Update: ‘Production & Release Date’ section updated with Italian model details.
After prolonged delays, the much-awaited Alfa Romeo Tonale is finally here, and it’s the brand’s first model available with electrification. The U.S. launch of the new Alfa Romeo is a go. Here’s everything we know about the Alfa Romeo Tonale, and the Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV:
Exterior
The Alfa Romeo Tonale is a compact SUV, and it debuted as a concept at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. The concept car was a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, and so will be the production version. As Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato had said, the luxury C-SUV offers the distinctive Alfa Romeo Italian style.
The Alfa Romeo Tonale is a compact SUV and thus the brand’s new entry-level model. Image Source: Stellantis
At the front, the Tonale flaunts the iconic “Trilobo” grille, the distinctive Alfa Romeo “Scudetto” shield, and aggressive full-LED matrix headlights in a “3+3” design. The Tonale sports pronounced wheel arches, fender flares, a sleek greenhouse, and strong shoulders on the sides. Additionally, the Tonale features low-profile tires with signature Alfa Romeo rims. At the rear, the taillights repeat the design cues of the sleek headlights, and in addition, they form a sine curve covering almost the vehicle width. Alfa Romeo says that the all-encompassing rear window is a tribute to the 8C Competizione.
Interior
The Alfa Romeo Tonale is conventional and sporty, just as traditional performance enthusiasts prefer. Image Source: Stellantis
The interior of the Tonale is conventional and sporty and doesn’t go overboard on minimalism, just the way traditional performance enthusiasts prefer. The dashboard finds a nice middle-ground between chunky and sleek, and it features a sporty design pattern integrated into its smooth passenger-side section. The compact steering wheel features a flattened bottom section, and two large paddle shifters are behind it.
The highlights of the in-cabin technology are a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, both Android-powered and part of Uconnect 5. The infotainment system has 4G connectivity, OTA updates, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto.
Specifications
The Alfa Romeo Tonale rides on the same platform as the Jeep Compass and the new global Jeep Commander, what Stellantis calls the “small-wide 4×4 architecture.” It measures 178.3 in. in length, which means it is longer than the Compass (173.4 in.), and its width and height are 72.4 in. and 63.0 in., respectively.
The Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV delivers a more than 30 miles pure electric range. Image Source: Stellantis
Alfa Romeo will introduce the Tonale in the U.S. in gasoline and plug-in hybrid variants. The non-electrified variant employs a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that produces 256 hp and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. A 9-speed automatic transmission and an AWD system transfer drive to the wheels.
Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV specifications
The Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV borrows the Compass 4xe’s plug-in hybrid electric powertrain, where a 1.3-liter MultiAir turbocharged gasoline engine allies with an electric motor powering the rear axle. The gas-powered engine, linked to a 6-speed automatic transmission, produces 180 hp and propels the front wheels. The electric motor driving the rear wheels generates 90 kW (121 hp) using energy stored in a bigger (compared to the Compass 4xe’s 11.4 kWh) 15.5 kWh battery pack. Effectively, the Tonale PHEV becomes an e-AWD model.
The Tonale PHEV is the most powerful and efficient version in the Tonale lineup and comes with the ‘Q4’ all-wheel drive. The system output is rated at 275 hp. Image: Alfa Romeo/Youtube
A DNA switch allows controlling the electrified power delivered to the wheels. In Dynamic mode, the engine and electric motor deliver maximum performance. Then comes the Natural mode for normal or relaxed driving. Lastly, an Advanced efficiency mode enables pure electric operation, in which it’s possible to drive the Tonale PHEV for more than 30 miles silently. However, this is not an EPA-estimated figure.
Trims & Features
The Alfa Romeo Tonale will be available in the U.S. in a base ‘Super’ trim, a luxury-focused ‘Ti’ trim, and a sporty ‘Veloce’ trim. Details of the features included in these trims should emerge closer to launch. Alfa Romeo has confirmed the following features as part of the standard equipment:
- 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster
- 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto
- Wireless smartphone charger
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR)
- Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA)
- Blind spot and Rear Cross Path detection
- Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection
- Driver Attention Assist and rear seat reminder
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW) with Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
Alfa Romeo has also confirmed that it will offer Level 2 autonomous driving with Traffic Jam Assist (TJA) in the U.S.-spec Tonale. TJA automatically adjusts speed and trajectory to keep the vehicle centered in the lane and at a safe distance from the car in the front.
Production & Release Date
Production of the Alfa Romeo Tonale will take place at the G.B. Vico plant in Pomigliano d’Arco (Naples), Italy. The SUV will be available to order in the U.S. in Q4 2022 (October-December 2022), and customer deliveries will begin in Q1 2023 (January-March 2023). Prices could start at around USD 35,000.
In a recent interview with Automotive News Europe, Imparato revealed that deliveries of the Tonale’s plug-in hybrid variant will begin in 2023. He said:
We will launch the 275-hp plug-in hybrid version in October. That means, the plug-in hybrid will hit the market in 2023.
Jean-Philippe Imparato, CEO, Alfa Romeo (Automotive News Europe interview in February 2022)
Imparato suggested that Alfa Romeo isn’t expecting the Tonale to sell in big numbers. He said that 1% of Europe’s compact SUV market would be 25,000 units, and the company would be happy if it’s able to deliver 30,000 units between its (market) debut in June and December 2022. The Tonale could contribute 70,000-80,000 units to Alfa Romeo’s global sales in a full year, with 45,000-60,000 units coming from Europe and 10,000-15,000 units from the U.S. market.
Alfa Romeo would start making a profit on the Tonale once it reaches 30,000 sales. The company doesn’t aggressively have to push the SUV to keep its factory afloat because the capacity is filled up by the production of the Fiat Panda.
Italian launch
Alfa Romeo has launched the Tonale in the home market of Italy. The company is accepting orders in an exclusive launch version called Edizione Speciale (Special Edition), which retails at EUR 39,000 (USD 42,941). The Tonale Special Edition has a 130 CV (128 hp) 1.5L mild hybrid powertrain, but the 160 CV (158 hp) version will become available in due course. Customers who would like to purchase the latter can pre-register their interest.
Competitors
The Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV will compete with the Mercedes GLA 250 e, the Audi Q3 45 TFSI e/Audi Q3 Sportback 45 TFSI e, and the BMW X1 xDrive25e.
Alfa Romeo Tonale FAQs
What is the Alfa Romeo Tonale release date?
The Alfa Romeo Tonale will be delivered to customers in the U.S. from Q1 2023.
What is the expected Alfa Romeo Tonale price?
The Alfa Romeo Tonale’s prices could start at around USD 35,000, with the PHEV priced well above USD 40,000.
What are the chief competitors of Tonale?
Audi Q3 Sportback, Mercedes GLA, and the BMW X1 are some alternatives.
Featured Image Source: Stellantis
Keyword: Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV – Everything we know as of March 2022