ALL-NEW ALFA ROMEO STELVIO

Alfa Romeo is joining upmarket Europeans with a stylish SUV called the Stelvio, named after one of the world’s most famous driving roads, the Stelvio Pass in Italy,

Based on the underpinnings of the Alfa Romeo Q4 all-wheel-drive the Stelvio is instantly recognisable as an Alfa with its huge shield dominated grille. Indeed the Stelvio probably looks more Alfa Romeo than anything else in the Italian marque’s range.

Powered full-grain leather seats again take a very Italian look and feel. Infotainment is bang up to date, viewed by way of an 8.8-inch high-res display, has DAB radio and Bluetooth streaming audio and the latest in 3D navigation. It also gives access to the vehicle’s performance. Alfa Romeo worked in close partnership with Magneti Marelli.

The Stelvio is offered with a choice of turbocharged petrol or diesel engines, both driving through Alfa Romeo’s Q4 AWD system.

The 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine is all aluminium and uses Alfa’s sophisticated MultiAir electro-hydraulic valve system. It generates 149 kW and 330 Nm, promising a zero-to-100km/h time of 7.2 seconds.

Stelvio’s 2.2-litre turbo-diesel is the first all-aluminium diesel among the new-generation Alfa engines. It has the MultiJet II injection system with Injection Rate Shaping (IRS) and electrically-operated variable geometry turbocharger

Fascinatingly, this turbo-diesel has more power and torque than the petrol, 156 kW and 450 Nm and get off the line to100 km/h in just 6.6 seconds.

Power is through all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission with Alfa’s DNA (Dynamic, Natural, All-road) multimode settings.

In normal grip conditions, the Alfa Romeo Q4 all-wheel drive system acts like a rear-drive, with all the torque sent to the rear axle. As the wheels approach their grip limit, the system can transfer up to 50 per cent of the torque to the front axle.

The Stelvio was awarded the highest possible five-star Euro NCAP rating with a score of 97 per cent for the protection of adult occupants.

We’ve yet to drive the new Alfa Romeo Stelvio but look forward to one sharing our garage with its little Italian cousin, our Fiat 500 by Gucci, as soon as possible. Will report back immediately afterwards.

LIMITED EDITION
Keen to get the Alfa Romeo Stelvio established as soon as possible in the hard-fought Euro-prestige SUV segment the importer has put together an exclusive launch edition limited to 300 vehicles (200 diesels, 100 petrols.) It adds about $8000 worth of extras for a cost of $6000.

The Stelvio launch edition has many additional features over the standard models, including 19-inch sport alloys, Koni dampers, a panoramic sunroof, black roof rails, privacy glass and red painted brake calipers.

Inside the special edition has 14 Speaker 900W Harman Kardon Premium Audio, sports front seats with heating and powered bolsters, a sports steering wheel, aluminium pedals.

MODEL RANGE
Stelvio 2.0-litre turbo-petrol: $65,900
Stelvio 2.2-litre turbo-diesel: $67,900
Stelvio First Edition 2.0-litre turbo-petrol: $71,900
Stelvio First Edition 2.2-litre turbo-diesel: $73,900
Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Alfa Romeo dealer for drive-away prices.