Alfa Romeo Stelvio - SUV with sporty DNA
The Italian brand has two very different opinions. Some sneer that the Alpha didn't crash into the wall during the crash tests, while others sigh about the Italian body shape. One thing is for sure - the cars of this brand are not indifferent. After Giulia, who had been waiting for herself for quite a long time, her brother, the model Stelvio, appeared much faster. Why brother? Because hot Italian blood flows in both veins.
An SUV that drives like a car. We have already heard this in other premium brands. However, it was still an unsurpassed example, the Holy Grail, followed by modern automakers. Unsuccessfully. Because where did the car come from with small dimensions, clearance that allows it to roll under the bottom and a lot of weight to drive like a passenger car? Mission Impossible. And yet… The Stelvio is based on the Giulia floor platform, with which it shares many components. Of course, this is not a clone, but in fact it cannot be called a typical SUV either.
Sports Genes
Already the first kilometers behind the wheel of the Stelvio will force the terms “soft” and “inaccurate” to be thrown into the trash. The steering system works very precisely and almost with surgical precision. Even the slightest movement of the hand elicits an immediate and extremely responsive response from the vehicle. Suspension is stiff and sharp, and 20-inch wheels will not forgive many mistakes. With dynamic cornering, it's easy to forget that the Stelvio is an SUV. But the braking system is a surprise. With such promising steering and suspension performance, we can expect razor-sharp brakes. It's not even about tapping your teeth on the steering wheel while gently pressing the brake. When braking with the first SUV in the history of Alfa Romeo, we can get the impression that we have just stepped into a hot, muddy puddle, and the car, slowing down, does not make you feel sure that you will deny yourself in all four directions. legs" if necessary. However, this is only a false impression. During braking tests, the Stelvio stopped at 100 kilometers per hour in just 37,5 meters. The brakes may be soft, but the facts speak for themselves.
original lines
Looking at the Stelvio from afar, you immediately realize that this is Alfa Romeo. The case is decorated with numerous massive embossing, and the rather round front part is topped with a characteristic trilobo as standard. In addition, there are huge air intakes in the lower parts of the bumper. Narrow headlights give the Stelvio an aggressive look. The Italian brand has somehow started the trend for "sinister" cars. The Model 159 was perhaps the most famous. ).
The Stelvio's side lines are rather chunky, but the car doesn't feel clunky. The tilted rear window makes its silhouette quite compact and sporty. The A-pillars, reminiscent of Roman columns, are slightly less complex. However, their massive construction is justified by their safety and structural properties. Surprisingly, however, they do not interfere with the driver and do not restrict the view too much.
The Stelvio is currently available in 9 colors, with plans for 13. In addition, the customer can choose from 13 aluminum rim designs ranging in size from 17 to 20 inches.
Italian elegance
The interior of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is strongly reminiscent of the Giuliana. It's very elegant, but just modest. Most of the functions were taken over by an 8,8-inch touch screen. The air conditioning panel at the bottom is discreet and aesthetic, while wood inserts add originality.
Despite the slightly sloping rear window, the Stelvio has very decent transport characteristics. In the trunk (electrically opening and closing) we can fit 525 liters of luggage up to the window line. Inside, too, no one should complain about the lack of space, although the second row of seats is not the most spacious in its class. However, the front is much better. The seats are comfortable and spacious, yet provide decent lateral support. In higher versions, we can equip the Stelvio with sports seats with a retractable knee section.
From the driver's point of view, the most important thing is, of course, the steering wheel, which looks very good on the Stelvio. Once again, you can be sure that no goodies can replace a class at a high level. Radio and cruise control buttons are discrete and their number is small. In some brands, you can get nystagmus when trying to find the button you are interested in. However, Alfie is dominated by elegance and classics. The rim of the three-spoke handlebar is quite thick and fits well in the hands, while a slight flattening at the bottom adds to the sporty character.
It is impossible not to notice the paddle shifters (more precisely ...) while driving. They are just huge and look a bit like mine picks. However, they do not rotate with the steering wheel, so their slightly slim dimensions allow downshifting even in tight corners.
While we're running, there's one more thing worth mentioning. In addition to driving in typical automatic mode and shifting gears using the paddles on the steering wheel, we can also shift gears in the classic way - using the joystick. A pleasant surprise is the fact that in order to shift to a higher gear, you need to shift the stick towards you, and not forward, as in most cars. This is logical, because during dynamic acceleration the car presses us into the seat, so it is much more convenient and natural to switch to the next gear by pulling the handle towards you.
