The C-segment SUV from Alfa Romeo, the Tonale Hybrid has been fleshed out for the European market.
Back in February, Alfa Romeo revealed the Tonale, their C-segment SUV entry with electrification at its heart. Last week, the Tonale made its debut on the road around Lake Como, where Alessandro Volta invented the first battery. They also revealed the specifications of the Tonale for the UK market, which ought to preview what grey market cars will look like once they arrive in Malaysia in about a year.
For the UK market, there will be two trim levels, the Tonale Ti and the Tonale Veloce. For a short while, there will be an exclusive Edizione Speciale.
The powertrain of these variants will be a 1.5L petrol engine with a variable geometry turbo and a 48-volt mild hybrid system. Power gets sent to the front wheels via a 7-speed TCT dual-clutch transmission. The entire system has an output of 160hp. The Tonale can be driven on pure electric power at low speeds via its 15kW and 55Nm ‘P2’ electric motor.
Despite the relatively small engine and electric motor, the Alfa Romeo Tonale still goes from 0-100km/h in about 8.8 seconds and has a top speed of 209km/h. A 0.8 kWh battery is housed in the central tunnel between the front seats to power the 48-volt system. A belt-started generator ensures fast and smooth transitions to petrol power. An electronic self-locking differential is standard.
The Alfa Romeo Tonale has the following features:
- Silent Start, to start up the vehicle using EV mode only
- Energy Recovery, to recover energy that would otherwise be wasted as the car decelerates (e-coasting) and during braking (regenerative braking)
- Boost & Load Point Shift, e-Boosting allows increased torque on the wheels; by calibrating the (engine or braking) torque delivered by the electric motor, it can optimise the operating point of the petrol engine
- Electric Drive, enabling the vehicle to travel using only the electric motor
Further functions are also available to prioritise the EV capabilities of the new Tonale:
- e-Creeping uses the electric motor to provide the start-up normally available in vehicles with automatic transmission, at a speed that can vary from zero mph to the equivalent of the petrol engine idling in first gear, or in reverse
- e-Launch, to start the vehicle using only the electric motor
- e-Queueing, for the car to keep going in a traffic jam, in a stop and go pattern
- e-Parking, to simplify parking manoeuvres, making them practical and quiet
The Tonale is jam-packed with the latest Stellantis has to offer. This includes over-the-air updates via 4G connectivity, a 12.3″ digital instrument cluster, a 10.25″ infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. A 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system is fitted.
Dual-zone air conditioning, ventilated and heated front seats, an electric tailgate and a Qi charging pad are all part of the kit list.
ADAS is equipped as well, allowing for active cruise control, lane centring and more. Semi-automatic parking is present too.
