Alfa Romeo Tonale will be Alfa’s first-ever hybrid in 2020
The World is going electric and Alfa Romeo is the latest manufacturer to publicly showcase their first-ever petrol hybrid electric vehicle. You’ll have to wait, though, because it will only be available in 2020.
The Alfa Romeo Tonale borrows its name from a popular mountain pass in the Alps, just like its bigger brother Stelvio. It shares its platform with the Jeep Renegade but retains distinctive Italian design all around it, from the signature ‘V’-grille at the front to the modern and sleek head and taillights. The extra slim side mirrors will likely be replaced with more conventional side mirrors once the model enters production. The bonnet is long, and the roofline is low, swooping into the rear while hinting at the rivalry that the Tonale will enjoy with the likes of the BMW X2 and the upcoming next-gen Audi Q3.
The Alfa Romeo Tonale looks to become the class leader in terms of driving dynamics. A new suspension and upgraded brakes will set it apart from the driving experience in the Jeep. The Tonale will likely borrow its drivetrain from another model within the FCA Group, such as the Fiat 500X. Speculation aside, there is no other information available regarding specs, performance or engine options. Alfa’s European boss, Roberta Zerbi, says: “Clearly we are working on the plug-in technology for the range. Tonale will be the first.” The Tonale will be Alfa’s first hybrid, with the technology eventually finding its way into the Giulia and Stelvio.
The Tonale will also get a slightly reworked edition of Alfa Romeo’s D.N.A driving mode selection. Dynamic mode is replaced with ‘Dual Power’ mode, which uses both the petrol and electric ‘engines’ to achieve the highest performance. ‘Natural’ mode finds the perfect balance between spirited performance and efficiency, while Advanced Efficiency mode is replaced with ‘Advance E’ mode, relying exclusively on electric power.
