Alfa Romeo is about to launch its second SUV and gave us a preview of things to come at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. The company's upcoming crossover is called the Tonale and its smaller than the Stelvio. Likely based on the Jeep Renegade, the Tonale fits in the compact market and looks surprisingly sporty. The Tonale is also Alfa Romeo's first plug-in hybrid.
Sporty DNA
Although many enthusiasts mocked Alfa's plans to launch a compact SUV by portrayng it as a boxy Renegade with an Alfa Romeo shield, the Tonale is far from ugly. The mini SUV borrows some features from the Giulia and Stelvio, but also pays tribute to Alfa Romeo cars and design elements from the past.
While the shield and the front bumper are clearly reminiscent of current Alfa Romeo vehicles, the headlamps remind me of the exotic looking SZ from the late 1980s. Sure, the LED lights are a modern interpretation of the three-light layout seen on the SZ, but it's clearly taken from this short-lived coupe.
The profile is of the standard SUV variety for the most part. Notable exceptions include the massive 21-inch "phone dial" wheels, a design that goes back to the 1960s, and slim camera mirrors with Italian flag graphics. Needless to say, the wheels and the mirrors won't make it into production.
The rear end stands out as well thanks to its pointy fascia and slim taillights. The latter feature the same three-piece LED layout and extend over the entire width of the car. The black-painted bumper features large exhaust outlets at the corners.
Fancy, Modern Interior
While the exterior doesn't stray far off current Alfa Romeo designs, the interior is a tad too futuristic. The two-tone dashboard is clean and simple, just like a premium vehicle should have, while the center stack hosts a big 10.25-inch infotainment display. There's a transluscent and back-lit center tunnel, while the door panels have a similar effect thanks to red ambient lighting.
Behind the flat-bottom steering wheel that looks rather classy sits a big, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with sporty red graphics. The seats seem to offer proper lateral support, but both the driver and front passenger compartments look cramped. Things look better in the rear seats though, mostly due to the four-seat layout.
The Tonale also features a couple of new infotainment features that will keep Alfa Romeo owners connected. First up is Alfista, which provides info and access to Alfa Romeo clubs and community events, as well as live news about the Alfa Romeo. The second one is called Paddock and provides info on the latest interior and exterior upgrades for the Tonale, as well as Alfa Romeo merchandise and apparel. Yo can order any of the above by using the infotainment display.
Alfa Romeo's first hybrid
Unlike the Stelvio, which shares drivetrains with the Giulia, the Tonale will feature a hybrid powertrain. Alfa doesn't say whether this SUV will be a hybrid only, but I think it will come with gasoline-only engines too. A diesel isn't out of the question either. Anyway, the big news is that the Tonale will become Alfa's first-ever plug-in hybrid.
Unfortunately the Italians didn't release drivetrain information, but did say that the Tonale has driving modes that enable a performance setup using both the engine and the motor and two modes for enhanced efficiency. A mode called Advance E will switch the Tonale to electric power only.
On the flipside, Jeep just revealed a hybrid version of the Renegade and I'm pretty sure the Tonale will borrow it. The powertrain brings together a turbocharged, 1.3-liter gasoline engine and an electric motor and delivers between 190 and 240 horsepower. The Tonale could generate a bit more so that it stands out as a higher performance SUV. The Renegade hybrid can travel up to 31 miles on electric power alone, while hitting a top speed of 81 mph, figures that will probably remain unchanged for the Tonale.
Further reading
Read our full review on the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio.
Read our full review on the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio.