Produced since 2016, the mid-size Stelvio has so far been the only serial crossover in the Alfa Romeo range , but now the compact Alfa Romeo Tonale it is a “little brother” – .
Tonale is the name of a mountain pass in the Italian Alps with a height of 1883 m above sea level. Stelvio is, by the way, also a pass, but more impressive, 2557 m.
The Alfa Romeo Tonale is built on the FIAT Small-Wide 4×4 platform used for the Jeep Renegade since 2014 . Chassis design features – MacPherson type suspension with adjustable damper stiffness, a weight ratio between the axles of 52/48 and an electronic brake pedal drive (provides instant response to pressing).
Alfa Romeo marketers describe Tonale’s target customer in a few words: a young and dynamic resident of the capital.
The novelty has a five-door body, and its exterior is designed according to the style traditions of the brand – typical Alfa Romeo solutions have been used that have not changed for many years. Firstly, there is a pronounced two-volume profile with a “frowned” front end.
Secondly, the T-shaped composition of the radiator grille in the form of a heart and the air intakes and block headlights adjacent to it. Thirdly, “clean” sidewalls with complex but unobtrusive punching. Fourthly, sports side mirrors “on legs”. It is also worth highlighting the massive rear pillar, horizontal lights and a towering line of side glazing.
Exterior of Alfa Romeo Tonale
In profile, Tonale resembles the famous Alfa Romeo 147 of the 2000 model in the back of a five-door hatchback. The headlights and taillights are all-LED, with three elements graphically highlighted in each, a reference to the 1989 Alfa Romeo SZ that had six separate headlights. Alfa Romeo has been using wheels with a design inspired by telephone dials since the 1960s.
Minus a number of simplifications, the serial crossover looks like the 2019 Tonale demo layout .
The overall length, width, height of the serial Tonale are 4528, 1835 and 1604 mm, respectively, the wheelbase is 2636 mm. Trunk volume – 500 liters. The model is comparable in size to the Audi Q3. The range of new items includes five motor versions: gasoline, turbodiesel, two “mild hybrids” and one with the ability to recharge from an external network.
Both mild hybrids have a 1.5-liter petrol engine, a 7-speed dual-clutch preselective robot and a 48-volt starter-alternator that is active during acceleration or at low speeds. The power of the installation in the standard version is 130 hp, the more expensive version is 160 hp. The drive is front-wheel drive, but there is a drive mode with the internal combustion engine turned off, i.e. on pure electric traction (battery capacity – 0.8 kWh). The starter-generator can deliver up to 15 kW (20 hp) of power for a short period of time.
Engine Performance
The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) includes a 1.3-liter petrol turbo, a separate electric motor on the rear axle and a 15.5 kWh lithium-ion battery. The drive is full, on pure electric PHEV can travel up to 60 kilometers. The total output of the rechargeable hybrid is 275 hp.
The diesel modification is equipped with a 1.6-liter engine with 130 hp, it is aggregated only with a 6-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive.
The gasoline car is equipped with a 2.0-liter engine with 256 hp, a 9-speed “automatic” and all-wheel drive, and the torque is transmitted to the rear axle through a classic cardan shaft. Interestingly, this option will not be offered in the European Union due to too strict economic standards, but it will be available in the United States, the Middle East, China and some other regions of the world.
Interior of Alfa Romeo Tonale
In the Tonale cabin there is an intricate architecture of the front panel, a three-spoke steering wheel, seats with developed lateral support. The 12.5-inch digital instrument cluster is shaped to mimic traditional analog scales in wells. The media system can be controlled not only through the touch screen, but also by voice or through the application on the smartphone. As standard, the diagonal of the multimedia display is 10.25 inches.
Price of Alfa Romeo Tonale
In the EU, sales of Alfa Romeo Tonale will start in June 2022, the price will start from 30 thousand euros (= 34,427 usd). Official deliveries of Alfa Romeo to Russia stopped many years ago, and there are no plans to resume them.