Finally, there’s an Alfa SUV
Alfa Romeo is one of very few carmakers still without a proper SUV presence in New Zealand.
That will change this year with the impending arrival of the impressive-looking Stelvio.
The second of a new generation of Alfas built on a brand-new platform, it makes no apologies for a focus around on-road dynamics rather than off-road ability.
Indeed, it’s in the name: Stelvio is a legendary mountain pass in Italy that’s much loved by enthusiast drivers for its tight turns.
Stelvio has been launched in Europe in both mainstream and high-performance models.
The former have a 2.0-litre turbo powerplant, but the hero model of the range is the Quadrifoglio, boasting a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 and specially calibrated Q4 allwheel drive system.
Features unique to the Q include a four-mode Alfa DNA Pro selector with Race mode, torque vectoring differential, adaptive suspension, special instrument cluster and cylinder deactivation system.
So-called ‘ultra-highperformance’ options include lightweight carbon fibre shell Sparco racing seats and a Brembo carbon-ceramic material (CCM) brake system.
First things first, though. Stelvio won’t be launched in NZ until later in the year.
Before then we’ll see the Giulia sedan, a rear-drive model that’s based on the same platform as Stelvio.
Like the new SUV, Giulia is charged with taking Alfa upmarket – and back into contention as a brand for enthusiast drivers.