Alfa Romeo’s lineup will increase by 50% subsequent yr because of the 2023 Tonale, its new small SUV engineered to tackle the voluminous and still-expanding utility phase beneath the Stelvio and its ilk. This new child SUV packs a minimal of 256 horsepower and all-wheel drive with an optionally available, performance-oriented plug-in mannequin accessible.
It is troublesome to speak about the way forward for the automotive trade with out acknowledging the unfold of electrification and the rise in vehicular experience heights, and Alfa’s checking each bins with the Tonale. The small SUV will now be the model’s entry-level mannequin. That is proper; whilst you weren’t trying, Alfa’s lineup shrank to only two autos: Giulia and Stelvio. The corporate will add extra electrical variants within the coming years, together with a BEV earlier than the center of the last decade, so whereas the Tonale will be the first, it isn’t going to be the one, and whereas Alfa is adamant that there is a future for Giulia, we’re now almost a decade faraway from the times of Alfa showrooms being populated by little coupes, convertibles, hatchbacks and sedans.
The Tonale shares its underpinnings with nearly each different small SUV within the Stellantis portfolio. Its largest cousin bought right here within the U.S. is the Jeep Compass. We do not have all of the numbers for Tonale simply but, however we suspect the one factor it’s going to actually have in widespread with Jeep’s economical compact would be the size of its wheelbase, which slots it into the identical class because the Audi Q3, BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA/GLB and Lexus NX. And there is definitely nothing Compass-like about its exterior, which appears to be like credibly Alfa-like. LED lighting is commonplace; the flamboyant wheels on the fashions proven in these images are usually not; you may want the Veloce trim for these.
Alfa’s punching up a bit within the cabin too. A ten.25-inch Uconnect 5 infotainment system is commonplace (the Stelvio’s base display screen is simply 8.8 inches) and paired to a 12.3-inch digital cluster show skinned to appear to be a classic Alfa Romeo instrument panel. The Uconnect system is built-in with Alfa Linked Providers to allow over-the-air updates and different customized performance. Every Tonale can retailer 5 particular person driver profiles accessible by way of a single contact and is appropriate with wi-fi Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. However whereas Alfa guarantees the Tonale will really feel appropriately luxurious for its value level, this is not aimed on the crowd that wishes a mushy, distant expertise. If you’d like plush, purchase a Maserati; Alfa’s right here to occasion.
To that finish, the Tonale might be bought right here with simply two powertrains: a 256-horsepower gasoline-only turbo-four and a 272-horsepower plug-in hybrid. The previous is a 2.0-liter engine that additionally produces 295 pound-feet of torque and is mated to the company nine-speed computerized and commonplace all-wheel drive. The PHEV makes use of a 1.3-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, a six-speed computerized, a 90-kilowatt rear-axle electrical motor and a 15.5-kWh battery pack. Alfa says this combo gives 30 miles of pure EV vary, and due to that electrical motor placement, it too is solely supplied with all-wheel drive.
Because of a number of the weaker powertrains supplied by the competitors, Alfa claims best-in-class commonplace horsepower (with the two.0) and best-in-class hybrid energy with the PHEV. The opposite asterisk right here is that lower-output Tonale variants might be supplied in Europe, however not right here within the States. Alfa says the PHEV’s 272 horsepower might be sufficient to get it to 60 mph in 6.0 seconds flat. Alfa did not quote a determine for the ICE mannequin, however we suspect they will not be too far aside. The two.0-liter is likely to be about 15 ponies to its electrified sibling, nevertheless it needs to be down many, many handfuls of curb weight, which ought to assist make up the distinction, instantaneous electrical torque or not.
The usual Tonale is provided with a MacPherson strut suspension system with Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) shocks. Whereas they sound like fancy digital dampers, FSD shocks do their magic with none exterior intervention. Whereas not as sharp as performance-tuned shocks or as comfy as these engineered to ship the very best experience, they provide a strong steadiness that’s a lot less expensive or advanced than a computer-controlled setup, which you can even add should you’re feeling frisky. The optionally available lively suspension is included into Alfa’s “DNA” drive mode choice system.
We do not have specifics on pricing or gas financial system figures for the Tonale but, nor does there appear to be a lot of a rush. Alfa says the brand new compact will not arrive stateside till round this time subsequent yr. Keep tuned.
