The 2021 Alfa Romeo Tonale is the next big step for the Italian marque. Italians have always been the lively bunch among automakers, and it clearly shows in the cars that they make. Alfa Romeo focuses solely on driving pleasure and the pure connection between man and machine. They have built their repo around it and currently is one of the oldest and last remaining companies to focus largely on emotions. But with the changing times, they have to pull up their socks and bring about something revolutionary onto the table. And they surely did.
The all-new 2021 Tonale is Alfa Romeo's foray into the compact crossover segment and also the very first hybrid car from their stable. This luxury crossover plans to fuse Italian drama into the most sought-after segment right now. It is a fresh take in terms of both design and powertrain layouts which will help Alfa Romeo get a second chance at making a mark in its rather dwindling state in the US, because of reliability and dealership issues. The 2021 Alfa Romeo Tonale takes the fight to the likes of prominent players including the BMW X1, Audi Q3, and Volvo XC40 among others.
The 2021 Alfa Romeo Tonale is the very first Plug-In Hybrid Luxury Compact SUV that plans to turn on a new leaf for the Italian marque. It retains the classic Alfa Romeo DNA and drama as ever.
The First Compact Crossover From Alfa Romeo, And It's Hybrid!
Alfa Romeo has had an on-off relationship in the US, mainly due to its approach to making cars that are fun to drive for sure, but dull on the aftersales part. Currently, they have just two cars in the portfolio - the Giulia and Stelvio. The Alfa Romeo 4C Spider is also present but has rather lost its charm. But Alfa Romeo plans to warm up the pan with its upcoming Tonale SUV, which also happens to the first-ever hybrid offering from the Italian marque.
Details are rather scarce on the powertrain layout. but it will be a plug-In hybrid and this active AWD system is bound to pave for an even more heightened driving experience. It will be a much-needed shift from the automaker's standard RWD layout that is a hell-lot fun to drive about but lacks stability as compared to AWD. The electric motors would be rear-mounted and would independently drive the rear wheels.
We suspect it to be the same powertrain layout used in the Jeep Renegade which uses a 1.3L Inline-4 coupled to an electric motor to churn out 240 hp. It will also pack a set of new drive modes that include Dynamic, Natural, and Advance Efficiency. The Advance Efficiency has an "Advance E" mode for fully electric mode as well.
Futuristic Interior Puts Luxury And Technology On The Same Page
Alfa Romeo has only given us the concept form of its all-new crossover and thus details of the interior are yet to be finalized upon. But most of the elements are close-to-production guise and would make it to production. Either way, it also sees a much-needed shift from the driver-focused interior layout of the current Alfa Romeos. The dashboard has been given a clean look and is driver-focused as its other cars.
But this time around, comfort and technology have been given equal importance and thus will open up a different perspective of luxury and comfort about Alfa Romee. It features a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a clean-looking 3-spoke steering wheel. The concept had features a translucent center console that was topped with a 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
The translucent bit is purely aesthetic and would be swapped for usable storage. Other technology features including a wireless charging dock will make it in the production guise. Talking of the infotainment system, it comes with two unique bits - "Alfista" and "Paddock". Alfista is a unique lifestyle experience that will keep you connected to various Alfa Rome Clubs and community, much like a social media space for Alfa Romeo owners. paddock is an in-vehicle marketplace for real-time viewing and purchasing of various aesthetic and performance packages. So, an active 4G connection would be included as well.
Sleeker And Sharper, But Still Has The Classic Alfa Romeo Cues
Dramaticism stays at the root of Alfa Romeo and thankfully that hasn't been left out in the 2021 Alfa Romeo Tonale. The design language has surely taken a shift towards the sharper more modern side, with sleeker front and rear fascia. But the iconic triangular front grille stays along with those recognized GTA style alloy wheels. Apart from that, the body is smooth and devoid of any sharp lines, typical Alfa Romeo.
This is also the first time that a compact crossover is showcased by Alfa Romeo but it relatively looks large for the form factor. To put it simply, it's a more dashing young brother of the Stelvio. An impressive feat to wait for is the Quadrifoglio variant of the Tonale that is sure to look and go the part, thanks to Ferrari!
Expected Release Date, Pricing, And Will It Be Reliable?
Alfa Romeo is very silent on the release date and pricing of the 2021 Tonale, but we expect it to start around the $36,000 mark and go up as the trim table rises. Talking of which it will mostly pack the same trim levels as the other offerings, which includes - Base, Sport, Ti, Ti Sport, and Ti Lusso. The much-elusive Quadrifoglio would also join the ranks later.
Reliability has been quite an issue for Alfa Romeo in the past and in recent times as well. With an all-new electrified platform, we hope Alfa Rome to turn things around. And to start with it, they have packed a wholesome warranty package that includes:
- Limited warranty for 4 years/ 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty for 4 years/ 50,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance for 1 year/ 10,000 miles
Sources: Caranddriver.com, Media.fcanorthamerica.com, Wikipedia.org