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It’s been two years since the Geneva Motor Show, but now Alfa Romeo is ready to enter the compact crossover market with the launch of the new Tonale. This is a famous Italian brand’s first plug-in hybrid vehicle. The intriguing sporty crossover with a sharper appearance than the Stelvio does not look as good as the 2019 show car. The LED light bar at the rear of Alfa Romeo’s cars is the latest design innovation from the Italian carmaker. To honour the heritage of the electric period, slim headlights surround the iconic shield grille (Scudetto).
Alfa Romeo has already ruled out a Quadrifoglio model, so the car shown here is the top of the range Veloce trim. Tonale’s dimensions are as follows: 178.3 cm long, 72.4 cm wide and 63 cm high (that’s 1.6 metres). The small luxury crossover will be available in the US, although the photos show the European version of the car. A turbocharged 1.3-litre petrol engine with 180 hp powers the PHEV’s front wheels. In total, the four-pot internal combustion engine will produce 272 hp in conjunction with an electric motor. It will be able to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 6.2 seconds. The electric range of the US model is more than 30 miles on a single charge, thanks to a 15.5 kWh lithium-ion battery. The Tonale PHEV has a WLTP-based city driving range of up to 50 miles (80 kilometres).
The 2.0-litre petrol engine with an output of 256 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque will be standard in the Alfa Romeo Tonale, but a plug-in hybrid version will be available as an option. It is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission that sends power to both wheels. In other words, the high-legged Alfa will only be launched in the United States with the Q4 AWD system.
The upcoming BMW X1 PHEV (U11) is expected to launch later this year, and the new Tonale will challenge it. The iX1 – the first all-electric X1 – will be joined by a high-end plug-in hybrid in the next-generation X1. A similar powertrain could also be used in the X1 PHEV, as in the recently unveiled BMW 230e Active Tourer. Combined with a 130 hp, the 230e achieves a maximum output of 326 hp. To celebrate the arrival of the Tonale in Europe, Alfa Romeo will sell a limited edition special model. Orders are available from September to December this year. Deliveries start in the first quarter of 2023 for US customers.
