Alfa Romeo has a long history of car making since 1911. They have been involved in early races and have been manufacturing vehicles from compact sedans, sports cars, and light commercial vehicles. However, they have been struggling in competing with most car brands and may need to have a fresh start to stay on the level ground with the others. Alfa may just have revealed the solution by unveiling their first crossover sports utility vehicle, the Stelvio.
The Stelvio Will Be Seen First In The LA Auto Show
They named their first crossover to the Stelvio, a harrowing mountain pass in the Italian Alps. The sports utility vehicle is built on Fiat Chrysler Automobiles new Giorgio platform that is also being used by Alfa Romeo's compact sedan, the Giulia. Built in Fiat's factory in Cassino, Italy and will be making its international debut on Wednesday at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The vehicle is expected on showrooms starting 2017.
The Stelvio's design looks like a bigger Giulia with a similar triangular grille and angular headlamps. The side shoulder line and rear end share almost the same characteristics of the more luxurious Maserati Levante. On the inside, the interior keeps the driver focused on placing the start buttn right on the steering wheel. A seven-inch display can be viewed right between the speedometer and tachometer. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard regardless of trim or screen size.
How Does It Perform
The base model of the Stelvio comes with a 2.0 liter turbocharged inline four engine that puts out 280horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel drive is standard for this model, which also comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission. That is more than enough power for an SUV the size of the Stelvio, however, if that is not yet enough, then you can opt to choose the higher model named Stelvio Quadrifoglio. This model puts out an impressive 505horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque that is coming from a 2.9liter turbocharged V6 engine. This crossover can reach zero to 60 miles in only 3.9 seconds and has a top speed of 177 miles per hour. All-wheel drive is still standard and the V6 engine has the ability to only run on just three cylinders to save fuel and only drink up what is necessary.
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio also features numerous active and passive safety systems. These include forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring, among others. Consumers can rest assure that they are well protected even when driving such a powerful crossover.
Being silent for many years, the Fiat Chrysler Automobile group is placing their bets on the Stelvio to bring back the Alfa Romeo brand back in the spotlight. With the specs mentioned above and a design that proudly says Italian, Alfa Romeo's days might take another turn for the better and give consumers more options to choose from.
