Constellium N.V. has extended its long-term partnership with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA) in order to supply aluminium auto body sheet for the new 2018 Stelvio — the first ever SUV produced by Alfa Romeo. The company is the primary supplier of aluminum sheet both for the closures and inner parts for the Stelvio.
“We are very proud to supply the Alfa Romeo Stelvio with our outer and inner aluminium solutions,” says Dieter Hoell, director Sales and Marketing, Automotive & Specialties. “This confirms the strong relationship we have built over years with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group, both in Europe and in the U.S., and we are glad to support them in their light-weighting programs and the relaunch of the Alfa Romeo brand.”
Alfa Romeo Stelvio
As the first SUV introduced by the company, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is a major milestone in the 107 years of history of the famous brand. “The all-new Stelvio, named after one of the greatest driving roads in the world – the Stelvio Pass in the Italian Alps – sets a new benchmark for the segment,” said Reid Bigland, head of Alfa Romeo. “Stelvio is uniquely engineered to challenge two-door sports cars on the track, without sacrificing any of the characteristics you would expect from a premium SUV, resulting in the perfect mix of high performance, capability and Italian design.”
The Stelvio is the second vehicle produced on the newly launched FCA Giorgio platform, which is a lightweight rear-wheel-drive platform with a low centre of gravity. The SUV’s architecture extensively integrates lightweight, state-of-the-art materials that enable and deliver near perfect 50/50 weight distribution, segment-leading torsional rigidity and the most direct steering available. This includes aluminum front and rear vehicle frames, front shock towers, brakes, suspension components, doors, and fenders that help shed weight compared to conventional steel. The rear cross member features an extensive use of aluminum and composite materials to lighten weight.
Constellium will supply aluminum sheet both for the closures and inner parts for the Stelvio. For the hood outer, the tailgate outer upper, and lower, the company will provides Surfalex®, with high surface quality and specific hemming and roping properties particularly adapted to model designs such as the Stelvio. Constellium will also provide its high performing 5182 alloy for the hood inner, front and rear door inner, and tailgate inner, bringing the requested strength and formability for complex inner parts.
The lightweighting of the Stelvio enables the vehicle to have an excellent power-to-weight ratio. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio model (which features ultra-high-performance options, such as a high-performance Brembo carbon-ceramic material brake system) was tested at the Nürburgring race track in Germany, where it set a new benchmark lap time. The SUV lapped the 12.9-mile Nordschleife (north loop) in a record 7 minutes 51.7 seconds — a full eight seconds faster than the previous production SUV record.