Alfa Romeo Stelvio Ti joins range

After numerous delays the Alfa Romeo Stelvio medium SUV will launch in Australia from June 14, with the high-output Stelvio Ti joining the line-up priced at $78,900 from early August.

The new Alfa Romeo Stelvio was originally supposed to roll into Aussie showrooms from March 2018, but the importer is confident the addition of the more powerful 206kW/400Nm Stelvio Ti, offered with adaptive suspension, will help bolster the launch of the Italian brand's first ever SUV.

It's understood the fire-breathing Alfa Romeo Stelvio QV, powered by the same 375kW Ferrari-inspired twin-turbo V6 as the Giulia QV, will arrive in Australia from January 2019, but pricing is not yet known. It's safe to say it won't be cheap.

We had an early drive in the new Alfa Romeo Stelvio Ti last year as part of our Forza Alfa Romeo series, and the 206kW turbocharged four-cylinder pumping through an eight-speed automatic transmission provides the SUV with plenty of hustle.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Ti, or Turismo Internazionale, will accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in 5.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 230km/h. It features what the Italian car maker claims is a class-exclusive carbon-fibre driveshaft. Fuel economy is claimed to be around 7.0L/100km.

It comes standard with aluminium paddle gear shifters, leather upholstery, keyless entry and engine start, Xenon headlights, dual exhausts and autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection.

Lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic detection and blind spot monitoring plus a 10-speaker, 400W audio system are also standard, as is smartphone connectivity (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto).

Like all Stelvio and Giulia models the Ti has a five-star ANCAP safety rating and one of the highest scores ever achieved for adult occupant protection, at 97 per cent.

Alfa's DNA drive mode selector allows drivers to flip between cruisey and crazy, while a mechanical limited-slip differential at the rear axle separates the Ti model from its brethren.

It is designed to improve dynamic ability, enhancing tyre grip while cornering by means of adjusting the torque distribution.

The Stelvio Ti is also expected to get unique and bigger alloy wheels and sports seats.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Ti will be offered with a range of options in Australia, including a panoramic sunroof ($2400), active suspension ($2200), a high-end 900W 14-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system ($1500) and an anti-theft alarm ($750).

The entry-level Alfa Romeo Stelvio is priced from $65,900 for the 148kW/330Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine. It will compete in the same category as the Mercedes-Benz GLC ($61,990), Audi Q5 ($65,900) and BMW X3 ($66,900) but only undercuts the latter in price.