New Delhi: Italian brand Alfa Romeo Tonel is relaunching under the banner of its new owner, Stellantis. Now it has to change its fundamental approach to stay in the market. The new SUV, rivaling the Audi Q3 and the Volvo XC40, is not only the first model for Alfa Romeo to usher in this new era, but also its foray into electrification. According to Tonel CEO Jean-Philippe Imperato, after the beginning of this year, the brand will launch a new car every year till 2030.
Tonell, like Stelvio, is named after a famous Italian mountain pass. Alfa has designed the toenail keeping in mind the young segment of the consumer, but still some old elements have been added to maintain the brand identity.
These include the so-called ‘GT Line’, which runs from the rear to the headlights, as seen on the 8C Competition, and the 3+3 headlights, which refer to the 1989 SZ. The front also features the iconic ‘Trilobo’ nose and the distinctive ‘Scudetto’ shield. Alloy wheels are a modern take on the telephone-dial design that debuted in the 1960s on models such as the 33 Stradale.
The Tonel has all the technology one would expect in a premium SUV: a customizable home screen along with a digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster, 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, over-the-top Over the air (OTA) updates and driver assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control and traffic-jam assistance.
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Other features include built-in Amazon Alexa voice assistant and the ability to deliver parcels directly from Amazon to the car once the owner has unlocked it remotely. For now, the core Tonell range is made up of two electrified variants: a mild-hybrid powertrain with a choice of 130hp or 160hp, and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV).
Both the mild-hybrid variants use a four-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol engine mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and a 48V electric motor that allows start-up in electric mode, low-speed Active in driving and cruising.
The most powerful model in the line-up is the plug-in hybrid, with the Fiat 500’s 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine powering the front wheels, and an electric motor at the rear.
Using a 15.5kWh battery and delivering a total output of 275hp, the set-up achieves 0-100kph in 6.2 seconds. The PHEV model offers an electric-only range of between 60km and 80kn.
Alfa’s first fully electric model, a small SUV called the Brainero, will arrive in 2025, while a GTV-badged model, rumored to be an electric four-door coupe, is also expected in the line-up. In addition, there will be replacements for the existing Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV, as well as long-term plans for a sports car.