LA MOTOR SHOW: Alfa SUV two months away

It's official. Alfa Romeo has confirmed what its former global boss Harald Wester told us at the Geneva motor show in March: its first SUV will make its global debut at the Los Angeles show on November 15.

The news was confirmed in an official Alfa Romeo 'save the date' image, complete with a dark silhouette shot showing the side profile of a sleek new SUV alongside the words 'Alfa Romeo World Premiere'.

Alfa has already announced its first SUV – a direct rival for the Porsche Macan, Jaguar F-PACE and new Audi Q5, which will make its debut in Paris late this month – will be called the Stelvio, a name taken from one of Europe's most epic mountain passes.

Codenamed Tipo 949 D-SUV, the Stelvio is scheduled to start production in the final quarter of 2016 – a year later than originally planned – before going on sale in Europe early in 2017.

It's based on the same Giorgio platform as the (Tipo 963) mid-size Giulia sedan, which arrives Down Under early next year. Both models should be available with rear- and all-wheel drive and a range of four-cylinder and V6 petrol and diesel engines, plus Quadrifoglio Verde versions powered by the same twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V6.

In fact, the Stelvio – which was spied in testing in August -- is expected to be launched in QV form, in a tried-and-proven top-down release strategy, powered by a Ferrari-developed 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine that produces 380kW of power and 600Nm of torque.

Beyond the new Giulia and Stelvio, Alfa has promised a further six models as part of its mid-term business plan, including a larger, seven-seat Tipo 962 SUV, Spider and Coupe versions of the Giulia, a full-size sports-luxury sedan codenamed Tipo 941, and replacements for the Giulietta and the MiTo front-drive hatchbacks.

Alfa's is just one of 20 global vehicle debuts promised by organisers of the LA show, including others from Mazda, MINI, Subaru, Volkswagen, General Motors and Jeep.