BMW X3 and the closest one to a coupé from the BMW X4. From certain angles, the Stelvio looks more like a full-bodied C-segment due to the absence of a glazed area on the rear pillar. Perception that, hopefully, is corrected live. The end result is reasonably successful, despite the absence of the fusion of elegance and dynamism that we expect from the best examples of Italian styling.
Light as a feather
Rivals like the Jaguar F-Pace or the Porsche Macan place the high gauge in the dynamic chapter. The Stelvio, according to the brand, is an Alfa Romeo in first place and an SUV in second. As such, the brand spared no effort to achieve the necessary dynamic refinement.
Its foundations reside on the Giorgio platform, debuted by Giulia, and this was also the dynamic reference point. The aim is to bring Stelvio as close as possible to him. An interesting challenge, as the Stelvio's H-Point (hip-to-ground height) is 19 cm higher than the Giulia's, and this has dynamic implications.
Efforts focused on weight reduction and effective weight distribution. Extensive use of aluminum in both the body and suspension, right down to the engines, and the carbon fiber driveshaft put the Stelvio at the segment's lightweight. Of course, at 1660 kg, it hardly is, but being 100 kg lighter than the F-Pace -one of the lightest in the segment-, the brand's efforts are remarkable. Crucially, the 1660 kg is distributed evenly over both axes.
According to the brand, it has the most direct direction in the segment and inherits from Giulia the suspension scheme. At the front we find overlapping double triangles and the so-called Alfalink at the back – in practice, a derivation of the traditional multilink by Alfa Romeo.
The Stelvio, for now, is only available with four-wheel drive. The Q4 system favors the rear axle, only sending power to the front axle when needed. Alfa Romeo wants to guarantee a driving experience as close as possible to a rear-wheel drive.
Superfed Cuors
The engines of the Giulia Veloce are what we can initially find on the Stelvio. That is, the Otto 2.0 liter turbo with 280 hp at 5250 rpm and 400 Nm at 2250 rpm and the 2.2 liter Diesel with 210 hp at 3750 rpm and 470 Nm at 1750 rpm.
The petrol engine launches the Stelvio up to 100 km/h in just 5.7 seconds, with the Diesel needing an additional 0.9 seconds. Official consumption and emissions are 7 l/100km and 161 g CO2/km for Otto, and 4.8 l/100km and 127 g CO2/km for Diesel.
The number of engines will be extended to a 200 hp variant of the 2.0 liter petrol and a 180 hp variant of the 2.2 liter diesel. The transmission is carried out on all four wheels and exclusively through an automatic eight-speed gearbox. A two-wheel drive version will be available later, paired with the 180 hp 2.2 Diesel.
family vocation
The official announcement that there would not be a Giulia van makes Stelvio assume the role of family member. The extra volume of the Stelvio is reflected in the available space. The luggage compartment capacity is 525 liters, accessible through an electrically operated gate.
Inside, the familiarity is great, with the instrument panel looking like a model of the Giulia. Of course, Alfa DNA and the Alfa Connect infotainment system are present. The first allows you to choose between driving models Dynamic, Natural and Advanced Efficiency.
The second, fully integrated into the instrument panel, is presented via a 6.5-inch screen, or, optionally, an 8.8-inch screen with 3D navigation, controlled by a rotary command in the center console.
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio already has a version available in Portugal, the First Edition, for 65,000 euros. The 2.2 diesel starts at 57200 euros. We are still unable to confirm when other Stelvios arrive in our country, or their prices.
When you arrive, we will be able to choose between 13 colors and 13 different wheels with sizes between 17 and 20 inches. Among the various equipment available we can find the Integrated Brake System (IBS) that combines stability control with the servo brake, the automatic braking system with pedestrian detection, or the active cruise control.
NOT TO BE MISSED: Special. The big news at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio will make its first public appearance on European soil at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.
