New Alfa Romeo Stelvio to take on Porsche Macan

The Stelvio’s development is being overseen by Ferrari’s former technical director, Roberto Fedeli, who rejoined FCA as chief technical officer from a role at BMW’s M division early this year and reports directly to Alfa and Maserati boss Harald Wester. Fedeli’s reputation was cemented during his spell at Ferrari, where he was credited with overseeing the engineering of all of its cars from 2007 to 2014, including the LaFerrari, F12 Berlinetta and 458 Italia.

The choice of the Stelvio name was revealed by FCA boss Sergio Marchionne in an off-the-cuff remark at Alfa Romeo’s Stabilimento Fiat di Cassino production plant in Italy. Insiders have subsequently said it is one of three names under consideration, but it is significant for the clues it gives about the SUV’s intent.

It is named after the famous Stelvio Pass, which runs over the Alps in northern Italy and is widely regarded as one of the most challenging driving routes in the world. As such, it signals the company’s intent to put a sharp focus on the SUV’s dynamic appeal.

To date, Alfa has issued few official details about the Stelvio. Spy pictures of the car testing have been confined to heavily disguised mules, although a single, seemingly off-the-cuff picture taken by FCA’s head of design, Ralph Gilles, of Alfa and Fiat designer Lorenzo Ramaciotti sitting in the boot hit the internet last year. It revealed little beyond the boot opening’s shape and a glimpse of the dashboard, which also followed the format of the Giulia’s. However, with the Giulia’s interior layout and quality already receiving some criticism, rumours suggest the Stelvio’s could be improved before launch and the changes fed back to the saloon as part of a 2017 model year update.

Familiar design

The exterior shape is expected to be in line with the current Alfa family look, with the Stelvio being designed to accommodate five despite a coupé-like tapering roof to underline its sporty credentials.

“What’s clear is that we want a family look for our cars,” the head of Alfa Romeo in the EMEA region, Fabrizio Curci, told Autocar at the Geneva motor show, without specific reference to the Stelvio. “We have a philosophy that says if you like driving, then you will like our cars, and from that point, we build the appeal, from the technology in the cars to the service you get at our dealerships. I am not going to claim that our cars are better than those of our rivals, but I am going to tell you that they are different. We have a very pure, simple DNA at Alfa, not just guided by our heritage but also by our plans for the future. We know what we want from our cars, and that is an asset.

“We have a focus, informed by our 105-year history, that puts technical development and design first, and that informs everything from how we plan the cars to how we build them and how we sell them. At the heart of an Alfa is the driver. We plan around the driver and we build around the driver. Whatever the vehicle, an Alfa must deliver heart and soul. Our cars must be well rounded but always with a focus on delivering fun.”

The biggest-selling Stelvio models will be powered by petrol and diesel engines, but there is the prospect of plug-in hybrids joining the range. FCA confirmed to investors that it would launch plug-in hybrid vehicles from 2016 and offer a new 48V electrical architecture for mild hybrids from 2018.

However, FCA’s 2.2-litre diesel engine is expected to account for the bulk of sales and be sold in 150bhp, 180bhp and 210bhp guises. Standard petrol units will use the 2.0-litre engine, producing 200bhp, 250bhp and 280bhp. Prices are expected to start from around £40,000.

More formal details are expected to be revealed when the production car is unveiled, most likely at this year’s LA motor show in November or the Detroit motor show in January.