motoring
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio T
he Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio looks good in the photographs, but what struck me was how much
better it looked in the flesh, or steel. It has a presence and style that most SUV’s fail to match and performs like a sports car. A genuine pleasure to drive and holds the road like no other SUV on the market. Better than many sports cars actually.
The Stelvio Quadrifogio is the top of the range SUV, with the
four leaf clover
emblem on the side, first used by Alfa’s race driver Ugo Sivocci in 1923 to bring him luck, which it did, winning the Targa Floria race. The Quadrifoglio symbol is Alfa Romeo’s badge of racing pride and lets you know that the car is extra special, sporting rear wheel drive, ultra light materials, 50;50 weight ratio and superior performance.
The Stelvio Quadrifoglio has the 2.9 V6 bi-turbo aluminium engine with 510hp, that will go from 0-62 in 3.8 secs, designed by ex Ferrari engineer Gianlucca Pivetti. Add to that an 8 speed automatic gear box (plus reverse) that can change gear in 150 milliseconds in race mode! It boasts a top speed of 176 mph with Alfa Active Torque Vectoring, Alfa DNA Pro,
Integrated
Break System and Alfa Active Suspension, all synchronised and managed by Alfa’s Chassis Domain Control system. Other worthy features include a carbon fibre drive shaft, aluminium shift paddles, the ability to shut off three cylinders for more fuel efficiency and two electronically controlled clutches.
The Stelvio is eye catching in tri-coat Competizione Red with a narrow indented waist, an attractive sloping windscreen and cursive side windows. The rear is smooth and confident, whilst the front radiates animalistic
intent with twin
hood vents and the iconic Alfa trilobe. The sinuous blade shaped front headlamps add a rakish air and the overall appearance is muscular and extremely solid, with enough curves to subtly hint at its truly impressive sports nature.
The interior is understated luxury, with black leather and red stitching, carbon fibre panels, twin instrument dials and the Alfa 7” display screen that is seamlessly
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incorporated into the dash. The flat bottom sports steering wheel is a pleasure to hold and conveys the sports soul of this car with gusto. It is after all the main control that you interact with, so it has to feel right and I love the red start/stop button on the wheel, no hunting around the panel. Just flip your thumb over and bang, it starts. Another clue that this is no ordinary SUV are the Sparco sports seats, which are absolutely necessary in this high performance car, both comfortable for long tours and supportive when you have the space to let rip.
So really, how good can an SUV be on and off road? Incredible as it turns out. Just jaw dropping poise and stability. On the road it was like cornering from a video game armchair. The sports seats coddle you like a mama bear protecting its cubs. You are genuinely stable and secure. I could not believe I was in an SUV. The acceleration is phenomenal and Alfa have tuned the pedal response to perfection, so you get immediate power at the lightest press of the foot. This marvellous V6 bi-turbo engine delivers at every rpm, 0-62 in 3.8 seconds is no joke for a car this size. The car is smooth and luxurious at high speeds, but most
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