Alfa Romeo Broadens Their Appeal
Last year during Monterey Car Week I drove the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider. I loved it and I've been puzzled by how few I see on the road. At just under $66 grand I consider it a bargain. Maybe it's a halo car but the problem for Alfa is that there were no other models. Until now.
First a couple of historic Alfas.
Alfa has added two new, more main-stream models - the Guilia and Stelvio. I drove both during this year's Car Week. My drives were short but sweet.
I didn't drive the base Guilia, no I drove the Quadrifoglio. All Guilias are four-door sedans. The "base" Guilia has a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that makes 280 hp. It is capable of 149 mph and 0-60 times of 5.1 seconds. The only transmission is an 8-speed automatic.
The Quadrifoglio ups the ante big time. It has a twin-turbo, 2.9-liter V6 that puts out an amazing 550 hp. It does 0-60 in 3.8 seconds and tops out at 191 mph. (Knowing that the police, both local and state, were all over the place I did not test the top end.)
Guilias run from $37,995 to $72,000 for a Quadrifoglio.
Now I'm not a huge fan of SUVs but you know, everybody's building them so why not Alfa? Their SUV is the Stelvio. Right now the Stelvio is only available with the 280 horse four cylinder. As if 280 h.p. is only. The Stelvio is being marketed with the emphasis on the "Sport" in Sport Utility Vehicle so think of it as a sports sedan with extra room.
I saw one feature that to me just made the Stelvio. You know those tie down rails you see in some pickups? Alfa has refined them and placed them in the rear floor with sliding tie downs. Brilliant!
Hopefully I'll get to spend a week in both a Guilia and a Stelvio.
First a couple of historic Alfas.
Alfa has added two new, more main-stream models - the Guilia and Stelvio. I drove both during this year's Car Week. My drives were short but sweet.
I didn't drive the base Guilia, no I drove the Quadrifoglio. All Guilias are four-door sedans. The "base" Guilia has a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that makes 280 hp. It is capable of 149 mph and 0-60 times of 5.1 seconds. The only transmission is an 8-speed automatic.
The Quadrifoglio ups the ante big time. It has a twin-turbo, 2.9-liter V6 that puts out an amazing 550 hp. It does 0-60 in 3.8 seconds and tops out at 191 mph. (Knowing that the police, both local and state, were all over the place I did not test the top end.)
You know what really impressed me about the Quadrifoglio? The brakes. You build a fast car you better put brakes on it that can handle the power. Look at these front rotors - 14" with four piston Brembo calipers. That's stopping power.
Now I'm not a huge fan of SUVs but you know, everybody's building them so why not Alfa? Their SUV is the Stelvio. Right now the Stelvio is only available with the 280 horse four cylinder. As if 280 h.p. is only. The Stelvio is being marketed with the emphasis on the "Sport" in Sport Utility Vehicle so think of it as a sports sedan with extra room.
I saw one feature that to me just made the Stelvio. You know those tie down rails you see in some pickups? Alfa has refined them and placed them in the rear floor with sliding tie downs. Brilliant!
Hopefully I'll get to spend a week in both a Guilia and a Stelvio.
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