Fiat is currently under investigation by the EU over emissions cheating but that hasn’t stopped the Italian/British/American company from investing heavily into it’s most treasured brand Alfa Romeo. The goals are ambitious the financial investment is risky, €5 billion in total and eight new model launches by 2018. There have already been delays and the launch strategy goals have moved to 2020. Delays cost money and impact on investor confidence.  Alfa launched the first of these delayed models in late 2016. The Giulia is seen as a BMW 3 Series rival, it marks the beginning of a revival plan. But the apex predator has to be the Stelvio SUV simply because right now the SUV market is experiencing rapid growth and demand. The Stelvio will share the same platform as the Giulia and will be offered with a six-speed manual or eight-speed auto. Power will be delivered to the rear wheels and a 4-cylinder, 275bhp, turbocharged engine will offer plenty of heft. The Stelvio will retail in the UK starting at £35k when sales begin later on in the year. Oddly the range topping Quadrofoglio model will debut first and will source the same twin-turbo, 509bhp, 2.9-litre V6 as used by the Giulia. Smaller capacity diesel and petrol engines will be made available at a later date. Alfa is hedging it’s bet on making it big in the USA, a territory in which it has no visible presence in terms of dealer networks. The initial plan is to sell through existing Fiat and Chrysler dealerships. The Giulia is an odd starting place considering Americans love their SUVs and pick-up trucks. That begs the question, why didn’t Alfa launch the Stelvio first?