Alfa Romeo’s vehicle lineup is finally getting a new addition this year. A new report from Motor.es indicates that the new Tonale crossover will debut in production form this spring before going on sale in the fall, at least in Europe. U.S.-spec examples should go on sale by February 2022. The Alfa Romeo Tonale first appeared as a concept at the 2019 Geneva auto show.
Slotting below the Stelvio, the Alfa Romeo Tonale will be a small crossover aimed at competitors like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Expect most of the concept’s design to remain intact; however, the production version could get larger headlights. Inside, the report claims that the interior has been largely left untouched, meaning the car will get two large displays on the dash.
Unlike the Giulia and Stelvio, which are on FCA’s RWD-based Giorgio architecture, the Tonale will be FWD-based. The most likely platform that it’ll be on will be an updated version of the one underpinning the Jeep Renegade. The U.S. may only get the AWD variant when it finally crosses the Atlantic.
On the powertrain front, expect a range of turbocharged engines for European-spec Tonale whereas the U.S. will likely get the plug-in hybrid powertrain. That could be the same 1.3-liter turbo-four-based unit found in the Jeep Renegade 4xe but with slightly more power. Motor.es notes that the range-topping plug-in hybrid should make around 250 hp, which is 13 hp more than the Renegade 4xe.
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When it finally arrives, the Tonale has the potential to become the new volume model for Alfa Romeo, especially in the U.S. Even with the plug-in hybrid powertrain and AWD standard, the Tonale could still be priced lower than the Stelvio, putting it within the reach of more consumers. As with the Giulia and Stelvio, the Tonale should be one of the sportiest models in its segment, meaning it should drive more like a slightly taller hot hatch than an SUV. Don’t expect a high-performance Quadrifoglio model because Alfa Romeo isn’t planning one for the Tonale.
