Alfa Romeo is probably hoping the Stelvio will emulate the success with which the company's previously launched model, the Giulia, was met with. However, this success was mostly due to the car's hot version, the 510 hp Quadrifoglio.
Nobody knew it at the time, but it appears as if the world was in desperate need of an Italian sports sedan. It had plenty of similar offerings from Germany, Japan (less and less so), and even the USA - most of them more than just decent - but that wasn't enough. They were all just too... German, Japanese or American. The world needed something Italian, with all that comes with that, good and bad.
With that out of the way, Alfa Romeo is now focusing its attention on releasing an SUV. It will be the brand's first such vehicle, but considering Maserati has already beaten it to it, there's no need to feel any kind of a shame. Alfa Romeo isn't selling itself, it's saving itself. A manufacturer can only survive for so long selling beautiful hatches (Giulietta) and flawed sports cars (4C) before it needs something to make the bulk of its revenues. And a quick look on the market will immediately point the finger toward the SUV segment.
Trying to tell what the car will look like on the outside is anyone's guess - and that's exactly what it is, a guess. If we were to give our two cents, however, we'd bet on a design that's best described as an SUV reinterpretation of that of the Giulia sedan. The two do share the same platform, after all, so it would make sense in more ways than one.
Since nobody ever complained about what the Giulia looks like, we'd consider that good news, but until we get some sort of confirmation, here's to hoping the production version will be just as beautiful as the camouflage is ugly. Because right now, my God, that's one hideous SUV.
Since the Stelvio shares its underpinnings with the Giulia, that means it will also borrow its engine and transmission lineup. That means four- and six-cylinder engines running on both gasoline and diesel, all culminating with the sensational 2.9-liter Ferrari-derived V6 developing 510 hp that motivates the Giulia Quadrifoglio Verde.
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is expected to debut later this year at the Paris Motor Show. With less than four years left until the self-imposed deadline, Alfa Romeo is on course to deliver all of the eight all-new models promised by 2020. The Stelvio is the second, which means we'll get one new model every seven months on average. Considering the recent drought of new Alfa Romeos, we can definitely live with that.
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