The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Sets The Benchmark For The SUV Market

Jan 30, 2017 11:10 AM EST | Andrew Davis

The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is the Italian automaker's first SUV and sets a new benchmark for the SUV segment. The brand new SUV made its debut during the 2016 LA Auto Show, but only the powerful Stelvio Quadrifoglio was shown with its 505 hp.

This newly designed SUV not only looks like a bulkier Giulia, but it also shares the same platform. The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio was named after the Stelvio Pass, a famous Italian mountain pass.

The inside will not disappoint most drivers with its performance leather seating. Drivers will sit behind an F1-inspired flat-bottomed steering wheel that comes with a bright red integrated push start button. A 7-inch thin film display is featured at the gauge with rests between the tachometer and speedometer, per CarAndDriver. The 8.8-inch infotainment system comes with 3D navigation, Apple Car Play, and Android Auto.

The exterior features 20-inch alloy wheels, Bi-Xenon headlamps, colored brake callipers, and chrome plated window trim. The combination of carbon fiber, aluminum, and magnesium allows for extensive weight reduction, delivering unbeatable power-to-weight ratio. In fact, the vehicle's 50:50 weight distribution resulted to an unmatched driving experience, thanks to the company's partnership with Ferrari.

This 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio comes in 3 trim levels: Stelvio, Stelvio Ti, and Stelvio Quadrifoglio, the iconic four-leaf version. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio is powered by top-of-the-line all-aluminum 2.9L bi-turbo, direct injected V6 engine producing an impressive 505 horses and 443 lb-ft of torque.

Alfa Romeo claims that the Quadrifoglio will become the fastest SUV in the market, thanks to its incredible chassis, driving dynamics, and overall performance. Its 0-to-60-mph time of just 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 177 mph. Meanwhile, Stelvio and Stelvio Ti are able to produce 280 hp and 306 lb-ft of torque from an all-aluminum direct injection 2.0L turbocharged I4 engine.

Customers will also have the ability to customize the performance characteristics and behavior of the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio thanks to the 3-mode Alfa DNA Drive Mode Selector system selector, according to Alfa Romeo USA. To deliver optimal handling, the drivers can choose from Dynamic, Natural, or Advanced Efficiency modes.

Overall, the company has ensured that every single 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio trim level will deliver seemless performance. The official launch date and pricing are yet to be announced by the company.

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