Devonshire January February 19

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MOTORING The Stelvio - it's cool man! Hexworthy bridge is just to the right, out of frame Alfa Romeo Stelvio Speciale 2.2 TD 210 AWD Road tested by the Editor It's hard to know where to start with the Stelvio, it undoubtedly sets new standards for the SUV genre. You have to ask why so many people opt for a SUV type of vehicle. The reality is there are many advantages to being higher off the ground, providing better visibility and indeed views of the countryside (not forgetting for back sufferers, it's much easier to get in and out!). Also, having 4x4 is no gimmick, particularly if you live somewhere like Dartmoor, where ice and snow on lanes can mean that four wheel drive is the difference between getting home safely and having to park up and take refuge somewhere! I think everyone realises that SUVs, having a higher centre of gravity, can be a bit more challenging in the twisties, and there's been much work done by manufacturers in the past few years to improve vehicle dynamics in order to make their SUVs handle corners with less drama. Several years ago, I road tested the excellent Land Rover Discovery Sport diesel, much work had been done to reduce weight on this model, particulary at higher height levels, and indeed, the vehicle certainly provided great improvements in this area. I think we all realise that excess weight is the enemy, it impacts badly on all areas of vehicle performance. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Speciale tested was loaned by Vospers at Exeter, the vehicle having the 2.2 turbo diesel engine churning out 210 bhp, complete with a ZF 8 speed auto gearbox. The usual <strong>Devonshire</strong> test route incorporates both A30 motorway type driving as well as more challenging 'A' road conditions by taking a trip over the moors from Ashburton to the Two Bridges Hotel for lunch. It was great to climb aboard the Stelvio which had all mod cons installed such as electrically controlled and heated seats with memory settings, heated steering wheel (how lovely are these touches when the weather's colder), split screen sat nav/radio - the specification was really luxurious, the Alfa cabins are great places to be these days. Upon driving off the Marsh Barton estate, the stability and briskness of this car was noticeable, Kevin at Vospers told me that the 0-60 time was 6.6 seconds, pretty staggering. This is what amounts to a class leading figure, beating the much larger engined VW three litre V6 Touareg (6.9 seconds), an amazing feat - you have to wonder how Alfa Romeo have achieved this? Weight saving materials and advanced design technology are very much to the fore, and of course, this weight saving not only boosts performance, but results in less effort being required when negotiating corners, greatly benefiting handling. The chassis is something of a triumph and it's not until you're in the corners that you can really feel the advantage of both the weight savings and also the remarkable chassis, which possesses incredibly quick and precise steering. Coming off the A30 at Ashburton and taking the road up to the moors proved just how much fun could be had in this lithe and precise car. It's unusual in that it has a 'sports car' like feel to it, aided by the slick engine/gearbox/braking setup. Powering out of corners and changing the line was no problem, even getting into mid corner and applying the brakes, none of the usual pitch and yaw of lesser machines. It took me quite a while to adjust to the dynamic 78 Countryside, History, Walks, the Arts, Events & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
MOTORING Top - the classic Alfa Romeo grille. Lots of quality touches on the Stelvio, note the hefty disk calipers. I really like the Alfa cabins, there's a quality feel about them and driving ergonomics are good. The nav/info screen can be used either in single or split mode, providing great flexibility. The auto box is a peach, with seamless changes and well chosen ratios, allowing for rapid and safe progress with minimal fuss, allowing you to concentrate fully on the road ahead, particularly important if you're on Dartmoor, with sheep and ponies around each corner. Dartmoor - it can be a bleak landscape in places, but the Stelvio will cosset you in all conditions and is capable of making great haste without drama - it's a finely balanced machine. hubcast .co.u k What’s on in Devon 79
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DIGITAL MAGAZINE JANUARY & FEBRUARY
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Whittaker Commercial New Build Refu
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Guest Editor HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL C
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Lovers of Devonshire's print magazi
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Letterbox YOUR NEWS TO THE EDITOR -
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A fallen oak across the river Mole
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What's On: Jan & Feb 19 A TASTE OF
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Devonshire January February 19

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