New Alfa Romeo Tonale, from concept car to reality
December 05, 2022
We first saw the Alfa Romeo Tonale in pictures three years ago. At the time, the images were of a concept vehicle, and the design was rather interesting, but not far-fetched as some concept cars are. Fast forward to 2022 and the Italians have made the Tonale concept a reality. The vehicle has been launched in Mzansi and here’s everything you need to know.
It’s a crossover and joins a vast segment with endless options. With a design like no other current Alfa Romeo, the Tonale is carving a new path for the brand, and it will be interesting to see whether future Alfa Romeo products will use this blueprint in their design. Speaking of the design, the Tonale comes from Centro Stile Alfa Romeo (Alfa Romeo Style Center) in Italy and is produced in its country of origin. It hasn’t strayed too far from the original Tonale concept car, and as Alfa says, it marks a new era for the brand in vehicle electrification.
Alfa Romeo Tonale Engine specs
Engine downscaling is the name of the game nowadays, so it’s no surprise that the new Tonale is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, and this unit is the only one currently on offer across the range. Alfa Romeo has taken things a step further by making the Tonale a mild hybrid. What does this mean? Well, it's fitted with a 48-volt battery system - the same technology we’ve seen from brands such as Mercedes-Benz with their EQ system. Being a mild hybrid, the system is only capable of running the vehicle at slow speeds such as parking or slow stop/go traffic. It has features like “Silent Start” which starts the vehicle in EV mode without igniting the internal combustion engine. These are the initial steps to full electrification, in case you’ve missed the memo. It’s where things are going. Output figures from the new Tonale are decent at 118 kW and 240 Nm, power is fed through a 7-speed automatic gearbox to the front wheels. Fuel consumption from this mild hybrid is a claimed 5.7 litres/100km.
Aside from the above technology, the Italians have upped the ante in this new crossover. To maintain the sporty characteristics the brand has become known for in vehicles like the Stelvio SUV, the Tonale has been fitted with an electronic self-locking differential. It’s meant to aid in handling and agility. In addition to this is the Dual Stage Valve electronic suspension, which as the description suggests, can adapt the electronic shock absorbers to give you the ideal ride for the occasion.
Features like a Harmon Kardon audio system and a self-parking system are available as options, while Level 2 autonomous driving has also been included through adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition.
There are three Tonale variants available (Ti, Veloce, Speciale), all utilising the same drivetrain. Pricing starts at R739 900 for the Alfa Romeo Tonale Ti and peaks at R799 900 for the top-spec Speciale. There’s a standard 5-year 100 000km warranty and maintenance plan on the crossover.
Words: Gugu Masuku
