Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio review - engine, gearbox and technical specs
Twin-turbo V6 is a hugely exciting engine, complemented by a fantastic gearbox
Beneath the Stelvio Quadrifoglio’s aluminium bonnet is the 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6 as found in the Giulia Quadrifoglio. Power is the same, at 503bhp, but the eight-speed ZF gearbox has been recalibrated to suit both the increase in kerb weight over the saloon and the four-wheel-drive transmission. It’s the first time this engine and gearbox combination has been offered with Alfa Romeo’s Q4 driveline.
Default mode for the Stelvio Quadrifoglio is rear-wheel drive, and it’s only when the system detects an angle of slip or a loss of traction that it will direct up to 50 per cent of the engine’s torque to the front wheels through a carbon propshaft. A rear limited-slip differential, active torque vectoring and Alfa’s Pro-DNA switchable drive mode system are all standard.
The car comes fitted with cast-iron brakes, although carbon-ceramics are an option. The 20-inch wheels are fitted with a Pirelli P Zero tyre by default, but the Giulia’s standard P Zero Corsa tyres are another cost option. A set of Pirelli winter tyres have also been homologated for the Stelvio Quadrifoglio.
Aluminium features extensively throughout the Stelvio Quadrifoglio. The front end’s double wishbones and the rear’s four-and-a-half-link suspension components are all forged from the metal. So too are the bonnet, doors, brake carriers, wheelarches and the engine. The resulting 1830kg kerb weight is a useful 95kg lighter than Porsche’s Macan Turbo.
