Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio acquire dynamic Estrema top-of-the-range Car News

The Alfa Romeo Guilia and Alfa Romeo Stelvio will get a new range-topping Estrema specification at the end of April, which Turin says emphasizes dynamics and refinement.

Estrema is the company’s first global special series and adds a host of technical upgrades as standard.

The base kit for the new sedan and SUV includes active suspension, chassis domain control and a mechanically locking limited-slip differential.

Both cars also benefit from some exterior design changes which Alfa Romeo says offer “more lightness and a sporty attitude”.

These include carbon fiber for the exterior mirrors and the grille, dark colors on the wheels and brake calipers and the Estrema badging.

The Guilia is fitted with 19-inch alloys, while the Stelvio gets a 21-inch set.

Inside, Alcantara seats are standard, as are red stitching on the steering wheel, seats, dashboard and gear lever. There’s also a 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

Buyers have a choice of a 2.0-liter, 276-hp four-cylinder petrol engine or one 207 hp 2.2 liter four cylinder diesel engine. Both are mated to an eight-speed, four-wheel-drive automatic transmission.

Both models were unveiled at the Alfa Romeo Formula 1 team’s headquarters in Hinwil, Switzerland, which the firm said was ideal as it is a “breeding ground for new technologies”.

Alfa Romeo’s partnership with Sauber Motorsport is also said to have helped the new models embody “the highest achievements in terms of technical and dynamic solutions, style and sportiness”.

Pricing for the Estrema variants has yet to be revealed, but expect them to command a premium over the current, top-end Veloce specification shared by the two models.