![Illinois Auto Dealers Sue State Over Rivian’s Direct-Sales Model [UPDATED]](https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/rivian-suv-610x407.jpg)
Automakers have an easy way of determining which new model is guaranteed to make the company money. If the answer to the simple question “Is it an SUV?” is a clear, definite “yes,” well, that’s a good enough indicator for most.
Alfa Romeo knows that in this day and age, not including an SUV in its lineup would be the kiss of death, hence the need for the 2018 Stelvio. Revealed in images on the eve of its Los Angeles Auto Show debut, the Stelvio borrows the face, platform and performance characteristics of its midsize sedan stablemate, the oft-delayed Giulia.
Sporting Italian lines that make vehicles built north of the Alps look frumpy and bureaucratic in comparison, Alfa Romeo also hopes the Stelvio temps buyers with what’s underneath its dress.
Expect several Stelvio flavors when the model appears on U.S. shores in the middle of next year. At the low end, base and Ti trims receive a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 280 horsepower and 306 lb-ft of torque. Mated to an all-wheel-drive system, the entry-level mill should be good for a 144 mile-per-hour top speed. The only transmission offered is an eight-speed automatic.
All but the top-flight Quadrifoglio model contain a drive mode system offering three ranges – Dynamic, Natural, and Advanced Efficiency. Move up to the Quadrifoglio if you can’t live without a “Race” mode.
Buyers of the crème de la crème Stelvio stand to enjoy more than just an extra driving mode and upgraded content. Like the Giulia Quadrifoglio, the SUV’s top-tier trim also benefits from a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6, good for 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. Alfa claims the boosted mill should rocket the Stelvio to 60 mph in a scant 3.9 seconds. (There’s also a 177 mph top speed for the daring and brave to discover.)
Helping the Quadrifoglio remain planted during spirited are an adaptive suspension, torque-vectoring differential and wide rubber on 20-inch wheels. Ceramic brakes aid the less-exhilarating act of stopping, while the V6 can run on three cylinders if your right foot proves light enough on the highway.
Pricing has yet to be announced.
[Images: Alfa Romeo]
So this exists or its more vaporware?
The bullshots above look like total CG, but it is just a Giulia hatchback so it shouldn’t be too hard for them to make it quickly.
The Giulia isn’t vaporware in Europe, it’s selling well.
The reason why the Giulia took so long is that they re-designed it to share more platform components with the Stelvio.
Presumably that’s all been worked-out and both products will make it to US dealers soon.
on what planet is 800-1,000 cars a month “selling well?”
Planet Fiapologetica.
September midsize premium sedan sales in Continental Europe with % change
Mercedes C class 4,300 -16%
BMW 3 series 3,033 +11%
Audi A4 2,091 +55%
Alfa Romeo Giulia 1,718 New
Jaguar XE 845 -26%
Volvo S60 503 -19%
Lexus IS 340 +28%
Infiniti Q50 209 +32%
Not bad considering it’s a new car, and not available as a wagon, unlike the german big three’s offerings.
“Wagons account for 42 percent of sales of premium midsize cars in Europe, compared with 33 percent for sedans.”
http://europe.autonews.com/article/20161026/ANE/161029902/alfa-will-add-a-giulia-wagon-to-boost-european-sales
Jaguar, Audi, Merc and BMW are competing in a different price bracket. The Alfa is BMW one series sized
Thx for the info.
That’s not the reason cited by the media for the delay of the Giulia.
http://europe.autonews.com/article/20160205/ANE/160209894/former-ferrari-chief-engineer-returns-to-fiat-chrysler
“The launch of the Alfa Romeo Giulia is months behind schedule. Supplier sources have told Automotive News Europe the Giulia failed to pass internal front, side and rear crash tests, which has resulted in an extensive re-engineering that has added about six months to the midsize sedan’s development time.”
Only six months to go from “failed to pass internal front, side and rear crash tests” to “the highest score ever achieved by any car, even with the introduction of a more stringent rating system in 2015” ? That’s quite an achievement.
http://www.alfaromeo.co.uk/alfa-romeo-world/passion/alfa-news/2016/alfa_romeo_giulia_earns_five-star_euro_ncap_rating
http://www.euroncap.com/en/results/alfa-romeo/giulia/24849
The achievement is not at debate here. What is, is the reasoning for the delay.
