Alfa Romeo unveiled the Tonale concept about two and a half years ago, and yet the compact crossover still has not been presented in production guise. The official debut is slated to take place in 2022 and we’ve known for a while that a plug-in hybrid powertrain would serve as the range-topping trim level. That’s because a high-performance, gasoline-only Quadrifoglio version has already been ruled out by company officials.
In the meantime, Polish publication Autoblog claims to have received juicy details regarding the Tonale’s technical specifications. According to the report, the sub-Stelvio crossover will feature a gasoline engine driving the front axle working together with an electric motor powering the rear axle. The PHEV setup will give the sporty compact crossover a combined output of 240 horsepower and the benefit of having all-wheel drive as standard.
Details about the battery pack are not disclosed in the report, but for a PHEV arriving in 2022, anything less than 31 miles (50 kilometers) in the WLTP cycle would be regarded as unacceptable by most prospective buyers. After all, if Alfa Romeo wants to be seen as a fully fledged luxury brand, it needs to back up its premium aspirations with solid numbers, regardless of whether we’re talking about performance or efficiency.
Elsewhere, the report states the Tonale is going to come exclusively with an automatic transmission and four-cylinder engines. A turbocharged 1.3-liter gasoline mill is allegedly in the offing with 130 hp as well as in a more potent 160-hp specification with mild-hybrid technology. Despite the industry gradually moving away from diesels, especially in Europe, Alfa Romeo is rumored to offer a 1.6-liter oil-burner with 130 hp on tap.
Alfa Romeo’s third model after the Giulia and Stelvio is said to be 4,528 millimeters (178.2 inches) long, 1,835 millimeters (72.2 inches) wide, and 1,604 millimeters (63.1 inches) tall, with a wheelbase stretching at 2,636 millimeters (103.7 inches). The hotly anticipated Tonale will come in Super, Sprint, and Ti trim levels, plus a launch edition dubbed Speciale. The latter is going to feature all the bells and whistles, including matrix LED headlights, 20-inch wheels, and Alcantara inside its posh cabin.
The official reveal is apparently set for February when the order books will also be opened. The first customer deliveries will commence on June 4 in Europe. Based on the Jeep Compass, the Alfa Romeo Tonale is rumored to spawn a Dodge Hornet variant for the United States where it could be offered with the PHEV setup.
Source: Motor.es
