Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio – performance and 0-60 time

Thanks in large part to the extra traction granted by the Stelvio’s all-wheel-drive system, the Quadrifoglio will reach 62mph in 3.8sec and crack 177mph. The all-wheel-drive system also dramatically improves traction in slippery conditions, which, let’s face it, represents the UK more broadly than the sun-baked tarmac of Italy. As a result, the urge generated from the twin-turbocharged engine across the board is more useable regardless of the weather, although it is still useful to remember that this is a part-time rear-biased system – it’ll still squirm if you’re greedy with the throttle.

But the real star of the show is that V6 engine. Its power delivery isn’t just rapid, it’s savage, ripping up the rev range with incredible urgency – it almost feels as if the car’s on a rolling road. There’s also a real timbre to its exhaust note, and together with the supercar-like pace makes the Stelvio’s powertrain distinctly enjoyable at all speeds.

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The DNA switch allows the driver to switch between Dynamic, Natural and Advanced Efficiency, with a further Race mode available via an extra twist of the switch, disabling the stability and traction control systems. That also increases the volume of the exhaust system and speeds up gearchanges to be as swift as 150 milliseconds. The shifts can feel really quite punchy in this mode, though they are perfectly smooth in Natural mode on the road. Advanced Efficiency helps fuel consumption by enabling cylinder deactivation and minimising transmission loss under deceleration, plus switching to a softer throttle map.