Looking to expand its product lineup as it re-enters the U.S. market, Alfa Romeo has unveiled a new crossover SUV in the form of the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Developed off the Giorgio platform that also underpins the Giulia sedan, this new 5-passenger vehicle will be built in Italy and offer three distinct models, a base Stelvio, an uplevel Ti trim and the Quadrifoglio.
The compact Stelvio will compete against similar-sized crossovers like the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. Two engines will be offered. The Stelvio and Stelvio Ti will share a 280-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder while the Quadrifoglio will be powered by a Ferrari-developed 2.9-liter V6 making 505 horsepower. All Stelvio models will be equipped with all-wheel drive and an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Italian heritage
“The all-new Stelvio, named after one of the greatest driving roads in the world—the Stelvio Pass in the Italian Alps—sets a new benchmark for the segment,” said Reid Bigland, head of Alfa Romeo. “Stelvio is uniquely engineered to challenge 2-door sports cars on the track, without sacrificing any of the characteristics you would expect from a premium SUV, resulting in the perfect mix of high performance, capability and Italian design.”
The Stelvio’s construction features lightweight aluminum and steel structure with a longitudinal engine layout similar to that used in rear-drive vehicles. It boasts a 50/50 weight distribution, a lightweight carbon fiber driveshaft and a low center of gravity, which along with its fully independent suspension, promises sports car-inspired handling. An optional performance package includes a rear limited-slip differential called Q2 which increases the Stelvio’s cornering ability.
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Long list of standard features
The 4-cylinder powered Stelvio and Stelvio Ti boast a long list of standard equipment that includes 18-inch wheels, leather seating, rearview camera with parking sensors, power liftgate, a flat-bottom sport steering wheel and pushbutton start. The Ti comes with 19-inch wheels, wood cabin accents, and an 8.8-inch center display. Sport and Lusso packages on the Ti allow the buyer to tailor the vehicle for either high performance or luxury tastes.
The Quadrifoglio sports a leather-covered dash and sport steering wheel, leather and Alcantara-covered sport seats with 12-way power adjustment, sport-tuned adaptive suspension, torque vectoring, performance brakes and carbon fiber cabin accents. The DNA selectable driver mode, which stands for Dynamic, Natural (comfort) and Active Efficiency, has a fourth Race mode on Quadrifoglio models. Performance options include carbon fiber lightweight Sparco sport bucket seats and Brembo carbon ceramic brakes.
See the other cars and concept vehicles unveiled at the 2016 LA Auto Show
Driver Assists
The Stelvio is equipped with full-speed forward collision warning that will slow or bring the vehicle to a complete stop, adaptive cruise control with a stop-and-go capability and lane departure warning. Also available are blind spot warning, rear cross-path detection and warning and front and rear parking sensors. The Stelvio also features an integrated braking system that replaces a traditional electronic stability control and brake booster to build brake pressure more rapidly to improve stopping performance. This brake-by-wire system can adjusts brake pedal response to match specific DNA modes.
Alfa Romeo said it would announce the on-sale date and pricing later.
More New and Redesigned Models for 2018
