2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Ti Awd on 2040-cars

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Alfa Romeo won't sully the GTA name by putting it on the Stelvio

Alfa Romeo began celebrating its 110th birthday by resurrecting the heritage-laced GTA nameplate on a track-happy evolution of the Giulia Quadrifoglio. Enthusiasts went wild when they heard the news, but the company warned it's not about to put the GTA name on every model it makes just to capitalize on its popularity. First launched in 1965, the GTA acronym has historically denoted a lighter version of an existing model developed with racing (or, at least, track use) in mind. The recently-unveiled Giulia GTA fits the bill; a Stelvio GTA wouldn't, according to the company. Executives thought long and hard about it and ultimately ruled it out. "GTA is an important name for Alfa Romeo. Frankly speaking, we had a meeting on a Stelvio GTA, but it's just not in line with customer expectations. It has to be the best possible [on the track]. On the Stelvio, we have a higher center of gravity [than on the Giulia], so it won't achieve the same goals," said Fabio Migliavacca, the company's product marketing boss, in a candid interview with British magazine Autocar. His comments suggest the 505-horsepower Quadrifoglio model is as hot as the Stelvio will get in the foreseeable future. There's no indication Alfa Romeo is planning to add a second sedan to its range — its next new model is widely believed to be a smaller crossover — so the GTA treatment will be limited to the Giulia (pictured). This could explain why demand for the car and its two-seater GTAm counterpart has been exceptionally high. The stripped-out, 540-horsepower sedans are limited to 500 numbered units combined worldwide. Alfa Romeo hasn't started taking orders yet, and it had the misfortune of unveiling the model mere days before the Italian government imposed an ongoing national coronavirus quarantine, but it has received more expressions of interest than it has build slots. Migliavacca revealed a majority of the enthusiasts the firm has heard from prefer the more hardcore GTAm over the slightly softer GTA. It's lighter, and consequently quicker around a track. "A lot of people are raising their hands and saying, 'I want to have one,' 'I want to have four,'" he said. "It's truly an amazing reaction considering the timing." Related Video:

Alfa Romeo Stelvio goes on sale this summer for $42,990

The wait is nearly over for the most practical Alfa Romeo yet. The mainstream versions of the new Stelvio crossover SUV go on sale this summer, with pricing and availability for the 505-horsepower Quadrifoglio coming later. The entry-level Stelvio will start at $42,990, and the higher-trim Ti will go for $44,990. This pricing, which includes destination charges, is nearly identical to key competitors in the small luxury crossover segment. The Jaguar F-Pace starts at just $70 more with a base price of $43,060. The BMW X3 starts a bit lower than both at $41,045. Each of those entry-level crossovers makes less power than the Stelvio, though. The Jaguar makes 247 horsepower, and the BMW makes 240. The Stelvio's turbo four-cylinder makes 280 horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque. And unlike the BMW, the Alfa comes with standard all-wheel drive. Along with the standard eight-speed automatic, the Stelvio is capable of getting to 60 mph in an estimated 5.4 seconds on the way to a 144 mph top speed. Aside from the potent four-cylinder, Stelvios come standard with leather seats, keyless entry and starting, rearview camera, 7-inch infotainment display, and 18-inch wheels. Spending the extra $2,000 for the Ti trim level will add 19-inch wheels, real wood trim, an 8.8-inch infotainment screen, and heated seats and steering wheel. Sport packages are available on both the base model and Ti. Each package includes sportier suspension, a different steering wheel, black window trim and roof rails, and aluminum pedals and paddle shifters. On the base Stelvio, the package only costs $1,800 and also adds 19-inch wheels. On the Ti, the package costs $2,500, but includes 20-inch wheels and 12-way power sport seats. The Ti also offers a Lusso package for $2,500 that comes with 19-inch wheels, 12-way power seats with nicer leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped dashboard, and a "luxury" steering wheel. Related Video:

Upcoming Alfa Romeo CUV called the Stelvio, Marchionne says

Alfa Romeo will call its forthcoming crossover the Stelvio, and the Italian brand will finally put the often-postponed CUV on sale in Europe in early 2017, according to Auto Express citing FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne. We probably won't see it in showrooms here until at least spring or summer next year. The vehicle's name references the famously curvy pass through the Alps in Northern Italy, which evokes a model with sharp handling and rapid acceleration. The Stelvio uses a modified Giulia platform, and the two models should share powertrains. Standard versions would likely get a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, which makes 276 horsepower in the sedan. However, the common parts make a Quadrifoglio version of the CUV possible, packing the hottest Giulia's 505-hp 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6, according to Auto Express. Alfa Romeo hasn't teased the Stelvio's design yet, but FCA designer Ralph Gilles posted a photo on Instagram that might have been a hint. The picture showed fellow designer of Lorenzo Ramaciotti in the back of an unnamed crossover. The dashboard, which you could see in that shot, had a distinct similarity to the Giulia. The shot didn't show much of the exterior, but you could barely make out the narrow taillights. Alfa Romeo has had serious problems launching vehicles on time recently, and the Giulia sedan and Stelvio should have been ready by now. The four-door was originally supposed to arrive in late 2015, but Marchionne said assembly would finally begin on March 14, according to Auto Express. The sedan has allegedly had problems passing internal crash tests, but Alfa officials vehemently denied this claim. The brand also delayed the CUV by several months from the original plans. The automaker now asserts that six more models are on the way by 2020, but the company doesn't seem capable of living up to those promises. Related Video: