Alfa Romeo is currently working on a larger version of the Stelvio. The upcoming flagship SUV will also be the first vehicle from the Italian automaker to be offered with an electrified powertrain.
In an interview with AutoExpress, Alfa Romeo chief technical officer Roberto Fedeli confirmed the development of their largest vehicle yet. Since the Stelvio reflects the automaker's DNA, it is a good starting point for the yet-to-be-named SUV. It will be built on the Stelvio's Giorgio platform but will have a bigger body and a longer wheelbase.
Due to stricter regulations for carbon emissions, Fedeli also revealed that the upcoming vehicle will be equipped with an electrified powertrain.
"We have to marry the new car with the right level of electrification. Plug-in hybrid could be a problem for the Alfa DNA point of view, but for instance a 48-vold mild hybrid solution is something that we can do without losing anything," he said.
The electric turbocharger will be mated with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. When combined, the vehicle is able to produce about 350 to 400 horsepower.
In the standard Stelvio, the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine is about to produce 280 horsepower. The high-performance Stelvio Quadrifolgio, on the other hand, is able to produce 505 horsepower. This performance output could also be eclipsed, should there also be a four-leaf version of the upcoming large SUV.
The arrival of the new flagship SUV is still two years away. Alfa Romeo is said to be prioritizing the vehicle's development in order to increase the brand's global appeal and to possibly increase profit margins.
Upon its launch, Alfa Romeo's large SUV is expected to go up against the likes of the Audi Q7, Volvo XC90, BMW X5 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE. The Italian automaker is likely to offer the upcoming vehicle with a seven-seat layout in order to be more competitive with these vehicles.
