Alfa adds Ti to Stelvio line-up
BY TIM NICHOLSON | 24th May 2018
ALFA Romeo has launched a warmed-up Ti variant of its Stelvio mid-size SUV in Australia where it will act as Stelvio flagship until the arrival later this year of the fire-breathing 375kW/600Nm 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 QV.
Priced at $78,900 excluding on-road costs, the Ti (Turismo Internazionale) is pitched at buyers looking for a bit of spice without requiring the full performance – and expected price premium – of the QV.
The Ti’s pricetag is $7000 more than the Stelvio First Edition Petrol, but it below a number of warmed-up rivals such as the Mercedes-AMG GLC43 ($102,111), Jaguar F-Pace S ($104,827), Porsche Macan ($80,110) and Audi SQ5 ($99,611).
The Ti is powered by the same 206kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and eight-speed automatic transmission as the related Giulia Veloce sedan that retails for $71,895.
The Ti’s 230km/h top speed and 5.7-second 0-100km/h sprint time matches the Veloce, but Alfa is yet to confirm a fuel consumption figure, except to say that it is “best in class”. The Giulia Veloce’s official fuel economy figure is 6.1 litres per 100km.
Like all Stelvio variants, the Ti comes standard with the Q4 all-wheel-drive system with a rear-wheel-drive-biased power delivery, thanks in part to a mechanical limited-slip differential.
Alfa says the Ti has a “near perfect” 50/50 weight distribution. It is fitted with Frequency Selective Dampers by Koni that Alfa says “enhance the balance of sporting performance and ride comfort”.
The Alfa Active Suspension system that electronically controls the damping is offered as a $2200 option.
Standard gear includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 400-Watt 10-speaker sound system and safety features such as a forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitor, front and rear parking sensors and a rear cross traffic alert. It was awarded a five-star ANCAP crash safety rating earlier this month.
Options include a panoramic sunroof for $2400, a Harman/Kardon sound system for $1500 and an alarm for $750.
“The Stelvio Ti is an exciting addition to the Alfa Romeo range and represents the next step in Alfa Romeo’s continued growth here in Australia,” said Alfa Romeo Australia CEO Steve Zanlunghi.
“The Ti represents a superb value proposition in the segment with an outstanding performance and luxury profile.”
The Stelvio is on sale now. So far this year, Alfa has sold 86 Stelvios in Australia.