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MOTORING GUIDE
Motor Torque David Berthon
WITH
ALFA ROMEO STELVIO QUADRIFOGLIO SUV – AN ITALIAN COLLECTOR SUV
Driving Alfa Romeo ’ s flagship Stelvio SUV - the Stelvio Quadrifoglio , the performance flagship of the four Stelvio models at $ 153,500 . This is a performance SUV that ’ s not for the faint hearted . Alfa Romeo enlisting help from Ferrari to ensure the Stelvio SUV and Giulia sedan models were at the top of their game and the Stelvio Quadrifoglio ’ s 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine is in reality a Ferrari engine , that influence also extending to suspension tune and overall dynamics .
Alfa Romeo currently sells in small numbers here , just 41 last month , with the established Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV , recently joined by the smaller Tonale SUV , the Italian brand ’ s first Hybrid . There ’ s an aura about Alfa Romeo . I remember when I first starting testing cars in 1981 in the foyer of Alfa ’ s head office in Banksmeadow was a photo of Henry Ford with the caption “ Every time I see an Alfa Romeo pass , I tip my hat .”
Henry Ford was fully aware of the brand ’ s sports image from its numerous race victories especially in the 1930s . The Italian brand has an aura about it that has helped it generate sales in the modern era and the Stelvio Quadrifoglio is a great example of the Alfa ’ s performance branding .
The styling striking with sculptured V-shaped Alfa grille and the best-looking automotive badge in the business . The interior is a combination of leather , Alcantara and carbon fibre , and is beautifully executed together with great instrumentation . But it ’ s the underpinnings of the
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio that are a standout . The 2.9-litre twin turbo V6 with 375 kW of power and a thumping 600 Nm of torque drives all four-wheels through an 8-speed automatic with shift paddles . The drivetrain a high point – with four drive settings , Dynamic , Normal , Adaptive and Race , changing steering weight , gear shift speed , suspension firmness , stability control and exhaust volume .
In Race mode all hell breaks loose with an aggressive performance that as the name implies , is best explored on a racetrack . Weighing 1830 kilos it literally jumps to 100km / hour in just 3.8 seconds .
The 21-inch forged clover leaf wheels shod with Pirelli P-Zero tyres on the test car were a $ 1,950 cost option but well worth the extra given the superb grip they offered in wet conditions and were most reassuring . Overall , this is a stunning performance SUV and , in many ways .
So it should be with such an exalted price tag . But to me this is a low volume collector model and an investment in future value – by far the best Alfa Romeo I ’ ve driven in the last 20 years and in many ways an Italian automotive masterpiece .
But it ’ s not perfect – I ’ d like a spare wheel , so necessary with the current state of many of our roads , while the ride quality on very lowprofile tyres can be tiresome but I can put up with that given the overall drive experience . Warranty , somewhat disappointing at only three years / 150,000 kms .
Local Aussie success
The Aussie production team celebrate their achievements in improved efficiency and productivity .
Hills based manufacturing company , Australian Pump Industries , celebrates 30 years in business this month .
From humble beginnings in a large green shed in Arcadia , the company has flourished to become a major force in the water industry , not just in Australia but in export markets globally .
Founded on the simple principle of putting users first , the company has developed a product line of selfpriming pumps and pressure cleaners that are leaders in the market .
Based on a two and a halfa acre complex in Castle Hill , the company recruits , trains and develops locals from the Hills District .
The ISO 9001 accredited the company is now forging ambitious expansion plans as they search for a larger base in the area and new staff to support the projected growth . Aussie is expanding production and warehousing capability . Expansion means they need more customer focused sales and marketing professionals .
“ It ’ s been a really exciting journey and reflecting back on the progress we ’ ve made makes you proud to be part of such a success story ,” said Hamish Lorenz , Aussie Pumps Operations Manager and one of the founding members .
“ Of course we also salute and thank our loyal Aussie Gold Distributors who provide local support and advice for our customers both in Australia and around the world .”
Contact Aussie Pumps for more information about available job opportunities .
30 ISSUE 95 // MAY 2023 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HILLS INDEPENDENT