Alfa Romeo’s first-ever crossover has broken cover well ahead of schedule, and the company has no one to blame but itself.
The Italian brand recently published a promotional video that highlights how it builds cars in its Cassino, Italy, factory. The film briefly revealed the Stelvio, the company’s long-awaited entry into the booming crossover segment. It was quickly taken down, but Motor1 grabbed a screen shot before Alfa Romeo could act.
Design-wise, the Stelvio borrows styling cues such as a tall, V-shaped grille and sharp, swept-back headlights from the Giulia. It’s roughly the same size as the BMW X3, but it boasts a fast-sloping roof line that errs more toward form than function. Ground clearance looks fairly limited, confirming that the Stelvio — which is named after a famous mountain pass in the north of Italy — is more comfortable on the street than on the trail.
Power will come from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, according to Motor Authority. Likely sourced from the new Giulia sedan, the turbo four will send 276 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. An all-wheel drive system — called Q4 in Alfa-speak — will be offered at an extra cost, but it doesn’t sold like the standard Stelvio will be available with a manual transmission.
Alfa might choose to expand the Stelvio lineup with a performance-focused model a little later in the production run. The model could use a Ferrari-derived 2.9-liter V6 engine rated at 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. Badged Quadrifogio, Alfa’s hot rod on stilts will offer an enthusiast-approved six-speed manual transmission.
Read more: Alfa Romeo is preparing for a tussle in the midsize luxury sedan segment
We’ll find out more information about the Alfa Romeo Stelvio in the coming weeks, and the soft-roader is scheduled to greet the public for the first time in November during the Los Angeles Auto Show. It will join the Giulia sedan in showrooms across the U.S. next year, though a more specific time frame isn’t available yet.
