Alfa Romeo Unveils Stelvio Crossover

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV unveiled the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio crossover and its performance-oriented Quadrifoglio variant today at the Los Angeles auto show.

The Stelvio is expected to hit showrooms in mid-2017 as a 2018 model. FCA will assemble the vehicle in Cassino, Italy,

Built on Alfa’s Giorgio platform, the midsize Stelvio (named after a mountain pass in the Italian Alps) is 184 inches long, 75 inches wide and 66 inches tall. It shares the architecture, several components and styling cues with the recently launched Giulia compact sport sedan.

The doors, fenders, front and rear frame assemblies, and various suspension components are made of aluminum, while carbon fiber is used in the driveshaft and some body parts and mechanical components. The lightweight design enables a near 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution, according to Alfa.

The all-wheel-drive system allows as much as 60% of torque to be transferred to the front axle. A double wishbone suspension is used up front, while the rear gets a four-and-a-half link system.

The Quadrifoglio varient gets an adaptive suspension and torque vectoring to improve traction and stability. The car is powered by a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V-6, which produces 505 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. Alfa says the V-6 will propel the Quadrifoglio from zero to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. Cylinder deactivation conserves fuel by cutting power to half of the cylinders under low engine load conditions.

The base engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that makes 280 hp and 306 lb-ft of torque. Both engines will be mated with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Four driving modes are available: Dynamic, Natural, Advanced Efficiency and Race. The latter setting is tuned to shift gears in 150 milliseconds.

The Stelvio shares a number of interior features with the Giulia, including its climate controls, infotainment system and flat-bottomed steering wheel with paddle shifters. The car is compatible with iPhone and Android smartphone interfaces.