Alfa Romeo’s big SUV going hybrid

Alfa Romeo’s large flagship SUV expected within about two years will reportedly be the brand’s first to offer a hybrid setup.

Similar to the Stelvio, the hybrid will be the first of three new Alfa Romeo models and the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine can help provide up to 400 horsepower, nearly doubling the present maximum and overcoming a weight increase.

The 48-volt hybrid technology, combined with an electric turbocharger, is something Alfa Romeo can apply to the vehicle “without losing anything”, its chief technical officer Roberto Fedeli told Britain’s Auto Express.

Supplier Delphi Technologies, which sells hybrid components and systems, sees such systems being used in 54% of new vehicles in 2025.

Fedeli says they have to marry the new car with the right level of electrification, so a plug-in hybrid could be an issue for the Alfa DNA.

It’s likely to be offered with seven seats.