Alfa Romeo: Stelvio Quadrifoglio
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he new 2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is the fastest Alfa Romeo model on the road, as it can go from 0-to-60 mph in just 3.6 seconds and has a top speed of 176 miles per hour. Right behind it is the 2020 Giulia Quadrifoglio, which has a top speed of 191 miles per hour and can go from 0-to-60 mph in 3.8 seconds. Unsurprisingly, the engine is a straightforward transplant from the Giulia Quadrifoglio. It’s the 2.9-litre twin-turbo with 503bhp and 443lb ft of torque. Peak power comes in at 6500rpm, but the turbocharged torque is on tap between 2500 and 5000rpm.
That gives it plenty of pace, you’ll be pleased to hear: top speed is a distinctly un-SUV-like 176mph, while 62mph comes about in just 3.8 seconds from a standstill thanks to the obvious traction gains of fourwheel drive. That, you may have noticed, is a tenth faster than the lighter Giulia Normally the car’s Q4 four-wheel drive system directs all of its power to the rear axle, which is to say the correct one, but to maintain stability and traction it can send up to 50 per cent to the front wheels. It’s a live, active system that switches power forward only when needed. This hot Stelvio gets Active Torque Vectoring as
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standard. Two electronically-controlled clutches in the rear differential control torque flow to each wheel, letting the car feed the outer wheel more at the limit, tightening the car’s line and ramping-up corner speed to the point where your face might actually come off.
Helping you with all that handling malarkey is ‘perfect’ weight distribution across the two axles. The engine and transmission are mounted as far back as possible, spreading the Quadrifoglio’s not inconsiderable 1830kg kerb weight evenly front to back. Alfa’s patented ‘fourand-a-half-link’ rear suspension helps keep things tidy in the twisties, too. Alfa Romeo, to its eternal credit, listened to the customers and the critics. The only real changes to the 2020 Giulia were laser-focused on addressing those complaints. We have an in-depth review of the updated interior for you to peruse, but suffice to say, they fixed what needed fixing. The infotainment system is updated with all-new and substantially improved software. The cheap-feeling rotary controller that went with it has been replaced with a piece that feels as hefty as the price tag commands, and now you can just touch the screen if you’d prefer. The team also carved out some space on the center console for more places to stash your stuff and added an optional wireless phone charger. The shifter is new, as well; it’s now both easier to use and
