It's been a long and winding road but Alfa's Tonale is nearly here.
Ahead of the February 8 reveal, Alfa Romeo has teased its compact SUV yet again, only this time in a rather peculiar manner. The Italian brand's CEO, Jean-Philippe Imparato, shared a picture on his Twitter account, showing a covered Tonale behind key members of the company's team.
Imparato, along with Francesco Calcara (marketing), Daniel Guzzafame (product), Antonio Casarella (manufacturing), and Alejando Masonero Romanos (design) are pictured posing in front of the car, much in the style of The Beatles' iconic Abbey Road album cover.
Strutting over a crosswalk, the humorous tribute to the UK band hints at the Tonale's imminent reveal. The CEO wrote, “A talented group ready for big hits in the future! 1st album 'Tonale Road' out on 8th February. Don't miss it!” Based on the post, Imparato is certainly confident that the upcoming Evoque rival is going to be a smash hit for the carmaker.
Let me introduce you to the band: #FrancescoCalcara on Marketing, #DanielGuzzafame on Product, #AntonioCasarella on Manufacturing + #AlejandoMesoneroRomanos on Design.A talented group ready for big hits in the future!1st album “Tonale Road” out on 8th February.
Don't miss it! pic.twitter.com/rWuVDKLtHZ— Jean-Philippe Imparato (@JPImparato) February 3, 2022
First seen at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, the compact Tonale has since been spotted in varying states of camouflage. From what we can tell, the overall shape and styling from the concept car have been retained, which is a good thing. As far as crossover SUVs go, the littlest Alfa is a looker, sporting details that pay tribute to the gorgeous '90s SZ and even the more recent Brera.
While it is likely to be a looker, we don't have much longer to wait before the final product is unveiled. Originally, the Tonale was to be released last year but the CEO was displeased with the performance of the plug-in hybrid model, causing further delays.
This is big news for the brand, the SUV serving as Alfa's first electrified offering. A 1.3-liter engine aided by a 60-horsepower electric motor will provide a total output of 240 hp. Don't hold your breath for a Quadrifoglio derivative; a performance Tonale is not in the cards.
Set to rival the likes of the BMW X1 and Audi Q3, the Tonale will prove to be a very important car for the brand. Like fellow Italian carmaker Maserati, recent products have struggled to sway U.S. consumers away from other established brands. The Tonale should, at least, steal some sales away from the competition, especially with those arresting looks and left-field persona.
With the world premiere just days away, we can only imagine executives in Turin are excited but understandably nervous. Hopefully, the Tonale can help Alfa expand its market share, reach new customers, and also sell them something the brand has never offered before, in the form of the plug-in hybrid. We just hope it's as good as it looks.
Keyword: Alfa Romeo Teases Tonale SUV With Strange Beatles Tribute