Automotive

Alfa Romeo renaissance rolls on with Stelvio

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The new Alfa Romeo Stelvio
The new Stelvio is a handsome take on the same-same SUV market
The Stelvio is named after one of the most famous mountain passes in Europe
The Stelvio can be specced with a 2.0-liter petrol or a 2.2-liter diesel
The eight-speed ZF automatic in the Stelvio is well tested and proven elsewhere
The Stelvio is designed to act like a sports car with a boot
Alfa Romeo says the driver will enjoy the Stelvio
The Stelvio will launch at the Geneva Motor Show
The Stelvio is built on the same platform as the Giulia 
Alfa Romeo says the Stelvio is an SUV for keen drivers
The new Alfa Romeo Stelvio
There are 13 paint options and 13 wheel choices on the Alfa Romeo Stelvio
The Stelvio can be specced with all-wheel drive, but cheaper cars have rear-wheel drive
The Stelvio is named after a mountain pass in Italy
The Stelvio can be optioned with a 500 hp Ferrari V6
The Stelvio is part of Alfa's USA comeback
We're big fans of the way the Stelvio looks 
Behind the wheel of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio
The interior of the Stelvio can be customised with different color leather and trim
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Alfa Romeo has spent a long time in the American wilderness, but the storied marque is on the comeback trail. The renaissance started with the Giulia, and now continues with the Stelvio four-wheel drive, set to launch at the Geneva Motor Show.

Ignoring the fact it spent a solid 15 years building front-wheel drive hatches and sedans to compete with the rear-drive Germans, Alfa Romeo is keen to remind the world about its sporting past. Naming your four-wheel drive after one of the most famous mountain passes in Europe is a bold move, and one that speaks volumes about how confident the brand feels about its product.

To make sure it delivers on the promise of its name, the Stelvio runs with a very similar chassis setup to the Giulia. It sits on the same platform as its sedan sibling, and makes use of the same multi-link suspension setup that has won (almost) universal praise from the motoring media. A carbon fiber driveshaft and aluminum in the engines, hood, flanks and tailgate helps keep weight down, although the Q4 all-wheel drive hardware does add a bit of bulk.

Nestled in the lightweight chassis is a choice of petrol or diesel engine. Petrol power comes from a turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 280 hp (209 kW), while the diesel is also a small four making 210 hp (157 kW). Both are hooked up to an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox, which proved a willing companion during a quick spin in a diesel Giulia last year but might not be quick enough to match the best dual-clutch 'boxes on the move.

Alfa Romeo says the Stelvio is an SUV for keen drivers

So far, so good then, but there are a few areas where the Stelvio might not be able to match the best from Germany and Japan. One of those areas is a traditional weak point for Italian cars – quality. The interior design is pretty, there's no doubt about that, but our spin in a Giulia also revealed the touchpoints and trim quality aren't as pleasing as those in an Audi. The infotainment system also lags behind the best, stealing bits-and-pieces from other brands but not matching them for overall ease-of-use.

As is standard with European four-wheel drives, the possibilities for customisation are almost endless on the Stelvio. There are 13 paint options and 13 different wheel designs, while upscale Super models can be specced with leather seats in red, brown or black. The full range can be optioned with a full safety suite including active cruise control, blind spot warnings, lane-keeping assist, auto-emergency braking and forward-collision warnings.

The Stelvio will be on show at the Geneva Motor Show, which kicks off on March 6. New Atlas will be on the ground covering all the action, so stay tuned.

Source: Alfa Romeo

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