Alfa Romeo has big hopes on the upcoming Tonale which is expected for a mid-2022 reveal with a hybrid powertrain. The Italian company’s first compact SUV or luxury small SUV, if you prefer, has been spied testing again, this time giving us another glimpse of the cabin as well as what’s hiding under the hood.
Starting with the interior, the dashboard layout and the round climate vents are loosely derived from the striking 2019 concept but naturally, most futuristic details have been toned down for production and slightly evolved compared to the leaked pictures from two years ago.
See Also: Production Alfa Romeo Tonale Surfaces In Leaked Photos With Tamer Looks
As we can see, the Tonale is equipped with a larger infotainment screen than before and a digital instrument cluster. The three-spoke steering wheel has integrated controls and the start-stop button, while the high-mounted central tunnel houses the shifter for the automatic gearbox. All of the physical buttons seem to be mounted on a thin ribbon under the climate vents.
Shared Hybrid Powertrain With The Jeep Renegade & Compass 4xe
Under the bonnet, there is a gasoline powertrain, which in this tester is sporting a Jeep-branded plastic cover. This is, of course, a quick solution for the development prototypes, since the production version will either get Alfa Romeo branding or possibly even no branding at all, as we’ve see happening a lot lately, including on the Audi A3. The Tonale is believed to share its platform with the recently updated Jeep Compass and a similarly sized Dodge coming in 2022 (if Stellantis sticks to schedule, that is).
Read Also: Alfa Romeo To Launch New Model Every Year Until 2026, After Which It’s Going EV Only
Unsurprisingly, the unit appears to be the turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine which is also used on the 4Xe plug-in hybrid variants of the Jeep Compass and Renegade. In those models, the petrol engine is combined with a rear-mounted electric motor offering all-wheel drive, a six-speed automatic transmission, and an 11.4 kWh battery.
In European guise, the Compass and the Renegade 4xe come in two variants with a combined output of 187 hp (140 kW / 190 PS) or 237 hp (177 kW / 240 PS). However, the Tonale is expected to be more powerful since Alfa Romeo CEO, Jean-Philippe Imparato, wanted better performance for the Italian model. Furthermore, Alfa Romeo officials have claimed that their subcompact luxury SUV will be more of a driver’s car thanks to a brand-specific suspension and chassis setup.
See Also: Alfa Romeo Tonale Concept Previews New Small Luxury SUV
Alfa Romeo has obviously toned down the appearance of the original Tonale concept for production
The Tonale will have its work cut out as it will be competing in an increasingly crowded segment that includes established models like the BMW X1 and X2, the Audi Q3 and Q3 Sportback, the Mercedes-Benz GLA, the Lexus NX and Volvo XC40. We should learn more about the first hybrid Alfa as we get closer to the market launch in summer 2022. According to the official Stellantis product plan, Alfa Romeo will have a fully electric range by 2027, giving a little time to the Alfisti to adapt.
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