Alfa Romeo Stelvio in the driving report
Filigree SUV from Bella Italia
In order to close the portfolio of the FCA offshoot Alfa Romeo, the Turin-based company will launch the first of three planned SUVs in Europe in the first quarter of 2017. North America and Asia will follow in the second quarter. Sales are finalized in 60 countries worldwide. FCA doesn't want to bake small rolls right from the start and places the Stelvio right next to the previous top dog, the BMW X3. The positioning should not only be premium, because Alfa Romeo stood and still stands for the finest workmanship of high-quality materials and emotional drive technology. The Stelvio wants to generate its customers precisely through these properties. The market launch was on March 18, and according to the first KBA figures, the Italian carmaker has set its first success points. By the end of this year it should be around 5.000 units. In order not to lose the overview, you start with two equipment versions and two units. The entry is made by the first SUV from Alfa Romeo with a 2.0 liter turbo petrol engine with 200 hp and 42.200 euros.
The SUV from the Alps
Its name pays homage to the highest paved pass in the Italian Alps and the second highest in Europe - the Stilfser Joch. Alfa's engineers found inspiration on the subject of driving fun and performance on the last 20 kilometers of the pass road with its 75 bends, more than seven percent incline and a total of 2.758 meters in altitude to the top. The result was an SUV that shares its platform with the Giulia, which was introduced last year. Its front completely in the face of the brand with a three-part radiator grille, a prominent logo and front headlights with daytime running lights pulled far into the middle make the Stelvio stand very wide and self-confident on the road. When viewed from the side, the vehicle underlines the character of a mid-range sedan with a ratio of two thirds aluminum to one third glass. Paired with the overhangs at the front (859 mm) and rear (1.007 mm), the mid-range SUV stretches to 4,69 meters. The aluminum-heavy body made it possible to define the curb weight at a minimum of 1.66 tons via the lightweight construction, which is reflected in both the consumption values and the Cd value of 0,3. In order to get a first impression of its overall performance, the FCA group invited to the hinterland of Innsbruck for a day. There we were able to test its dynamics on wonderful serpentines up to the Stilfser Joch.
Elitier interior
When we get in, we notice the high quality, exemplary Alfa materials and their filigree workmanship. These properties should not be missing in the robust SUV either. The cockpit, which leans towards the driver, generally looks very tidy and every button is in the right place for the Alfaristi. The central instrument behind the steering wheel is the 3,5 or 7 inch display. All the data provided by the vehicle can be conveniently read here. The Alfa Connect infotainment system developed with Magneti Marelli serves as the control center. In addition to the maps of the navigation system, information on the connected smartphone, the connected media and the “mirrored” applications of the connected smartphone are displayed there. Passengers in the front seats enjoy generous legroom. Anyone who has to take a seat in the back of the Stelvio can make do with more space than expected. People with a body length of more than 1,70 meters travel extremely comfortably in the Alfa SUV. The electrically opened tailgate still exposes a volume of 525 liters when fully seated. If a major purchase is planned for two people, 1.600 liters of luggage space are available.
Motorization not under 150 PS
One gasoline and one diesel engine each drive the new Alfa. Both of them rely on turbo technology. All units are combined with an eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF Friedrichshafen AG. The petrol engine with turbo-charged 2.0 liter displacement presents itself with the output levels 147 kW (200 PS) and 206 kW (280 PS). A full 400 Newton meters at 2.250 revolutions push the 280 hp unit forward. The diesel offers the power levels 132 kW (180 PS) - known from the Giulia launched in 2016 - and 154 kW (210 PS). The torque output of the 210 PS engine is a generous 470 Newton meters at 1.750 revolutions. The ZF drive in particular, with its eight stages, has a positive effect on the first trips. Directly appealing without switching pauses and with a sporty agility, they lead us across the hinterland of Innsbruck, up to the Stilfser Joch. However, the highlight of our test drives is the well-coordinated Alfa all-wheel drive systemTM Q4. Depending on the grip of the individual wheels, the drive distributes the torque continuously between the front and rear axles. In normal road conditions, the system operates in rear-wheel drive mode. Only when the rear tires reach their grip limit, up to 60 percent of the torque is diverted to the front axle. An additional differential and an active transfer case that can handle very high torques in fractions of a second are responsible for this. With a thumbwheel in the center console, we also switched the car into three different driving modes (ECO, normal, and dynamic). Here the key figures of the chassis, engine and steering are changed again. The vehicle gives the feeling of putting power on the road whenever it is needed. The lowest consumption value presented to us of 4,8 liters for the "large" diesel and 7,0 liters for the "large" gasoline engine are unfortunately not to be checked on the day of the event.
Each equipment a top variant
The safety devices offered in the Alfa Romeo Stelvio are standard or optional, depending on the model version. As an example, the Italian engineers cite the Integrated Brake System (IBS), which was introduced in the Alfa Romeo Giulia Premiere. It combines the effectiveness of the electronic control systems with the mechanical brake force assistance. The result is quick, responsive brakes without annoying ABS pulsation and thus short braking distances. Other safety devices also include the Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and pedestrian detection, the Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM). The adaptive cruise control system not only adjusts your own speed to the selected value. It also reacts to other vehicles in the immediate vicinity. When it comes to prices, FCA does not want to compete completely with its competitor from Munich and sets its prices around five to eight percent below. The entry-level model “Stelvio” and the petrol engine start at 42.200 euros. The second and at the same time "top variant" with the same engine can be found at 45.000 euros. The price structure of the more powerful petrol variant is with the equipment "Super" at 49.000 euros and with an advance special series "First Edition" at 56.000 euros. The diesel engine has the top equipment "Super" at the "180 PS" level at 44.050 euros and "210 PS" at 47.500 euros. In the course of the model update at the end of the year, a unit beyond the 500 hp limit and a hybrid drive are to follow.
And finally ... The Alfa Romeo Stelvio presents itself as the first SUV of the Italians properly. Materials, workmanship and technology are broadly consistent. Whether it will be enough to make the self-proclaimed competitor from Munich one or the other customer, will be revealed later this year.
The new Stelvio leaves room for more SUVs. As an all-rounder for leisure and family, it is still ideally suited. Long passages on winding roads are no problem for him with any engine. As an alternative in the SUV sector, a real purchase option in terms of design.
Text: Stefan Beckmann, Beitragsbild: Manufacturer Picture: Stefan Beckmann and Manufacturers