Alfa Romeo is an Italian automaker that builds cars that are more affordable than its Italian cousins, Maserati and Ferrari. Alfa Romeo strives to produce exciting cars that have a soul – cars that make one believe that they are living and breathing things, rather than convenient objects with which to get from one place to another.
Alfa Romeo succumbed to the international SUV trend and built the Stelvio – arguably the best-looking of the mid-size SUVs currently available. They have always built beautifully designed cars with striking exteriors and pretty interior styling. The proof is in the Giulia sedan which is the most handsome car in its class – especially in 6C Villa d’Este trim.
Now, however, with the success of the Stelvio, Alfa Romeo has bitten the bullet and instead of producing a new GTV sports car or 8C grand tourer, they have built a new SUV to compete against the likes of the BMW X1 and Audi Q3. Even though it hasn’t been showcased yet, according to spy photos, it promises to look better than these two rivals. Whilst not much is known about the Alfa Romeo Tonale, we have a few hear-says to go on.
8 The Reveal Was Pushed Back
The Alfa Romeo Tonale, like the Maserati Grecale, was delayed due to the global situation – notably the semiconductor chip shortage. This delay has given the engineers and developers of the Tonale more time for durability testing, as well as more extreme weather testing, as it was spotted driving in the snow somewhere late last December.
Unlike the Maserati Grecale however, the Tonale has not been open to journalists for unofficial testing. This may be concerning to some as the Tonale is slated for a mid-2022 launch date. With Tonale meaning a book about musical rules, one can only wonder at this stage what Alfa Romeo is tuning up to release into the automotive world.
7 The Prototypes Are In The Final Testing Phase
The prototypes have been seen testing for more than a year already, with various levels of automotive camouflage on the cars. The most recent report has shown the production car’s front headlight and rear taillight designs, which are heavily influenced by the 2019 Tonale Concept’s overall design.
With spy shots of testing being done in the cold weather of Europe, one can guess that Alfa Romeo had done some work on bettering the handling and suspension setup for driving in slippery conditions, but that is pure speculation at this stage.
6 It Is Smaller Than The Stelvio
In a spy photo seen in early 2021, the Tonale was parked next to a Stelvio, revealing the size difference and dimensions. The Tonale is around 180 inches long, 72 inches wide, and 63 inches tall – more or less the same size as that of the Renegade and a few inches smaller than that of the Stelvio.
These measurements are not official just yet, so take them with a pinch of salt as the prototypes are still being developed and could change before the official unveiling.
5 The Tonale Shares The Jeep Renegade Platform
The Alfa Romeo Tonale shares its platform with the Jeep Renegade and is FCA’s Small Wide 4x4 platform, which underpins the Fiat 500X, the 500L, and the front-wheel-drive Tipo. It has reportedly been altered to accompany Plug-In Hybrid technology, as well as a fully-electric drivetrain.
Technology featured in the Tonale will most likely be much the same as that in the Jeep Renegade or Compass, albeit in a better-looking package. The Tonale may have some better features as Alfa Romeo is rivaling in the more premium segment in the automotive industry with this model.
4 The Styling
Since the prototypes are still covered in automotive camouflage, it is difficult to make out distinct features. However, recent spy shots have revealed the placement of the front intakes in relation to the headlights. The headlights are connected to intakes which seem to continue the Quadrifoglio theme of the Giulia and Stelvio, with a larger lower intake and vertical slits on the sides.
This design creates a ‘floating’ effect for the traditional Alfa Romeo ‘Scudetto’ grille. The hood also seems to feature a bulging effect, much like a power bulge – but do not necessarily expect a large, powerful engine underneath.
3 The Drivetrain Is Mostly Unknown
According to reports, the drivetrain will follow the Jeep Compass 4xe’s example, meaning a small 4-cylinder engine, coupled to an automatic transmission and a rear-mounted electric motor. It will most likely offer more performance than that of the Jeep, honoring Alfa Romeo’s heritage with a more driver-focused suspension and chassis setup.
Alfa Romeo have confirmed that there will be a PHEV version available at launch, but the Tonale range will also include a fully electric drivetrain, a first for Alfa Romeo. It is slated to be the first of a long line of Alfa Romeos to be released between now and 2027.
2 The Engines May Be Less Impressive
The Jeep Compass 4xe offered in Europe comes with either 187 hp or 237 hp from a 1.3-liter turbo, but Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato wanted better performance from the Tonale – another reason for the model’s delay. The Tonale may also be offered with a diesel engine in some European markets; however, this has been unconfirmed.
The Tonale may also receive a Quadrifoglio Verde version, as with almost every modern Alfa Romeo to date. However, it is currently unknown if such a model will be produced, let alone what drivetrain or performance it would have.
1 What The Tonale Means For Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo currently only has two models on sale – the Giulia sedan and the larger Stelvio SUV – after they discontinued the Giulietta, MiTo, and 4C. Alfa Romeo is in dire need of new products after this massive scale-down, and the Tonale will (hopefully) be their way of showing the parent company, Stellantis, that they are worthy to stick around.
Let’s hope the Tonale becomes a success for Alfa Romeo in the coming years; otherwise, the Tonale, Stelvio, and Giulia will be the last cars we will ever see from the legendary Italian automaker.