Read Ranch & Coast Virtually Anywhere
Issue link: http://ranchandcoast.uberflip.com/i/1508443
Front engine, all-wheel drive 2.9-liter Twin-Turbo V6 505 @ 6,500 RPM 443 lb.ft. @ 2,500 RPM $84,650 $92,790 17 city 23 highway 19 combined TYPE: ENGINE HORSEPOWER: TORQUE: BASE PRICE: AS TESTED: FUEL CONSUMPTION: 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio As the late John Wayne might intone: "Partner, that's a lot of name to live up to." And if the feisty Alfa Romeo were able to answer, it might reply: "Sit down, buckle up, and let's boogie." at's exactly how I feel sitting in the tall bolstered driver's seat facing the big, analog tachometer and speedometer commanding my attention. To the right is the now-common graphic display that fits nicely in the sweeping panel trimmed in carbon fiber. e screen looks a bit petite by today's standards, but Alfa Romeo designers resisted the "let's glue an iPad on the dash" solution that too often claims this real estate. e three-spoke steering wheel fits the hands perfectly and contains the bright red starter button, then properly squares off a bit at the bottom. Behind the wheel are two big shift levers that Alfa Romeo drivers affectionately call "elephant ears." Underway, the twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter, 505-horsepower V6 is anxious to demonstrate its ability to thrill, growling through all eight gears. And if the growl is too subtle for your raptor instinct, reach over and dial in full pop and snarl, but be careful with your enthusiasm or you may find yourself in an unfashionable orange jumpsuit. I love every minute in the Stelvio Quadrifoglio. e steering is weighted like a racecar and perfectly precise. e brakes are marvelously modulated and it handles like it's on rails. You can lift off the throttle for that roundabout, or just drive around it. Back in 2017, a new Stelvio Quadrifoglio rocketed around the 20-kilometer Nürburgring in 7 minutes, 51.7 seconds, besting the previous time by eight seconds, and is still among the top five production SUVs in the record books. And even with its $92,790 window sticker, it's a great value in this lofty category. @ranchandcoast RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2023 107