ITALIAN automakers are well known for their Supercars.
The like of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Pagani have long been dominating the Supercar kingdom.
But now Italy's automakers are coming for the Performance SUV segment which has long been dominated by their British and German rivals.
The Porsche Cayenne Turbo, BMW X5M, Range Rover Sport have been the go-to cars for people who want to go fast and still be able to hit the "rough stuff".
Recently though the Italians have come up with their own Performance SUVs and right now they have their rivals beat.
Three main cars from Italy have been announced and have taken all the attention away from their rivals.
1. Lamborghini Urus
No other SUV has caused as much controversy recently like the Lamborghini Urus. The Italian Carmaker caused a lot of uproar after it announced plans to build an SUV. But after the car was finally unveiled everyone was really happy with what we ended up with.
The Urus is a 2-tonne Italian bull that not only looks the business but it has the power to back it up.
The Urus is based on the same aluminium MLB platform many of its German & British rivals sit on.
But here the platform is used in the most effective way. The Urus uses the same twin-turbo V8 found in the Porsche Cayenne and Bentley Bentayga and yet it will cover the 0-100km/h sprint faster than those cars.
The engine in the Urus puts out 478-kW and a healthy 850 Nm enough for 3.6 seconds 0-100km/h sprint and a top speed of 305-km/h.
2. Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio
Alfa Romeo Stelvio is one car that's got a lot of motoring journalists tails wagging.
It uses the same Ferrari tuned 2.9 - litre twin-turbo V6 churning out 375-kW and 600-Nm.
The Stelvio will do the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.8 seconds and top out at 283-km/h.
The Stelvio impresses with handling that rivals cars like the Porsche Macan Turbo which has long been regarded as one the best handling SUVs by journalists.
3. The Maserati Levante Trofeo
The Maserati Levante Trofeo is the latest offering from the Italian offensive. The Trofeo is the car all the Maserati fans have been waiting for really.
The Levante S was a good car, but the Ferrari tuned twin-turbo 3.0 - litre V6 in the Levante S didn't live up to expectations. The Trofeo which was just unveiled at the 2018 New York Motor Show means serious business. Under the bonnet, just behind the huge Maserati grille sits a bi-turbo 3.8 - litre V8 built by the guys in Maranello. The engine kicks out 434-kW and 730-Nm enough for a 0-100km/h time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 301-km/h.
The era of Super SUVS is upon us. We are just happy that we get to experience it.
