The popularity of SUVs has allowed luxury carmaker Alfa Romeo to enter the market. The company recently announced that it will start producing SUVs, beginning with the 2018 Stelvio.

Motor Authority writes that the talks of an Alfa Romeo SUV started circulating in 2008, although no definite plans were announced until May 2014. FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne confirmed at the time that the company was going to build one based on its company-wide five-year plan. So far, three SUVs are expected to be released in the next few years. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is set to begin production in the fourth quarter of 2016. The model may start becoming available in mid-2017 in the United States.

The Stelvio will be the very first SUV entry by Alfa Romeo. A prototype has already been seen and it was also recently known that there will be two other models to release. One will be a higher-end model than the 2018 Stelvio, while the second will be a lower-end model.

Auto Spies states that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is doing everything it can to introduce more Alfa Romeo models to the public, particularly in the SUV segment. It is expected that the 2018 Stelvio will feature parts from other vehicles under the FCA banner. There are also rumors that the upcoming SUV will leverage the 6-cylinder engine built by Ferrari and found in current Maserati cars. Others are skeptical since the engine was already stated to be incorporated in the new Levante. It is possible that the engine may be detuned to suit the Stelvio.

AutoCar presented early images of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio prototype. The black car appeared to be a compact crossover and also quite unfinished. More photos revealed a rounded roof that links to a squared off trunk lid. The front of the vehicle certainly showed the semblance of classic Alfa Romeo-made cars, with the famous inverted triangle grille. The head lamps appeared to be narrower, although these may have been partly covered by all the duct tape shaping the front bumper. The prototype suggested that the 2018 Stelvio will feature the sleek Italian design that the brand has been known for.

It is also likely that the Stelvio will feature a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine and 6-speed or 8-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle may be inspired by the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia in terms of design and engine performance.

More updates and details are expected soon.

See Now: OnePlus 6: How Different Will It Be From OnePlus 5?