Alfa Romeo is hopeful that the forthcoming Tonale SUV could help it double its sales as early as 2023.
The Italian brand’s sales fell to 55,000 units worldwide last year, down from the 63,300 cars that it delivered in 2020. With the new Tonale SUV, Alfa Romeo will enter the burgeoning compact SUV segment that accounts for 2.5 million to 3 million sales a year in Europe alone and this single vehicle will likely push Alfa Romeo sales to beyond the 100,000 mark.
During a recent interview with Auto News Europe, Alfa Romeo chief executive Jean-Philippe Imparato acknowledged that the lack of electrified options for the Giulia and Stelvio had cost it roughly 15 per cent of total sales, hence why the Tonale will be offered with hybrid powertrains from the outset.
Imparato believes that the take-up of the plug-in hybrid version of the Tonale throughout Europe will depend on the CO2 regulations in each country, noting that “in countries with strict CO2 rules, the Tonale plug-in hybrid version’s share might reach 80 per cent.”
Alfa Romeo’s boss went on to state that if it secures one per cent of Europe’s compact SUV market with the Tonale, that would be 25,000 cars. If it accounts for 3 per cent of sales, that would be 75,000 units.
“We have great flexibility at our plant in Pomigliano, Italy [where the Tonale will be built],” he said. “Given that the Tonale will debut in June, we’ll be happy if we sell 30,000 units this year. For the full year, the Tonale’s global sales potential could be in the range of 70,000 to 80,000 units. Europe could account for 45,000 to 60,000 units, with 10,000 to 15,000 possible in the U.S.”
Two regular hybrid variants of the Tonale will be offered to European customers in addition to the aforementioned plug-in hybrid. Both regular hybrids sport 1.5-liter four-cylinder petrol engines mated to a 48-volt 15kW electric motor. The base model delivers 128 hp alongside a 20 hp electric motor while the more expensive version has 158 hp plus the added grunt from the electric motor. By comparison, the plug-in hybrid has a 1.3-liter engine and a more powerful electric motor to produce a combined 272 hp.
Select European markets will also be offered a 128 hp 1.6-liter turbodiesel while in the U.S. the Tonale will be available with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 256 hp and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm).
Keyword: Alfa Romeo Tonale Could Help The Brand Double Its Sales