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Alfa Romeo Stelvio aims high as sporty SUV challenger

Alfa Stelvio frontal snow
The all-wheel drive Alfa Romeo Stelvio runs in rear-wheel drive in normal grip conditions

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27 February 2017

Alfa Romeo Stelvio

  • Alfa Romeo launches the Stelvio – its first SUV 
  • Petrol and diesel engines mated to all-wheel drive
  • Three new models for UK: Stelvio, Stelvio Super and Stelvio Tecnica
  • UK pricing and spec will be confirmed closer to the launch date

ALFA Romeo has launched its first SUV, the all-new Alfa Romeo Stelvio with a special diesel-fuelled Stelvio Tecnica edition targeting business users.

Inspired by and named after Italy’s highest mountain pass – an epic 20 kilometre driving route with more than 75 hairpins – the all-wheel drive Stelvio has been built with Alfa’s traditional sporting performance with a petrol turbo version capable of 0-62mph in 5.7sec and a diesel the same sprint in under seven seconds.

Available in three trim levels – Stelvio, Super and Tecnica – it will initially be available with a choice of a 280hp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol or a 210hp 2.2-litre diesel engine, both combined with an 8-speed automatic transmission and Q4 all-wheel drive.

The Stelvio entry version is lavishly equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, 8.8-inch Alfa Connect, Alfa D.N.A Rotary selector, 8-speaker audio system, black fabric seats (front with sliding, reclining and height adjustments), Integrated Brake System (IBS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Forward Collision Warning (FCW) with Autonomous Emergency Brake (AEB) and pedestrian detection.

This version also includes parking sensors, cruise control, electric tailgate and dusk and rain sensors.

The Super version adds 18-inch alloy wheels, techno-leather and fabric seats in a choice of three colours (black, black/brown and black/red), and three options for the dashboard and door panels (black, black/brown or black/red) and door sills with steel inserts.

An additional Luxury Pack and Sports Pack are also available to customers looking to go the extra mile.

The Luxury Pack includes full grain leather seats (in black, brown, red or beige) with electrical adjustment and heating system, as well as real wood inserts. The Sport Pack comes with heated sports steering wheel, specific grip and leather wrapping, racing-style leather seats in black, red or brown, with electric adjustment and heating system, aluminium inserts and steel pedals.

Alfa Romeo says the Tecnica offers a strong proposition to fleet, corporate and professional customers. Exclusively available with the diesel engine, it features the 8.8-inch Alfa Connect 3D Nav, Bi-Xenon headlights with AFS and electric folding mirrors.

Built in Italy at the Termoli (petrol) and Pratola Serra (diesel) plants, in areas assigned only to Alfa Romeo engines, with state-of-the-art processes and methods that put them at the top of their class in terms of performance and fuel economy, are the engines housed under the bonnet of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio.

Petrol and diesel with 8-speed auto and all-wheel drive

The 280hp 2.0-litre Turbocharged petrol and the 210hp 2.2-litre diesel engines are combined with an automatic 8-speed transmission and Q4 all-wheel drive.

The new turbo petrol engine is a 4-cylinder unit built entirely of aluminium with carbon drive shaft, combined with the automatic 8-speed transmission and Q4 all-wheel drive.

In addition to electro-hydraulic valve actuation, the distinctive features of this engine include “2-in-1” turbo and 200-bar high-pressure direct injection which pair up to deliver a full-throttle response across the rev range in addition to first-class fuel-efficiency. This results in a peak torque of 400Nm at 2,250 rpm and offers best-in-class acceleration, with 0 to 62mph in just 5.7 secs and on to a top speed of 143mph.

The 2.2-litre diesel engine will be available with two power outputs: 210hp at launch and 180hp following shortly after.

It is the first diesel engine in Alfa Romeo’s history to be constructed entirely in aluminium. With operating pressures of 2,000-bar. The electrically-operated variable geometry turbocharger means a top speed of 133mph and nought to 62mph in 6.6 secs.

Both Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV engines are teamed with the ZF automatic 8-speed transmission, specifically calibrated for fast, smooth gear shifts.  The automatic transmission work with the Alfa D.N.A selector to optimise fluidity, comfort and ease of driving in all environments and helps to further improve fuel economy and CO2 emissions. Steering-column-mounted, aluminium paddle shifters are also available.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Variety of trims on offer

Thanks to the Q4 all-wheel drive system, with rear-wheel-drive bias, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is capable of conquering a mountain hairpin, gravel track or snow-covered roads.

Its architecture includes an active transfer case and front differential designed to give rapid-response management of high torque levels and a compact, lightweight set-up. The Q4 system continuously monitors numerous parameters to optimise torque distribution between the two axles according to what the car is doing and how much grip the road surface offers.

In normal grip conditions the Alfa Romeo Stelvio acts like a rear-wheel-drive vehicle with 100% of the torque sent to the rear axle. As the wheels approach their grip limit the system transfers up to 50 per cent of the torque to the front axle. This translates into best-in-class control in terms of traction and directional stability on corners.

An optional mechanical self-locking rear differential transfers more torque to the wheel with most grip to optimise the car’s traction in any driving conditions.

From the legendary cloverleaf at the front end, its compact proportions develop towards the rear and end on a steeply raked rear hatch. Finished with a spoiler, for maximum aerodynamic performance, and two exhaust tips that bring this sporty rear to life.

Inside the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, the same sporty elegant imprint is apparent: simple, stylish and tailored like a bespoke suit. Hours of painstaking craftsmanship means the car is jam-packed full of premium materials including full-grain leather, real wood and fabrics carefully chosen for their look and feel.

The 525-litre boot features a convenient electric tailgate that can be configured with eight different setup levels for optimal boot access.

The entire range is supplied as standard with an 8.8-inch display with optional Connect 3D Nav 8.8 which supplies navigation with high-resolution 3D maps and high-speed route calculation. The system is also available without a GPS signal thanks to the Dead Reckoning technology, TomTom map updating from the USB port, driving style information and Alfa D.N.A. mode.

A sophisticated audio system featuring eight speakers (four woofers and four tweeters) is standard across the range. 10 speakers (four woofers, four tweeters, a mid-range and a subwoofer in the boot), and a 14 speaker Harman Kardon system (four woofers, four tweeters, five mid-ranges and a subwoofer) are also optionally available.

Three dynamic modes with D.N.A, selector

Stelvio features the new Alfa D.N.A selector, which allows the driver to modify the car’s dynamic behaviour with three modes: Dynamic, Natural and Advanced Efficiency (new energy-saving mode).

Dynamic mode accentuates performance and reactive handling. The steering response becomes more precise, braking is more immediate and the electronic control systems do not interfere with the pleasure of sports-style driving. Natural mode is ideal for urban and motorway driving; handling is tailored for comfort and fuel economy. And finally, the new Advanced Efficiency maximises energy saving and minimises emissions levels.

A whole host of safety systems are standard on the Alfa Romeo Stelvio including Forward Collision Warning (FCW) with Autonomous Emergency Brake (AEB), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross-Path Detection and Active Cruise Control.

UK pricing and specification will be confirmed closer to sale start.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Twin exhausts for sporty Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV

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