After an initial delay due to Alfa’’s new CEO stating the car needed extra development, the new Alfa Romeo Tonale compact SUV has been revealed. In a first for the Italian brand, it will be available with plug-in hybrid power when it goes on sale in April, three years on from its concept debut.
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In Europe the Tonale will also be available with much more budget-friendly hybrid tech, while the brand has placed a big focus on improving quality, infotainment and connectivity, and the plug-in hybrid model’s performance – all areas for improvement identified by Alfa boss Jean-Philippe Imparato after he joined the brand in March 2021.
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Key to the Tonale – and Alfa Romeo’s hopes of success – is the car’s new plug-in hybrid powertrain. It comprises a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine which is shared with Stellantis sister brand Jeep, and is joined by a six-speed automatic gearbox. The electrified element is made up of a 15.5kWh battery with a rear-mounted e-motor for a total output of 271bhp.
The system puts the four-wheel-drive Tonale Plug-in hybrid Q4’s total kerbweight at around 1,900kg, and makes it the fastest variant in the line-up, with a 0-62mph time of 6.2 seconds. The battery takes two and a half hours to charge using a 7.4kW home wallbox, and from a full charge Alfa claims an all-electric range of up to 37 miles.