Alfa Romeo Tonale
2020 SUV will take on Audi Q1
The Alfa Romeo Tonale will go on sale at the end of next year as a rival to the BMW X1 and Audi Q3. The SUV, which will sit below the Stelvio in the firm’s range and which takes its name from another famous Italian mountain pass, will also be the first Alfa to be offered with plug-in hybrid technology.
The Tonale concept was a surprise reveal at the Geneva show and underlines the firm’s determination to hit its long-coveted 400,000-unit sales target – up from around 150,000 last year – according to Alfa’s Europe brand boss, Roberta Zerbi.
“We expect the Tonale to become our best-selling car,” said Zerbi. “Combined with our other new products, we expect to have a car to suit the needs of around 80% of all European car buyers by 2024, and that puts Alfa in a much stronger position than today.”
Zerbi also confirmed that the car would reach production with very few changes beyond details such as adding windscreen wipers and switching it from a four- to a five-seater. “This concept gives a good indication of the production model,” she said. “It is accurate in not just the proportions, but the details, including the telephone dial wheels, the triple headlights and the dashboard lines.”
The Tonale sits below the Stelvio in the Italian firm’s SUV range and is set to use a hybrid system that will be introduced soon in the Jeep Renegade, although Zerbi refused to be drawn on the details of its capabilities beyond saying it links a front-mounted petrol engine and a rear-mounted electric motor.
No details of the system’s power output have been given, but the Renegade PHEV revealed at Geneva by sister firm Jeep has 236bhp (see page 19), although it’s likely Alfa would look to eclipse this figure in order to meet the Tonale’s performance brief.
Instead of a Dynamic drive mode as in previous Alfas, the Tonale has a Dual Power option that makes maximum use of both motors. Zerbi did confirm that convention petrol – and likely diesel – engines would also be offered in the line-up.
Alfa offered few technical details of the car’s set-up, although the Tonale is set to make use of the Jeep Renegade’s platform, meaning front-wheel drive is likely. Zerbi refused to be drawn, saying only: “We’re looking at architectures that we have in-house.”
Global Alfa Romeo boss Tim Kuniskis promised that the Tonale “will embrace our core brand principals: advanced engine technology, electrification, distinct proportions and stunning Italian design”. He claimed: “We will not launch just another SUV. We will launch an SUV as only Alfa can.”
Kuniskis also vowed that the hybrid powertrain would be used to enhance the driving experience rather than just helping the firm meet CO2 targets. “We’ve put the driver at the centre, with incredible steering feel,” he said. “The Tonale will have a distinct personality and timeless design that evokes the passion of its designers.”
The Tonale’s styling is closely aligned to that of the larger Stelvio, and the firm says it contains touches referencing previous Alfas. The 21in wheels feature a design inspired by the 33 Stradale, and the firm says the narrow front LED lights reflect the SZ and Brera.
Inside, the Tonale concept makes extensive use of leather and Alcantara, with a number of backlit panels. The
dashboard features a 12.3in digital display screen, with a 10.25in central touchscreen. Alfa says the concept features a new version of its infotainment system, including a new multitasking interface.
While the Tonale will give Alfa a boost as it chases 400,000 sales per year, last year parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) announced plans to build two new SUVS, alongside a new GT4 coupé and 8C sports car, by 2022.
FCA group CEO Mike Manley is credited with putting the Jeep brand back into a position of strength by launching more attainable SUV models, such as the Renegade.
“Alfa was a very long way from its plan,” said Manley, referring to the 400,000 sales target. “It was an overambitious estimation of how big the brand can grow. The plans have been reset to an extent. But there still has to be relatively strong growth rates. There’s a fine line between a brand growing because the customer base likes what it stands for, or you drive down prices. I don’t want the latter.”