FEATURE
ALFA ROMEO
TONALE
Alfa Romeo has finally revealed the full production version of the Tonale – a baby SUV that’ll bolster the Italian brand’s UK model range. James Batchelor takes a look around the car.
T
he Tonale was first revealed at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. Its launch was pushed back but the Stellantis-owned firm has now revealed the full production version. With a simple three-trim line-up and powered by mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, it’s hoped the Tonale will catapult Alfa back on to the shortlists of many premium customers. The new car, which sits under the Stelvio SUV, will get its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June, followed by order books opening in July. The mild-hybrid will be the first car to arrive in September, followed by the plug-in hybrid in December. Alfa plans to introduce one new model a year to its showrooms over the next 10 years and will be a fully electric brand by 2027. The Tonale sparks a renewed focus on quality – both in terms of product and customer experience. In the UK, the Tonale is tasked with taking the lion’s share of Alfa sales. ‘Last year we sold 1,600 cars, which was disappointing,’ Alfa Romeo and Jeep UK MD Damien Dally told Car Dealer. ‘We will be pushing to sell 2,5003,000 Tonales a year.’ 08 | CarDealerMag.co.uk
Engines
The Tonale will only be available with two electrified engines to begin with. Arriving first, in September, will be a 1.5-litre petrol mild-hybrid using a 48-volt battery and a compact 15kW electric motor mounted within the gearbox. In December, a plug-in hybrid will launch, using a 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine sending power to the front wheels, while an electric motor will drive the rears, providing all-wheel drive. Total power will be 272bhp, with an all-electric range of 37 miles.
Technology
The Tonale is equipped with level 2 autonomous driving systems, which allow the car to automatically handle acceleration and braking when the system is activated. There’s also Amazon Alexa, which even allows the owner to select the car as a place to which Amazon parcels can be delivered. All cars come with two large screens running an Android operating system and incorporating 4G connectivity with overthe-air updates as standard.
Styling
The Tonale incorporates many traditional Alfa Romeo styling cues, such as the triangular ‘Scudetto’ shield and the ‘3+3’ headlights that take inspiration from the classic SZ Zagato. The strong shoulder line harks back to the GT-line seen on the 1960s GT Junior, while the Tonale can be specified with alloy wheels in Alfa’s traditional ‘tele dial’ pattern, ranging from 17 to 20 inches.
Platform
The Tonale shares its underpinnings with other Fiat-Chrysler models such as the Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500X, plus a lot of those cars’ hardware. Thanks to the flexible platform, Alfa Romeo could make a pure-electric version of the Tonale.
