2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Claims the Title of Fastest Production SUV

Alfa Romeo is showing off its high-performance premium SUV to the world. Today, it unveiled the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio at Auto China. It also debuted the SUV to automotive journalists in Chicago, Illinois.

While the vehicle itself is stunning, many may be stunned by the SUV’s performance. The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio boasts 505 horsepower and has a top speed of 176 MPH. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio set a new record for its class on the famous Nurburgring: 7 minutes 51.7 seconds. It does 0-60 MPH in 3.6 seconds.

Built to Maximize Performance

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio is powered by a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine. Ferrari reportedly helped with the technology and engineering know-how. The engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Because the Stelvio Quadrifoglio will handle like a race car, it is also equipped with aluminum paddle shifters.

Alfa Romeo uses ultra-lightweight materials, such as carbon fiber for the driveshaft and aluminum for the engine, suspensions, brakes, doors, wheel-wells, hood and tailgate. The premium materials will help keep the weight down while improving the fuel economy.

According to Alfa Romeo, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio will also feature its “innovative electromechanical Integrated Brake System (IBS) - an Alfa Romeo brand exclusive that first appeared on the Giulia, which has become the new benchmark in terms of both swift response and stopping distance on any road surface, and weight reduction compared to a conventional braking system.”

Designed for Race Car Driver at Heart

The SUV’s cockpit is finely detailed with beautiful leather seats and high-end finishes. The seats are curved on the edges to give added support while cornering. Alfa Romeo describes the cockpit as “"tailored like a bespoke suit, with painstaking craftsmanship and with lavish use of carbon fiber on the console, tunnel, dashboard trim, handle inserts and steering wheel rim.”

Because the Stelvio Quadrifoglio is already high-end, it offers few options. The driver can upgrade to special high-performance Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes. If you are really searching for the race-car experience, you can also upgrade to Sparco seats designed for intense driving experiences.

According to the Alfa Romeo website, the 2018 Stelvio Quadrifoglio will sticker starting at $79,995 before taxes and delivery fees. It should be available in the U.S soon.

Alfa Romeo has several other vehicles already on sale in the U.S. There is a less powerful Stelvio SUV model. There is also a beautiful Giulia sedan and more powerful Giulia Quadrifoglio. They also have two sporty cars, the 4C Coupe and 4C Spider.