There was also a Harman Kardon sound system on board. Depending on the equipment level, the Stelvio can be equipped with 8, 10 or even 14 speakers.
A bit of technology
The Stelvio is based on the bottom of the Giulia, so both cars share the same wheelbase. However, in the brand's first SUV, we sit 19 centimeters higher than in more beautiful Italy, and the ground clearance has increased by 65 millimeters. However, the suspension is almost identical. Hence the excellent driving performance of the Stelvio.
The model can be equipped with Q4 all-wheel drive, and all Stelvios come with an eight-speed modified ZF automatic transmission. In a "normal" situation, 100% of the torque goes to the rear axle. When the sensors detect a change in road surface or grip, up to 50% of the torque is transferred to the front axle via an active transfer case and front differential.
The Stelvio's weight distribution is exactly 50:50, making excessive understeer or oversteer difficult. Such proportions have been achieved through the correct management of masses and materials, as well as the placement of the heaviest elements as close to the center of gravity as possible. While we're talking about weight, it's worth noting that the Stelvio has a very promising (and even best-in-class) power-to-weight ratio of less than 6kg per hp. The weight of the Stelvio starts at 1 kg (diesel 1604 hp) and ends just 180 kg later - the most powerful petrol version weighs only 56 kg.
Relatively light weight was made possible by the use of aluminium, from which, among other things, the engine block, suspension elements, hood and trunk lid were made. In addition, the Stelvio has been "thinned" by 15 kilograms through the use of carbon fibers for the production of the propeller shaft.
Italian plans
There are times when almost every manufacturer wants to have at least one hybrid car in their ranks. It aims not only for the benefit of polar bears, but also for standards that impose certain limits on concerns about exhaust emissions. By introducing hybrid or all-electric vehicles, brands are reducing average emissions per vehicle. For now, Alfa Romeo has no plans to follow the ecological river of hybrids, and it's hard to hear any rumors about it.
Julia was born in 2016 and paved the way for the brand's return to the headlines. Only a year later, the Stelvio model joined it, and the brand has yet to say its last word. In 2018 and 2019, there will be two new SUVs with a trilob on the front. One of them will be larger than the Stelvio and the other smaller. In this way, the brand will position its players in all parts of the fastest growing automotive segment. But wait until 2020, when Alfa Romeo will show the world its new limousine. Let everything go according to plan this time, without another two-year downtime.
Two hearts
The Stelvio will be available with two powertrains - a 200-liter turbocharged petrol engine producing 280 or 2.2 horsepower and a 180-liter diesel variant with 210 or 4 horsepower. All units are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and either rear-wheel drive or integrated QXNUMX all-wheel drive.
The 2.0 petrol engine in the most powerful version with 280 hp, in addition to a maximum torque of 400 Nm, boasts promising performance. Acceleration from standstill to hundreds takes just 5,7 seconds, making it the fastest car in its class.
The new Alfa Romeo SUV is available in three trim levels: Stelvio, Stelvio Super and Stelvio First Edition, the latter being available only for the most powerful petrol variant. The most basic combination is a first trim level duo with a 2.2-liter diesel engine. The cost of this configuration is PLN 169. However, the price list does not include an even more "basic" version, which should soon join the Italian family. We are talking about the same engine, but in a 700-horsepower version. Such a car will cost about 150 thousand zlotys.
When deciding to purchase a Stelvio with a 280 hp petrol engine. We don't have the option to choose the base version of the equipment, only the Stelvio Super and Stelvio First Edition variants. The latter is currently the most expensive configuration and when you want to buy it you need to prepare PLN 232. The brand has planned for the future of its new SUV and is already promising a cloverleaf variant - the Quadrifoglio. However, the cost of such a car is estimated at approximately 500 zlotys.
Representatives of Alfa Romeo unanimously admit that without Giulia there would be no Stelvio. Although these cars are different, there is no doubt that they are siblings. Brother and sister. She is the beauty "Julia", hiding under her amazing forms a temperament that is difficult to overcome. It is just as predatory and it is not in vain that it is named after the highest and windiest mountain pass in the Italian Alps. They are different and at the same time the same. You can complain about Alpha whether you like it or not. However, all you have to do is get behind the wheel, drive a few corners, and realize that driving a car can be a dance too.
