Alfa Romeo lobs Stelvio Quadrifoglio pricing
BY TIM NICHOLSON | 23rd Nov 2018
ALFA Romeo Australia has announced a $149,900 plus on-road costs pricetag for its spicy Stelvio Quadrifoglio performance SUV that rolls into dealerships in mid-January.
The Quadrifoglio – or Q for short – is the high-performance flagship of the Stelvio range that launched into Australian showrooms in March this year.
As previously reported, it is powered by a Ferrari-built 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol powerplant that pumps out 375kW at 6500rpm and 600Nm from 2500-5000rpm, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Alfa’s pricing means the SUV is $6000 more than the Giulia Q sedan that’s priced from $143,900 and shares the same Ferrari-developed V6 engine.
It also undercuts the Mercedes-AMG GLC63 S SUV that uses a 375kW/700Nm V8 and is priced at $164,530 before on-roads.
The Stelvio Q is pricier than Porsche’s 294kW/550Nm AWD Macan Turbo ($133,100), Jaguar’s 280kW/460Nm F-Pace S AWD petrol ($104,827) and Audi’s 260kW/500Nm SQ5 ($99,240).
Another future rival, BMW’s upcoming X3 and X4 M twins, are yet to be revealed, but pricing is expected to be higher than the current performance flagships, the X3 and X4 M40i which are $99,529 and $109,900 respectively.
Alfa Romeo Australia CEO Steve Zanlunghi said the go-fast SUV would attract more people to the Alfa brand Down Under.
“We are excited to offer the hotly anticipated all-new Stelvio Quadrifoglio SUV at such a competitive price and look forward to attracting new fans to the brand in search of a practical SUV without comprising on performance and driving excitement,” he said.
“The arrival of the Stelvio Quadrifoglio marks the next step in the local expansion of Alfa Romeo with a model mix that provides an option to suit every customer’s needs.”
The Stelvio Q can sprint from zero to 100km/h in a blistering 3.8 seconds onto a top speed of 283km/h.
In 2017, the Stelvio set a new lap record for an SUV at the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit, completing it in 7 minutes and 51.7 seconds – eight seconds fast than the previous production SUV record.
However, its crown has this week been nabbed by Mercedes-AMG’s GLC 63 S, which completed the circuit in 7:49.369.
Unlike the Giulia Q, the Stelvio is fitted with Alfa’s Q4 all-wheel-drive system paired with a torque vectoring system.
In normal conditions the Q sends most of the torque to the rear axle, but when required, the system delivers up to 50 per cent of the torque to the front axle via the transfer case, which Alfa says ensures “best-in-class control”.
Alfa Romeo’s DNA drive mode selector is standard and is offered with Dynamic, Natural and Advanced Efficiency modes, as well as a special Race mode that improves the performance characteristics of engine power delivery, gearshifts, suspension and the stability program.
The Italian car-maker says the 1830kg Stelvio Quadrifoglio has the best-in-class power-to-weight ratio of 4.88kg/kW.
The bodykit includes bonnet vents, side skirts, enhanced wheelarches, quad exhaust tips, 20-inch forged aluminium alloy wheels and red brake callipers.
The Stelvio Q comes standard with dual-mode exhaust system, leather and Alcantara seats, carbon-fibre interior trim, reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, an 8.8-inch Connect infotainment system with 3D satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a Harmon/Kardon sound system.
It also features aluminium pedals, special door scuff plates, eight-way power front seats, ambient interior lighting, Quadrifoglio floor mats, the ALFA rotary controller and a heated leather steering wheel.
Safety wise it gains adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, a forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking and a tyre pressure monitor.
