Snapshot
- Tonale to become Alfa’s new small SUV
- Platform and engines will be shared with the Jeep Compass
- Official reveal on February 9
UPDATE, January 25, 2021: Alfa Romeo has confirmed a launch date for its new Tonale, with covers set to come off the SUV next month.
The Italian marque’s latest SUV will be unveiled to the world on February 9 at 1am AEDT, signalling the start of a new era for the manufacturer.
The story to here
December 16, 2021: Polish outlet Spider’s Web Autoblog has leaked purported details of the upcoming Alfa Romeo Tonale, the Italian brand’s newest SUV.
According to the report, the Tonale will arrive with traditional combustion engines, but also hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrains – just like the Jeep Compass and Compass 4xe.
The details come from an internal presentation which shows the Tonale is longer than the Compass at 4528mm in length (compared to 4394mm) but shares the exact same wheelbase of 2636mm.
Following the vehicle’s launch next year, a potential pure electric version could be added to the mix, helping Alfa Romeo meet its EV-only promise by 2027. Again, this would likely spawn from an electric Jeep Compass or similar.
The Alfa Romeo Tonale, as seen at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show
From the presentation, details of the drivetrains suggest only petrol engines with no diesel option, and the base level starts with a 1.3-litre turbocharged engine producing 95kW through a dual-clutch automatic transmission.
A petrol hybrid version will apparently produce around the same output but with the assistance and efficiency of a small battery and electric motor – it might more likely be a circa-150kW hybrid from Stellantis’ larger 1.5-litre hybrid unit in development.
For now, the range-topper will use the same 1.3-litre petrol plug-in hybrid system as the Jeep Compass 4xe which produces a total combined output of 177kW or more given Alfa Romeo’s sporty heritage.
The Tonale concept unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2019 shows typical Alfa Romeo styling, with narrow LED headlights, a large front V grille and Alfa’s iconic 5-hole design alloys. Spy pics recently suggest the concept’s blade-like door mirrors will be dropped for a conventional design and the flush-fitting door handles are gone also.
Around the back is a full-width light-bar which might live on in the top-spec version but be simplified in the entry-level versions for cost-cutting. The rear is slightly squared off, but with swopping lines that join the smooth hip line seen on contemporary Alfa Romeos.
When it arrives, the Tonale will be smaller than the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and rival small premium crossovers such as the BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA, and Audi Q3.
Jeep’s Compass which will share its platform with the Tonale
The Tonale is set to launch next year and will be a crucial model for Alfa Romeo sales in Australia.
The brand here says that it is looking forward to the model’s official reveal, but timing cannot be confirmed – expect at least a late 2022 launch if things like semiconductors and stock shortages don’t impact its production.
Keyword: 2022 Alfa Romeo Tonale reveal date set