The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Is Now The 'Ring's Fastest SUV
The Lamborghini Huracan Performante may have been beaten around the Green Hell by Porsche’s bonkers 911 GT2 RS, but don’t worry, as Alfa Romeo has (inadvertently) defended Italian honour.
Just days after Porsche made the announcement that the GT2 RS had clocked an astonishing 6min 47sec time on the Nordschleife, Alfa Romeo has revealed that the Stelvio Quadrifoglio has become the fastest SUV on the challenging circuit with a 7min 51.7sec lap. It steals the rather niche record from - funnily enough - Porsche.
It sent the Cayenne Turbo S around the Nurburgring a couple of years ago, yielding a time of 7min 59.7sec. So the Stelvio is comfortably quicker, but still nearly 20 seconds slower than the Giulia Quadrifoglio, which uses the same engine and platform. Shows you how much difference a bit of extra weight and a higher centre of gravity can make.
As with most Nurburgring ‘records’, there are a few caveats with this one. For starters, there is a roll cage, and Alfa hasn’t mentioned whether or not that affected rigidity. It looks like the interior might be partially stripped out too - we’re awaiting confirmation on both those points from Alfa Romeo UK. Driver Fabio Francia - the same guy who clocked the Giulia Quadrifoglio’s stunning time - is also wearing a harness and sitting in a particularly serious seat, but the Stelvio is actually available with “ultra-lightweight carbon fiber shell Sparco racing seats” from the factory, believe it or not.
Update: Alfa Romeo UK has since told us that the roll cage was bolted to the floor, and thus “offered no improvements in stiffness.” The racing seat was an aftermarket unit, added - along with the four-point harness - for the sake of safety. No other modifications were made.
Finally, it’s worth pointing out that the Cayenne’s lap was done before parts of the Nordschleife were remodelled, making them a tad faster than before.
Regardless, it’s an impressive feat. Just expect Porsche to try and grab that record back with the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid when it’s here…
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
The new era of Alfa really looks promising. Here’s hoping the reliability also goes as well as it is fast
Mama mia! The new Quatroformaggio has a record!!
Mamma*
Now, Porsche, take it back!
Here’s to hoping a new era of Alfa that combines passion, speed and .. reliability.
Knowing the Ferrari side of things, Fiat will claim the Stelvio was stock standard and then won’t release any data to confirm…
LOL
exactly what i was thinking, this one doesnt look stock at all
I’m not sure if SUVs are supposed to be fast on track. S-sport UV- Utility Vehicle. I think by that they mean fast while off roading, not fast on the track, but also good for off-roading. Nevertheless impresive.
Is this going to be a thing in the future now? SUVs setting Nürburgring lap times instead of displaying their off road capabilities? Oh wait! Most SUV owners don’t even go off road.
In the future…
“insert supercar here won Dakar Rally”
Words can’t express how much it hurts too see that 99% of the real 4x4s have been replaced by these jokes on wheels
Next up, fastest wagon around Nurbürgring!
That quite an achievement, but I won’t be impressed if it can’t go off road.
Im sorry but this is getting out of hand. Nurburgring laptimes are as legit one of the many new hypercars from manufacturers you’ve never heard of claiming at top speed of mach 5. There’s a freaking roll cage in it!
Cough cough Koenigsegg with their insanely absurd top speed claims that will probably never be proven. Cough cough