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What It Is
Alfa Romeo's first SUV, the Stelvio, debuted for the 2018 model year and has now become outdated. The second-generation Stelvio should retain the brand's seductive style while ushering in a new era with hybrid and electric powertrain options. Alfa Romeo plans to debut the redesigned Stelvio later this year.
Why It Matters
Alfa Romeo has failed to establish momentum after returning to the United States in 2017, selling only 8865 vehicles last year. The Stelvio has always been the brand's best-seller, barely behind the Tonale last year due to a 41% reduction from 5340 units sold in 2023. If Alfa gets the 2027 Stelvio right, it might finally see a return in the US market.
Platform
The Stelvio will be built on the STLA Large platform, which also supports the current Dodge Charger and the electric Jeep Wagoneer S and is capable of supporting electric, hybrid, and internal combustion powertrains. Because the STLA Large platform is designed to support cars ranging in length from 187.6 to 201.8 inches, the Stelvio will most likely increase from its present length of 184.6 inches.
Powertrain
Alfa Romeo has announced that the Stelvio will have both an electric and a hybrid drivetrain, however the carmaker has not specified whether this would be a plug-in hybrid or a more typical gas-electric arrangement.
We know the STLA Large platform is compatible with the Hurricane twin-turbocharged inline six, which will join the Charger lineup later this year. We wouldn't be shocked if this 3.0-liter engine, capable of producing up to 550 horsepower, is used in a hybrid system in a future high-performance Stelvio Quadrifoglio model. The outgoing twin-turbo V-6 Quadrifoglio produces 505 horsepower.
Lesser hybrid models will most likely use a four-cylinder engine and employ the same arrangement as the Tonale plug-in hybrid. The Tonale PHEV combines a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor positioned on the back axle to provide 285 horsepower, while a 12-kWh battery provides 33 miles of electric range. Alfa Romeo may also hybridize the Stelvio's current 2.0-liter four-cylinder.
The EV version may be a reskinned Dodge Charger Daytona, but Alfa's engineers will most likely change the motor, if only to distinguish their elegant Italian SUV from the blocky American muscle vehicle. The Charger Daytona has a 400-volt design and a pair of electric motors that deliver up to 670 horsepower to all four wheels.
Competition
The Stelvio will continue to compete with other small luxury SUVs such as the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC-class, and Genesis GV70, but it will also face electric luxury compact SUVs such as the Porsche Macan EV, Polestar 3, and Audi Q6 e-tron.
What Might Be Wrong
Not many people are purchasing Alfa Romeos right now, and if the company can't raise enough awareness for the new Stelvio, it may fail since it is overshadowed by perennial sector leaders like as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche. Alfa Romeo's dependability is also a source of worry. Our long-term 2018 Giulia sedan had a number of faults, many of which were technological in nature, which may deter shoppers from purchasing the EV version.
Estimated Arrival and Price
Alfa Romeo has announced that manufacture of the next-generation Stelvio will commence in North America in 2026. It is projected to arrive for the 2027 model year and will coexist with the old Stelvio until the end of 2026. We expect the price to grow from the current $50,990 starting price, with the hybrid perhaps beginning at $55,000. The EV should be significantly more expensive, potentially beginning at $70,000.
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