Those who come late can do much better. This motto seems Alfa Romeo Having told his engineers about the skills and qualities of Stelvio. According to the first SUV in the approximately 100-year history of the Italian sports car brand allegedly drive circles around the competition.
Well, the Alfa Romeo technicians may lean a little bit out the window with such a statement. Mention should be made only that in this segment also a Porsche Macan romped. But it shows how proud Italians are not only of their brand but also of their products. Alfa was almost dead, many fans left, because a lot was promised, but you still did not get started. And now the principle "Phoenix from the ashes", impressively demonstrated with the Giulia.
On the Giulia platform, internally called Giorgio, is also based the Stelvio. Named for Italy's highest alpine pass, it is Alfa's first car of its kind and is intended to give the brand a strong boost. "Under the Stelvio are the pure spirit and the DNA of Alfa Romeo," says brand manager Fabrizio Curci. The engineers pulled out all the stops for a sporty alignment. These include lightweight construction and optimum weight distribution of 50: 50 front to rear axle. Many body and chassis parts are made of aluminum, the cardan shaft is even made of carbon. And according to Alfa, the Stelvio with a gear ratio of 12: 1 even the most direct steering in the segment of middle-class SUV own. Standard on board is always four-wheel drive. In normal road conditions, the system sends 100 percent of the power to the rear wheels. Starting to build up this slip, torque is added to the front wheels at lightning speed (up to 50 percent).
All in all no bad conditions for agile driving. In addition, if under the hood of the two-liter turbo gasoline engine with 280 PS plugged and the gears are changed over the aluminum shift paddles on the steering column. The Stelvio is great on the gas, can easily and directly drive around the curves and holds back with annoying rolling motion. Nevertheless, sportiness is not sacrificed to comfort. Even over bad distances, the Stelvio rolls quite relaxed.
There is also a rotary switch that activates the three modes "d", "n" and "a". The letters stand for dynamic, natural and advanced efficiency. This is particularly noticeable in the position "d", the Stelvio reacts sharper and more spontaneous. However, if you expect the perfect seating position that offers the Giulia their driver, a little disappointed. In the Stelvio you sit a little more on the seat than in the seat. "19 centimeters is the sheer height difference to the Giulia," says chief engineer Roberto Fedeli. Maximum 20 inch wheels with 255 / 45er tires are possible.
In addition to the 280-PS petrol engine, the European Stelvio customer of course has the option of a diesel engine. The well-known from the Giulia 2,2-liter diesel engine (full aluminum) makes 210 PS and sends its 470 Newtonmeter torque from 1.750 rpm in the eight-speed automatic transmission, which gives the Stelvio, although a certain sovereignty, better matches the character yet the pithy turbo petrol engine ,
A little later Alfa wants to offer the petrol engine with 200 PS and the diesel with 180 PS. Both will also have eight-speed automatic and four-wheel drive on board. The diesel should also give it as a cheaper entry-level variant with rear-wheel drive.
The dashboard is classically divided, looks slim and reduced. Bells and whistles do not need an Alfa. Typical are the so-called Tubes, those deep tubes in which the two circular instruments speedometer and tachometer have their home. Between them is a TFT display, on which, for example, travel data or navigation instructions can be displayed. The Italians struggled to meet the customer's premium claim. The materials look high-quality, but do not reach the quality and finish of German competitors.
With a length of 4,69 meters, the size of the Stelvio is parked almost exactly next to a Mercedes GLC, Audi Q5 or BMW X3. There is good space in the rear. Adults with a height of 1,80 meters can also sit comfortably. When it comes to the trunk, Alfa's SUV doesn't have to hide behind the competition. 525 liters are more than Porsche Macan and Mercedes GLC can show, but offer less than BMW and Audi. The tailgate can be operated electrically and programmed in eight different opening heights - to match the ceiling height in the garage at home.
Overall, the Stelvio leaves on a first test drive around his birthplace Cassino (near Naples) a good and solid impression. For customers who can no longer see stars in their street, four rings and white-blue propellers, the first SUV from Alfa Romeo is certainly a welcome alternative. It certainly should not bother much that one does not quite keep up with the topic of electronic assistance systems. Although there is pedestrian detection, reversing camera, parking alert and spacers, but a traffic jam pilot who can follow the predecessor semi-autonomous, the Italians do not offer. Alfa-driver should stop as long as it goes self-driver. (Michael Specht / SP-X)