Alfa Romeo, the first SUV caused a scandal: it was a hybrid derived from the 145 (photo)

Alfa Romeo produced an SUV long before the modern Stelvio. Here’s the story of the truly unlucky car.

It’s the brand Alfa Romeo I have seen very difficult years on the production front before Sergio Marchionne He will lead its relaunch starting in 2016. That was the year the Stelvio and Giulia were introducedSUVs and sedans that have become very popular thanks to their great design, but also because of their excellent performance, especially in the Quadrifoglio variants, with more than 500 hp of maximum power.

After that, Biscione has increasingly focused on SUVs, with the Tonale due in 2022 and the Junior, revealed a few months ago. The Tonale was the first SUV produced by Alfa Romeo. But several years ago another attempt was made, which was certainly not successful. Let’s find out what exactly it is and why this project did not work.

Alfa Romeo, here is the story of the Sportut SUV

SUVs have started to become very popular in the last ten years, whereas in the past they were not dominant and were only chosen by a specific group of customers. In 1997, Alfa Romeo revealed to the world the Sportut SUV, based on the 145’s mechanicals. It was presented at the Geneva Motor Show 27 years ago, and it must be said that everyone liked its looks, even if not in a completely positive sense. It was one of the last projects he took a personal interest in Nuccio Bertonewho passed away, ironically, shortly before its official unveiling.

The car carried the style of an SUV in the late 1990s, with the rear mirrors placed in the front position, while the windows were positioned at the bottom of the doors, without forgetting the domed rear window. The length was only 4.11 metres, making it a compact modelIts width is 1.81 meters and its height is 1.64 meters. The engine was the same that was also installed in other models, such as the 75, 155 and even the 164.

particularly, It was a 2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine with a maximum power of 143 bhpwith a 5-speed manual gearbox. But why was the Alfa Romeo Sportut not serially produced? Group Fiatwho controlled House Ares, considered it an extremely risky venture, and decided that it would remain a concept forever. However, the shapes remain unique.