Just because the delay was only 6 months doesn’t mean they only spent 6 months working on and solving the problem.
I got my info from a youtube interview with an Alfa rep at the last Geneva auto show.
When they were designing the Stelvio they figured out that they could share a lot more of the stampings (subframes, that sort of stuff) with the Gulia by making a few changes to the later. The Gulia wasn’t in production, so it was delayed by a few months so the tooling could be readied.
The savings over the production life of the Gulia make it worthwhile.
I don’t care how much lipstick they put on an italian pig, they still are major problems in reliability and longevity. I think these alfa’s are going to be real dogs just like the fiats that have come before them. Sergio whateverhisnameis lives in a dream world when it comes to marketing italian cars. Bought one of the ‘vans’ and it is in the shop for ‘mysterious electrical problems’. I told my fiancee if i ever buy another FCA product, I need to be committed. There products consistently rank at the bottom of CR auto studies. Nuff Said
“they still are major problems in reliability and longevity”
So lease it an enjoy an awesome car. Or, buy a RAV4. Each vehicle has many pluses and minuses.
You just need to adjust your expectations of reliability and longevity for FCA products. If you get 30K miles and aren’t left stranded on the side of the road, it was reliable and long-lasting!
We got 37K miles out of our T&C before a $2500 repair was covered under “goodwill” (they put a computer in the wheel well). That week it was traded in for a Toyota.
I got suckered in on another FCA product when they offered me a new $26K 200 for $17K. Did it. A year and 27K miles later, the transmission shifts abruptly going into reverse, and the engine noises are noticeably louder (allegedly direct ignition noises, but I don’t believe it).
They can’t buy my business any more. If I buy another FCA product, I too will need to be committed.
Haven’t these bizarre grille shapes already been the kiss-of-death on Triibeca and Edsel?
…but it’s a *historic* flying vagina. That makes all the difference!
That’s been Alfa’s grille shape since the 1950s (at least). BMW uses a similar shape, and it’s worked-out OK.
In what planet is BMW’s kidney grille similar in shape to Alfa’s vagina?
“Automakers have an easy way of determining which new model is guaranteed to make the company money. If the answer to the simple question “Is it an SUV?” is a clear, definite “yes,” well, that’s a good enough indicator for most.”
You know, I was thinking – and that’s a dangerous thing for me – but in seeing that most new vehicles are SUV/CUVs, many people still want cars but like the higher driving position an SUV/CUV provides.
Perhaps one of the OEMs, Ford or GM, should basically reintroduce a car with similar proportions to a 1955-1956-1957 model year Ford or Chevy.
On the surface, this sounds good to me, and I’m not thinking Honda Crosstour, either. We know how that worked out for them!
Not a bad idea. I think limos should be shaped like horse-drawn carriages, with a step-up to two facing rows and a high roof.
Town Car-style limos felt like spelunking, but even Navigator limos are so low they make you move around like a primate.
Stupid name. Glad to see Jeep profits are being flushed so magnificently.
“Ask your doctor if Stelvio is right for you.”
In some cases, side effects may include death.
Stelvio in my tea gives me a stomach ache.
Why not call it the Sergio? And maybe a pic of the GoAT on the driver airbag….
“Glad to see Jeep profits are being flushed so magnificently”
You mean like this ?
“Announced investments for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ US and Canadian plants between June 2009 and July 2016 amounted to $9.1 billion.”
http://www.automotivemanufacturingsolutions.com/focus/switching-to-suvs/
If I dismissively wank any harder I’ll start to chafe.
“Expect several Stelvio flavors when the model appears on U.S. shores in the middle of next year.”
HAHAHAHA they’ve got only renderings of it, and it’ll be here mid next year. Oh yes.
Is it still an SUV if it scrapes on parking lot speed bumps?
CUVs creeping back to wagonness proportions. Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh don’t tell the soccer moms.
Will Italy redefine New Car Smell as Rifiuti non Raccolto?
Finally, an Alfa Americans can lose in a parking lot.
Compare it to the CX5 two stories down.
Stelvio is a good name for a sporting Italian marque such as Alfa — but I’ll pass.
Another underwhelming design. The front looks awesome, but the rear is ugly. Those rear lights don’t fit with the rest of the car.