Alfa Romeo Stelvio QF
FIRST DRIVE Firebreathing SUV continues brand’s renaissance with an intoxicating blend of power and agility
Firebreathing 503bhp twin-turbo V6 SUV blasts off
ALFA Romeo finally appears to have got its act together. After years of failed attempts, it has delivered two competitive cars in the Giulia saloon and Stelvio SUV. We’ll even see the Alfa badge slapped on the side of a Formula One car from 2018.
Now the firm is turning up the heat even further with the Stelvio Quadrifoglio. It’s aimed directly at the Porsche Macan Turbo and Mercedes-amg GLC 63 and will wade into a segment that’s only going to get even more competitive in the coming months, as Jaguar and BMW engineers put the finishing touches to cooked-up versions of their respective F-pace and X3 models.
The faster Stelvio follows on from the Giulia Quadrifoglio in Alfa’s performance line-up and makes use of that car’s 503bhp 2.9-litre bi-turbo V6 engine and eight-speed auto gearbox. However, in the Stelvio it’s hooked up to Alfa’s Q4 all-wheel-drive system to deliver maximum traction.
Power
It’s a rear-biased set-up and sends 100 per cent of the engine’s power to the rear wheels in normal driving. However, it can also shuffle up to 50 per cent to the front axle when it detects slip – and as a result Alfa claims it can cover 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds and hit 176mph flat out.
Climb inside and there are several neat touches that remind you that you are in something a bit more special. The Alcantara and carbon fibre steering wheel, red decorative stitching and carbon-backed bucket seats set the tone without being over the top. Our only reservation with the cabin is perhaps some of the switchgear doesn’t feel or operate as slickly as you’d expect.
Alfa already has quite a driver-focused SUV in the standard Stelvio, so it’s little surprise that a set of chassis tweaks and the addition of a thumping new engine has improved its dynamic make-up. The AWD powertrain ensures that all the power and torque are fed to the road without drama; deep-chested engine wails are punctuated by violent pops from the exhaust.
We know the 2.9-litre V6 from the Giulia, and while it can’t match Mercedes-amg’s V8 for its aggressive character, it works really well with Alfa’s auto box. A wide spread of torque, sharp throttle response and thumping gearchanges make it one of the best powertrains in the business.
It’s a clever engine too, because it can shut down a bank of cylinders without detection to reduce fuel consumption when cruising. After the brutal acceleration you notice the super-sharp and accurate steering; the slightest twitch from your wrist is sent straight to the wheels. It instils the Stelvio with a greater sense of agility than its portly weight would have you believe.
Flick through the various drive modes and up to the most aggressive Race setting, and the reins are loosened on the stability control. This allows for a bit more movement at the Stelvio’s rear before the Q4 system gathers it up and launches you down the road. But even in this mode it’s sure-footed.
The Stelvio is beautifully balanced and manages its weight shifting from side to side through high-speed corners, yet you’re always aware of the mass it’s hauling about because it leans a little through bends.
And while the 525-litre boot is larger than that on the Macan, legroom is at a premium, especially if you opt for the bucket seats.