Alfa Romeo Tonale Breaks Cover As Alfa Romeo’s First Hybrid SUV

• Can be specced with either a 1.5-litre mild-hybrid or 1.3-litre turbo-petrol plug-in-hybrid powertrains.

• Plug-in-hybrid setup can run up to 80km on pure electric power alone.

• Styling highlights include retro 20-inch wheels, a shield-like front grille, and triple element headlights and tail lamps.

• Features include digital screens spanning up to 22.5-inches, a 14-speaker sound system, Amazon Alexa, and the latest UConnect 5 software.

• Gets ADAS with Level 2 autonomous driving technology.

Alfa Romeo’s got a new kid on the block, and it's a second SUV from the Italian brand, called the Tonale. Named after a mountain pass, it slots right below the Stelvio. More importantly, it kicks off a proper push for electrification from Alfa Romeo, being the first electrified model.

How is the Tonale SUV electrified? With hybrid propulsion, of course! The first engine of choice is a four-cylinder 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine combined with a 48-volt electric motor. It is offered in two states of tune, making either 130PS or 160PS, but an identical 240Nm, and paired with a 7-speed DCT gearbox. Also on offer is regenerative braking, as well as the option for starting and running the car, albeit on low speeds, using electric propulsion alone.

 

The other engine is a proper plug-in-hybrid setup, where a 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine and an electric motor juiced up by a 15.5kWh battery can produce a combined 275PS. The ICE engine powers the front wheels, while the electric motor powers the rear axle to give it all-wheel-drive capabilities. This is enough for the 0-100kmph sprint to be done in a scant 6.2 seconds. It can run up to 80km on pure EV power.

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In terms of how it looks, the Tonale’s silhouette essentially looks like a miniaturised Stelvio, but with its own flair. We’ve got the traditional shield-shaped front grille, flanked by LED headlights with cool triple element DRLs. The phone-dial styled wheels are a hark back to classic Alfa Romeos of the 1960s. The clean rear with the triple element LED tail lamps round off the exterior.

Not only does the Tonale have looks, it's loaded with tech. The instrument cluster and touchscreen infotainment system make up a whopping 22.5 inches of digital screen real estate. It comes with the latest UConnect 5 UI, and comes with all the bells and whistles which include wireless Android Auto and  Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa connectivity, and OTA updates. Other notable bits include a 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, ventilated and heated front seats, ambient lighting, a wireless charging pad, and dual-zone climate control. It’s also compatible with non-fungible token (NFT) technology, the first car to get an NFT digital certificate. 

In the safety department, it gets ADAS, with Level 2 autonomous driving tech. It includes adaptive cruise control, lane centering system, semi-automatic parking, drowsy driver detection, blind spot monitor, and rear cross path detection.

The Alfa Romeo Tonale SUV will be offered in two trims: Super and Ti. Post the Tonale, Alfa Romeo is slated to launch a new car every year until 2030, with only electric models being launched from 2027 onwards. In markets abroad, it should take on the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLA, and the Audi Q3. As for India, don’t expect the Tonale here anytime soon since Alfa Romeo models aren’t sold in the country.