Skip advert
Advertisement

New Alfa Romeo Stelvio spy shots show SUV will be bigger and sportier than ever

The Next generation of Alfa’s flagship SUV has been seen out on test

This is our first official look at the all-new Alfa Romeo Stelvio, as the brand’s flagship SUV gets in shape for its world debut towards the end of this year.

As before, the Italian model will take the fight to the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 – but it’s also set to challenge the latest wave of premium electric SUVs, because for the first time there will be an EV version. 

The second-generation Stelvio is currently being assessed in extreme weather conditions, including minus 30 degree temperatures in northern Sweden. And an even more daunting test is still to come, because Alfa will soon subject it to more than 1,500 hours on various tracks, including the company’s famous Balocco proving ground in Italy.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Based on these first pictures, the new Stelvio will be considerably longer than its predecessor and have an even more rakish roofline, without crossing into full coupé-SUV territory. Up front, Alfa Romeo’s iconic ‘Scudetto’ grille will feature, in between what looks to be long daytime running lights, with a complex signature, that wrap around the car’s nose and nearly onto the front wings.

This will be the third Alfa SUV in as many years, but unlike the Tonale and Junior, which both run on older, less sophisticated underpinnings, the Stelvio will take advantage of the Stellantis Group’s very latest STLA Large platform, allowing for a far more ambitious package as a result, including the choice of hybrid or pure-electric powertrains. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The brand’s head of marketing and communication, Cristiano Fiorio, is also promising the new Stelvio will be able to go toe-to-toe with rivals when it comes to technology. He told us: “I feel that sometimes we might perceive that there was still a gap on technology, on ADAS and on some other things [in the outgoing Stelvio and Giulia]. 

“But I think that these two new products fill any gap that there was with our competitors, so we are ready to play the game with all our weapons.”

New Alfa Romeo Stelvio design

As this is an Alfa Romeo, the Stelvio’s design will be of utmost importance – and the company knows it. Design boss Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos told Auto Express earlier this year: “We are lucky in Alfa Romeo that the design is super-important, and so this is something that we can win. That’s because our company sells cars that people choose because of design.”

Advertisement - Article continues below

As Mesonero-Romanos pointed out, designing a car with an electric powertrain isn’t straightforward, with new packaging requirements presenting fresh challenges. “Some people think that because we don’t have air intakes or combustion engines that we have free rein,” he said. “This is not true. We have even more constraints than IC [internal-combustion] cars.”

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

As our exclusive images here show, the new Stelvio will take inspiration from some of Alfa’s more eccentric previous models, without being an obvious retro pastiche. One such car is the iconic SZ coupé from the Nineties, which was known as ‘Il Mostro’ (The Monster) because of its awkward proportions. 

Mesonero-Romanos added: “The SZ is inspiring because of its character and its brutality, not its beauty. This is very inspiring to us. There are so many influences from lots of Alfa Romeos, but the challenge is to choose the right ones, in the right car and at the right moment, but not to be too retro.”

Power of choice for customers

STLA Large is a ‘multi-energy’ platform, meaning it’s been designed to accommodate both internal-combustion engines and pure-electric powertrains. Originally, the new Stelvio – and the next Giulia saloon due in 2026 that will use the same architecture – were set to be EV-only. However Alfa Romeo CEO Santo Ficili has now confirmed hybridised petrol engines will also be available in both. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Speaking to Auto Express following this announcement, Alfa Romeo product manager Mario Lamagna told us: “Since the beginning, the new Stelvio and Giulia have been conceived and developed with a multi-energy platform, so we had in the plans the flexibility. Until 2035, flexibility is key in the automotive world and we want the customers to choose.”

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

In regards to the electric Stelvio, which is likely to be called the Stelvio Elettrica and will be arriving first, the STLA Large platform can support battery sizes between 85kWh and 115kWh, single or dual-motor set-ups, and either a 400V or 800V electrical system. The latter allows for ultra-rapid charging speeds, and with the largest battery possible fitted, we could see up to 485 miles of range.

New Stelvio Quadrifoglio is coming

It’s currently unclear which engines will be used in the new Stelvio, or what level of hybrid assistance they’ll get. However we’re pleased to report that the new high-performance Stelvio Quadrifoglio will also be available with petrol power, and we suspect will continue to use a V6 engine like the current, highly praised model.

Head of marketing and communication, Cristiano Fiorio, told us the brand was listening to customer demand but also added: “Personally, I do not see a Quadrifoglio EV. I see a Quadrifoglio which has the sound of a real engine.” He added: “Quadrifoglio to me, to us, should be something with a roar.”

Alfa Romeo had been planning a Stelvio Quadrifoglio EV, with up to 1,000bhp and a 0-62mph time of around two seconds, that could still be offered alongside the petrol model. While this version would deliver a huge jump in power and performance, there would be a substantial weight penalty from the battery-electric powertrain. 

Latest Alfa Romeo Stelvio deals

Come and join our WhatsApp Channel for the latest car news and reviews...

Skip advert
Advertisement
News reporter

As our news reporter, Ellis is responsible for covering everything new and exciting in the motoring world, from quirky quadricycles to luxury MPVs. He was previously the content editor for DrivingElectric and won the Newspress Automotive Journalist Rising Star award in 2022.

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Bose, Bowers & Wilkins or Burmester? A great car audio system is worth paying for
Opinion - car audio

Bose, Bowers & Wilkins or Burmester? A great car audio system is worth paying for

Jordan Katsianis considers why manufacturers turn to high-end specialists to make great-sounding bespoke audio systems for their cars
Opinion
10 Jul 2025
Hot new car products: the latest and greatest kit for your car
Osram Night Breaker 220

Hot new car products: the latest and greatest kit for your car

The latest additions to the world of automotive products from floor mats to dash cams...
Product reviews
9 Jul 2025
Buying a left-hand drive car in the UK? It's not as silly as it sounds
Opinion - left-hand-drive cars

Buying a left-hand drive car in the UK? It's not as silly as it sounds

Alastair Crooks gives his expert insight on what to do if you’re considering buying a left-hand-drive car in the UK
Opinion
7 Jul 2025
New Polestar 7: UK arrival confirmed for mid-size but upmarket SUV
Polestar 7 render (watermarked) - front

New Polestar 7: UK arrival confirmed for mid-size but upmarket SUV

The Polestar 7 will use Volvo’s next-generation EV platform and technology, while our exclusive image shows what the compact SUV could look like
News
3 Jul 2025

Most Popular

New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment
Xiaomi YU7 - front cornering

New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment

BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why
Road tests
14 Jul 2025
New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range
MG IM5 - Goodwood front

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range

The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up
News
10 Jul 2025
The EV grant is back: Government's new £3,750 electric car discount in detail
Auto Express creative director Darren Wilson charging the Lexus RZ

The EV grant is back: Government's new £3,750 electric car discount in detail

The government has set out its plan to help reduce the cost of affordable EVs by introducing a new £3,750 grant for new EVs sold
News
15 Jul 2025