Tonale PHEV joins Alfa Romeo line-up

JOINING two mild hybrid versions of the Alfa Romeo Tonale small SUV in October is a more powerful 208kW plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant with all-wheel drive, priced from $77,500 plus on-road costs.

If that sounds like a lot, it is because the plug-in Tonale commands a $21,100 premium over the front wheel drive MHEV Tonale Veloce model on which it is based.

Alfa Romeo has chosen to offer the Tonale Plug-In Hybrid Q4, to cite its official name, in top-spec Veloce trim only, with the suffix referring to it being equipped with the brand’s electrified Q4 all-wheel drive system that makes this the only four-paw Tonale available.

The Tonale marks Alfa’s first foray into electrification and lines up against other similar-sized premium European models including Audi’s Q3, the BMW X1 and X2. 

One model likely to make life hard for the Tonale is the Volvo XC40 that was until late last year also available as a PHEV and, in pure-electric form, starts from $500 less expensive than the plug-in Tonale. 

The 113-year-old Italian manufacturer says the Tonale PHEV “Is the latest extension to the Alfa Romeo Tonale line-up and a new charge of sportiness for Alfa Romeo”.

Underscoring this statement is the Tonale PHEV’s 0-100km/h sprint in 6.2 seconds, courtesy of a combined 208kW/470Nm outputs that are comparable with the best in class.  

Alfa claims that this vehicle is also its most fuel-efficient ever, offering up to 60km of fully-electric range and 34g/km of CO2 tailpipe emissions on the combined test cycle.

The vehicle marks the commencement of Alfa’s electrification program that will see most models gain electric assistance or fully electric powertrains.

Alfa says the Tonale PHEV is designed to meet the needs of customers who are looking for technology, comfort and safety in a sporty vehicle, in addition to high performance.

This is supported by the vehicle’s 7.4kW AC on-board charger and Type 2 charging port that enable simple domestic and public AC charging. Alfa says it takes less than 2.5 hours to fully charge the battery when hooked up to a 7.4kW charger.

Driver excitement is said to be enhanced by its e-AWD capable of instantaneously deploying 100 per cent of available torque from the electric motor to the rear axle.

Alfa says the 208kW Tonale’s PHEV technology is among the best in the electrified premium compact SUV market in terms of performance and range.

Multiple drive modes are provided including: Advanced Efficiency, Natural, Dynamic and ESC off.

Regenerative braking recovers energy during deceleration and light braking in all modes while the system switches to Natural mode when the battery reaches the minimum charge level regardless of the selected mode.

This is designed to enhance battery life and to extend the vehicle’s range.

A 132kW, 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine is coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission driving the front axle, with an electric motor generating up to 90kW and 250Nm on the rear, fed by a 306-volt, 15.5kWh lithium-ion battery

In conjunction with the introduction of the Tonale PHEV, the Alfa Romeo logo has been subtly reinterpreted to highlight the brand’s electrification. 

The newcomer is made in Italy at Alfa’s revamped Giambattista Vico plant in Pomigliano d’Arco, which the company says is one of the most advanced production plants in the automotive industry.

Colours available are: Alfa White, Alfa Red, Alfa Black, Vesuvio Grey Metallic, Misano Blue Metallic and Montreal Green.