Tag Archives: Alfa Romeo
Next-Gen Jeep Grand Cherokee Will Be Based On Alfa Romeo Stelvio Platform
The Jeep Grand Cherokee, together with the Dodge Durango, has been using a premium platform gifted by Daimler since 2011. But that’s about to change now as the next-generation Grand Cherokee will underpin the same platform used on the Alfa Romeo Stelvio.
This was confirmed by company CEO Sergio Marchionne during the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles investor conference in Italy last week. Marchionne confirmed reports that the Grand Cherokee is using the same platform used by the Stelvio and the Giulia sedan.
The original architecture has been modified and extended to accommodate both the two-row and the three-row Grand Cherokee, Marchionne said. The Jeep plans to release both five-seater and seven-seater for the new iteration of the Grand Cherokee. But more than that, the company CEO also revealed that Jeep is planning to come up with a three-row E-segment mid-sized SUV by 2022. That vehicle might be called the Grand Cherokee as well, though we’re not exactly sure where it will sit in the lineup.
Based on the company’s plans, the new Grand Cherokee will be the first vehicle in the lineup to have Level 2 self-driving capability. That means it will be able to brake, accelerate, steer, and change lanes on long highway drives, similar to what the Cadillac Super Cruise system can do. That semi-autonomous driving capability may arrive in 2020, though a Level 3 self-driving technology is slated to appear sometimes by the end of 2021.
There is no specific timeline yet for the next-generation Grand Cherokee, though the work on the new platform has already started. That means that the new vehicle might arrive by 2019 or 2020 at the latest, which is at the end of Jeep’s ambitious five-year plan.
The self-driving technologies might appear on this next-generation vehicle. At least, that’s what makes sense to us. It’s going to either be a 2020 or 2021 model.
Top 3 Features of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio
It is a cross between a sports car and an SUV. Well, at least that’s what they say about the Alfa Romeo Stelvio.
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is one of the hot attractions right now at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. Here are its key features based on a report:
1. Engine
The new Alfa Romeo Stelvio is offered in two engine trims. The first is a petrol-fed 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It produces 280 hp and 306 lb-ft of torque. All that power is distributed to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
The output allows the Stelvio to accelerate from zero to 62 mph in just 5.7 seconds. The top speed of the auto is at 144 mph. The video at the bottom of this article highlights the petrol model of the vehicle.
The diesel model of the vehicle houses a 2.2-liter four cylinder engine. Not much was said yet about this particular unit but we will surely follow up on this one once more information is available.
2. Design
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio carries many styling elements found in the Giulia like its body lines, rounded nose and front grille. However, the similarities between the two end from the B-pillar portion to the rear where SUV factors already come into play. Of course, the Stelvio is higher and bulkier than the Giula because of its crossover form.
3. Competition
The Stelvio is Alfa Romeo’s new fighter in the SUV coupe segment of the market. The vehicle is the brand’s challenger to the Porsche Macan, Jaguar F-Pace and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe.
Photos
Check out the official photos of the new Alfa Romeo Stelvio at the 87th annual Geneva International Motor Show in the gallery below:
Video
Press play in the video below to watch the Alfa Romeo Stelvio as it is driven in the Italian Alps:
Top 3 Changes In The New 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia
There were definitely plenty of delays, but the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia has finally arrived and it’s ready to be delivered to your doorsteps. But before you let go of that hard-earned cash, take a look at how this luxury vehicle fares when pitted against its direct competitors—the BMW 3-Series, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and the Jaguar XE.
Check out the top 3 updates of the vehicle based on a source:
1. Dramatic Lines
The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia has the “most pleasing lines” out of the lineup. It has dynamic creases on the hood that wraps around the frames to the front grille, whose three-vent design certainly became a standout. Why is that? The grilles on the Merc, BMW, and Jaguar have very definite separation between the upper and the lower grille.
In the rear, the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia is subtle with its changes, though the C-shaped taillights and the large tailpipe units certainly added some visual stylistics.
2. Round And Compact
Round and compact, that’s how one will describe the overall look of the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia. It is almost the same length as the 3-Series and slightly shorter than the C-Class and XE. You’ll notice that compared to the other three luxury sedans, the Giulia has a short overhang. If you opted for it, the Giulia can be had with five-hole wheels and hood vents.
3. Simple Cabin With Extra Features
Inside, there’s nothing much going on with the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia, except that it sports a few more buttons and knobs than the BMW and the Jaguar. What’s good about the cabin is that it was kept clean and simple, and there was nothing over-the-top about it. That draws attention to the sculpted lines of the dashboard that is home to the infotainment system and various other knobs and what-not.
There’s a frameless infotainment screen that allows you to navigate fashionably, we might say. The seats are all wrapped in leather, which is a standard on all Giulia models.
4 Different Prices For The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia
Pricing details about the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia have been released, and the base model will start at $38,990, including destination in the US. They have four total trims available: the base model, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti, the Ala Romeo Giulia Ti Sport, and the Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti Lusso.
The Base-Model Alfa Romeo Giulia
Powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 280 horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque. This will be paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. On the exterior, you’ll find a four-way lumbar, bi-xenon headlights with signature LED daytime running lights and LED tail lights.
Once inside, there’s a 10-way power front seats, backup camera with gridlines and rear park sensors, remote start, bright chrome window trim surround, seven-inch full-color TFT display, and remote proximity sensor.
The Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti
For an additional $2,000, there are more luxurious features like the genuine wood interior accents, heated front seats and steering wheel, standard 18-inch wheels, and 8.8-inch widescreen infotainment display, SiriusXM, and more.
The Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti Sport
The package is priced with an additional of $2,250. It brings to the luxurious sedan the following features: unique front and rear sport fascias, gloss black window trim surround, 19-inch wheels, colored brake calipers, sport leather steering wheel, 14-way front power sport leather seats with lumbar and power side bolsters, and aluminum column-mounted paddle shifters.
The Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti Lusso
Aside from the abovementioned features, the Ti Lusso will add the Luxury Pieno Italian leather seats with cannelloni inserts, as well as a luxurious steering wheel, 12-way power front seats, genuine wood trim in dark gray oak or light walnut, and leather-wrapped dash and upper door trim with accent stitching. You can get all of these for $2,250.
If you want more performance, you can get the Performance package. With this, you’ll enjoy adaptive performance suspension, aluminum column-mounted paddle shifters, and mechanical limited slip differential.
Then, there is also the Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio, which packs a 2.9-liter bi-turbo V-6 engine that produces 505 horsepower and 443 lb. ft. of torque. It can be purchased for $73,595.
Three Things To Watch Out For In The Alfa Romeo Stelvio
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is due to be revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show, so it comes as a no surprise that we’re seeing prototypes being tested in broad daylight with less and less camouflage.
The latest spy shots of the car still haven’t revealed much detail about the Stelvio, but it did give us a glimpse of what to watch out for.
Stevlio’s Front Reveals New Grille, hood
The spy shots released earlier did not reveal the headlights. Unfortunately, the same holds true for these series of shots. The headlights are disguised by heavy tape, though it appears to be identical with the ones found on the Giulia sedan. As for the grille, a new v-shaped grille is found at the front with two rectangular ones placed on the bottom of the front fascia. The hood, on the other hand, has three odd-shaped ridges, although some see these ridges as more because of the camouflage than the actual creases on the Stelvio.
Profile is Similar to Porsche Macan
Earlier spy shots revealed that the Stelvio will mimic some of the most intricate and obvious designs of the Porsche Macan. In this regard, the spy shots were not wrong. This series also proved that the rear end of the SUV won’t change as much—the taillights are still taped off and appears to be very similar to the Giulia. What’s new, though, are the massive exhaust tips, which would be more perfect on a sports car.
Powertrains are Going to be the Same as with the Giulia
There aren’t any exhaustive details about the powertrains that the Stelvio will come packing. According to reports, it would be the same gasoline and diesel powertrains as being offered by the Giulia. But because of the massive exhaust tips found on the prototype, there are also rumors that the SUV might be getting the 2.9-liter V6 engine from Giulia Quadrifoglio.
2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sportwagon Becomes A Worthy Rival To Merc And BMW
The 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sportwagon is not only reviving the Giulia nameplate last used in 1978, it is an updated Alfa Romeo 159 introduced in 2011. But much more than that, the new Giulia features premium interior and powerful drivetrains that make it a worthy rival for the likes of the BMW 3-Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Based on a rendering provided by Top Speed, the sportwagon will share the looks of the sedan—from the nose to the B-pillar. It is toward the rear only where styling difference will commence. There will be an additional quarter window between the rear-door glass and the C-pillar, as well as a new fascia design and tailgate.
The sportwagon should be retaining the sedan’s taillights and bumper design, but will combine them with a sloping roof, narrow rear windscreen, and a spoiler on top.
If there’s going to be a QV version, there’s bound to be larger front intakes, prominent splitter, front vents, a large roof spoiler, and a diffuser.
Inside, the Giulia will have premium features enough to rival the 3-Series and the C-Class. The seats and door panels are made of fine leather while wood grain is used on top of each door panel. On the dashboard, it will come with the Tan and Black interior option.
The sportwagon will share the sedan’s “human-machine interface” concept as the dash and the console will have all the basic controls—a start button and an infotainment system with an 8.8-inch screen, active voice activation, and Apple iOS or Android connectivity.
For now, what’s confirmed is the sportwagon will have the gasoline unit and two diesel units. The gasoline option has a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that pumps out 197 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. This is paired with an 8-speed auto transmission.
The diesel unit comes with a 2.2-liter 4-cylinder with two options—one that cranks out 148 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque and one that produces 177 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque.
Official introduction of the Giulia Sportwagon will likely happen in 2017.
Spy Shots Of 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Emerge
The all-new 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio was photographed while on a road test around the Nürburgring.
The new SUV came at just the right time when Alfa Romeo promised to launch eight fresh models by 2018. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is expected to compete against the likes of 2017 Audi Q5, 2017 BMW X3, and 2015 Lexus NX.
The models will apparently offer a range of drivetrains from fuel-efficient gasoline and diesel versions to high-performance haulers.
Technically, Alfa Romeo has yet to launch a production SUV. But every time it does, the Kamal Concept presented at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show is being tapped.
But Alfa has a new design concept for the Stelvio, seen on both the 4C and the Giulia. Up front, we can see Alfa Romeo’s design language on the nose and the lower area of the fascia. Then, there is more padding on the sides while the roof slopes down a little to the rear.
Inside, there’s an expectation that the SUV will borrow the design features of the Giulia. The dashboard includes a center console, the instruments cluster, the center stack and the infotainment display.
It would also probably come with premium features such as leather upholstery, soft-touch materials on the dashboard and door panels, contrast stitching, and aluminum inserts. The high-end variant will most likely include carbon fiber trim.
Under the hood, there will be a range of gasoline and diesel engines. For the gasoline, the SUV will have a 2.0-liter, supercharged, four-cylinder that delivers 197 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque on an eight-speed, rear-wheel-drive transmission.
As for the diesel variant, you will get a 2.2-liter four-cylinder with two different configurations. One offers 177 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque while the other offers 148 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque.
There’s going to be a high end variant with a 2.9-liter, biturbo, V-6 engine.
Prices are not yet available for this SUV, but the entry level should start at $42,000 while the high end would cost $50,000.