Yep, you read it right. The stylish and quick 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Ti CUV swept the crossover utility vehicle category at the annual Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) Truck of Texas Rodeo this week.
2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Ti At first glance, one might not expect an Italian designed and built crossover to be a winner in Texas, but the Stelvio – born and bred from Stelvio Pass, the highest mountain pass in Italy with 12-miles of twisting 48 turns winding its way to 9,000 feet in the Italian Alps – is easily a natural to deliver an exciting drive experience on the highways, farm market and ranch roads of Texas.
The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Ti (Turismo Internazionale) entered in the rodeo was powered by a 280 – horsepower turbocharged I-4 engine delivering 306 lb.-ft. of torque. Equipped with the Alfa DNA three-mode Drive Selector, it’s AT8 eight-speed automatic transmission with column-mounted aluminum paddle shifters enable under 100 millisecond gear shifts that fairly rocket this baby from 0-60 in just over 5 seconds.
The Stelvio Ti made short work of local winding and twisting roads with its near perfect 50/50 weight distribution and standard Q4 all-wheel-drive (AWD) system that directs power up to 60 percent to front wheels when needed.
Underneath, the sport suspension with double wishbone semi-virtual steering axle front and a patented Alfa Link design with vertical rod link rear, monotube shocks, electric variable speed rack and pinion steering, Brembo Power four-wheel disc brakes with four-piston monoblock front calipers (red, black and yellow colors available) and 20-inch Sport aluminum wheels mounted with All-season RF P255/45R20 Touring tires powerfully demonstrated its prowess for Texas roads and highways.
Inside, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is loaded with luxury-level amenities and features crafted from high quality materials in its generously sized five-passenger cabin that make both driving and riding in the Stelvio a real pleasure.
Some of those features include heated leather seats, flat-bottom three-spoke sport steering wheel with integrated push start, remote start with passive entry, genuine wood interior accents, aluminum sport pedals and door sill plates, eight-speaker audio (Harmon Kardon 900-watt 14 speaker system available), 8.8-inch widescreen infotainment display, 7-inch color driver information display, ambient LED interior lighting and dual zone climate control with individual driver/passenger and rear passenger controls.
Alfa Romeo Giula Quadrifoglio won earlier TAWA Roundup
This was not the first time that an Alfa Romeo has entered and won in a TAWA ‘Best in Texas’ event. Earlier this year, the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giula Quadrifoglio challenged the field in the annual TAWA Texas Auto Roundup held at Circuit of the Americas F1 track near Austin. The Giula Quadrifoglio was the most driven vehicle over the two days on the F1 track roaring away with the prestigious Car of Texas award and Performance Sedan of Texas honors.
Click here: https://www.alfaromeousa.com/ to learn more about the Stelvio and Giula Quadrifoglio from Alfa Romeo.
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Ti Ranch photos by Kevin McCauley
