The Alfa Romeo Tonale is a C-segment SUV produced by Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo since February 2022. A c-segment model, it slots below the Alfa Romeo Stelvio in the marque's crossover SUV range. Known internally as the 965, the Tonale is the first hybrid-powered Alfa Romeo and became the first new model introduced by the brand in six years. The Tonale is named after the Tonale mountain pass in Northern Italy.
In August 2022, a rebadged and restyled version was unveiled as the Dodge Hornet, exclusive to the North American market as the smallest, entry-level SUV offering from Dodge. The Hornet will be sold alongside the Tonale in the region with different specs and lower pricing.
Overview[]
The production Tonale was originally scheduled for release in 2021, but was delayed until 2022 due to the global semiconductor shortage and Alfa Romeo management demanding better range and performance from its drivetrain. It was developed during the ownership of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and underpinned by a heavily modified version of the SCCS crossover platform shared with the Jeep Compass. It is also the first Alfa Romeo to be equipped with an optional plug-in hybrid system, which uses a 15.5 kWh (56 MJ) lithium-ion battery to achieve 30 miles (48 km) of all-electric range. The Tonale marks the brand's electrification effort, where Alfa Romeo will be the first brand among the 14 brands of Stellantis to go fully electric by 2027. The Tonale is marketed in the premium segment, and has been described variously as a "compact crossover", a "compact SUV", a "small SUV", and a "tall hatchback".
All models of the Tonale are equipped with a 12.3-inch (31 cm) digital infotainment cluster and a 10.25-inch (26.0 cm) infotainment screen, which will run on the Uconnect 5 software suite. In addition, the Tonale will come with an NFT that records and stores data of the car's life cycle. According to Alfa Romeo, the NFT will generate a certificate that can help maintain the car's residual value. The Verge noted that Alfa Romeo had not provided much information about what blockchain technology they intended to use for this. Jalopnik felt that digitising a car's service history was a good idea, but that blockchain NFTs were a "bad" and "entirely unnecessary" way to achieve this.
According to Alfa Romeo, the Tonale was designed to offer more driving engagement than the class average by using a very quick steering rack (2.3 turns lock to lock). It also features torque vectoring by braking, frequency-selective dampers as standard, and adaptive items and four-piston brakes on the range-topping Veloce.
Powertrain[]
One of the powertrain options is a newly developed Alfa Romeo-exclusive 160 hp (162 PS; 119 kW) 1.5-liter petrol engine with a variable-geometry turbocharger (VGT) and 48 V hybrid system, paired with a 7-speed TCT dual-clutch transmission and a 48 V 15 kW (20 PS; 20 hp) and 55 N⋅m (5.61 kg⋅m; 40.6 lb⋅ft) P2 electric motor (135 N⋅m (13.8 kg⋅m; 99.6 lb⋅ft) with a 2.5:1 transmission ratio). It can propel the wheels even when the internal combustion engine is turned off. The Tonale is claimed to be capable of 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) in 8.8 seconds and a maximum speed of over 209 km/h (130 mph). The engine comes with a compression ratio of 12.5:1, a new cylinder head with a compact combustion chamber, dual variable valve timing, and "high-tumble" intake ducts.
A 48 V lithium-ion battery with a 0.8 kWh capacity is used. The capacity is more than twice that of batteries commonly used on belt-driven starter-generator (BSG) hybrid systems, while providing an output of up to 22 kW (30 PS; 30 hp). The battery has a volume of about 11 litres and does not affect the size of the boot, as it is installed under the central tunnel between the front seats. The dual voltage system with a DC/DC converter from 48 to 12 volts manages the interface with the electrical architecture of the vehicle.
Markets[]
Europe[]
The Tonale has Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integrated into its user interface, which also has a 10.25-inch (260 mm) touchscreen. Regular versions of the car have 18-inch (460 mm) wheels, whilst a special edition sold at launch had 20-inch (510 mm) wheels along with other cosmetic changes. The plug-in hybrid version has less boot space than the non-plugin version.
North America[]
The Tonale for Canada will be released for the 2023 model year, with the option of a 2.0 L petrol turbocharged engine or a 1.3 L petrol plug-in hybrid engine. In the U.S. market, initially only the 2.0 L will be available.
Dodge Hornet[]
The Hornet was released in August 2022 for the U.S. and Canada. Compared to the Tonale, the Hornet received a restyled front end, headlights, and taillights. Priced below the Tonale, the Hornet R/T is a 1.3 L petrol plug-in hybrid, and the Hornet GT has a 2.0 L petrol turbocharged engine. They are built alongside the Tonale in Italy. Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis announced plans for a more powerful model, the Hornet GLH ("Goes Like Hell").
Gallery[]
Alfa Romeo Tonale
Dodge Hornet
See also[]
