Alfa Romeo Stelvio crossover makes official debut

Alfa Romeo’s first crossover, the Stelvio, has been unveiled ahead of its official debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Based on the Alfa Romeo Giulia rear-wheel drive ‘Giorgio’ platform, the Stelvio is named after the spectacular mountain pass in the Italian Alps.

Two engines will be on offer at launch next year; a 2.0-litre turbocharged direct-injected four-cylinder delivering 206kW and 400Nm of torque, and a 2.9-litre biturbo V6 with 371kW and 600Nm of torque powering the range-topping Quadrifoglio.

Alfa says the Quadrifoglio will blast from 0-60mph (0-96km/h) in just 3.9 seconds and features cylinder deactivation technology to save fuel.

Both engines are married to a ZF eight-speed automatic and an all-wheel drive system, the latter capable of transferring up to 60% of torque to the front wheels. A torque vectoring differential also ensures power is put to good use.

Outside, the handsome looking Stelvio shares many of its styling elements with the equally striking Giulia, including the front fascia and fluid taillights treatment.

Inside, the similarity is even more profound, with the dashboard large carried over from the sedan. Buyers can choose between a 6.5-inch or 8.8-inch widescreen display for the infotainment system, while an additional 7-inch digital display in the cluster is standard.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvia is slatted to hit the markets in 2017 and will come from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ (FCA) plant in Cassino, Italy.