On Tuesday (February 8, 2022), Alfa Romeo officially released a brand new model, the Tonale. The new model, positioned in a compact SUV, is not only the second SUV under the Alfa Romeo brand, but also the first plug-in hybrid model under the Alfa Romeo brand because it offers a plug-in hybrid system in terms of power. Today, many automotive companies are already on the road to electrification transformation; does the launch of Tonale mean that Alpha Romeo has also begun to make compromises in the era of electrification? In this issue of "There is one to say", let's talk about this matter together.
※ From concept to mass production, it takes up to three years to conceive
(1) In March 2019, the concept version was released for the first time
In March 2019, the 89th Geneva International Motor Show opened as scheduled, and Alfa Romeo unveiled a concept version of its first compact SUV model, the Tonale, which was the first time the name Tonale appeared in the public eye. The Tonale is the second SUV model launched by the Alfa Romeo brand, and according to the information learned at the time, Alfa Romeo Tonale will be based on the platform architecture of Jeep Liberty and Fiat 500X, and will replace the position of Alfa Romeo Giulietta, which was still on sale at the time, after official mass production.
Ref: Exterior of the Alfa Romeo Tonale concept car released during the 89th Geneva International Motor Show in March 2019
Ref: Exterior of the Alfa Romeo Tomale concept car released during the 89th Geneva International Motor Show in March 2019
Ref: Interior of the Alfa Romeo Tonale concept car released during the 89th Geneva International Motor Show in March 2019
(2) In November 2019, FCA and PSA announced a merger
Just 8 months after the debut of the Alfa Romeo Tonale concept car, in November 2019, Alpha Romeo's parent company, Fiat Chrysler (FCA) and the Symbol Citroen Group (PSA), officially announced that the Fiat Chrysler (FCA) Supervisory Board and the Flag Citroen Group (PSA) Board of Directors agreed that the two companies would achieve a full merger in a 50:50 manner, when the world's fourth largest automobile group company would be born. It is second only to Volkswagen Jiji, Toyota, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance.
Shortly after the announcement, Fiat Chrysler (FCA) Group CEO Mike Manley said on the group's third-quarter conference call that As funding is reduced, Alpha Romeo's R&D spending will be cut accordingly; and Alfa Romeo's products will be divided into four models in the future, including Giulia, Stelvio, Tonale, and a suspected small SUV model.
You know, in the future product plan announced by Fiat Chrysler (FCA) in 2018, it was revealed that it would resurrect the classic sports cars ALFA GTV and ALFA 8C, and would launch a long-wheelbase version of Giulia, Stelvio and a medium-sized SUV, as shown in the following figure:
Ref: Fiat Chrysler (FCA) announced future product planning in 2018
However, according to CEO Mike Manley's statement on the group's third quarter 2019 conference call, combined with the future product plan announced by FCA in the third quarter of 2019 financial report, the project to resurrect ALFA GTV and ALFA 8C will be shelved, and The Giulietta and a medium-sized SUV will not be released for the time being.
The Giulia and Stelvio models, which were on sale at the time, will be revamped in mid-term in 2021, but will not be launched in a long wheelbase version. In addition, Alfa Romeo also plans to launch two new energy models, including the production version of tonale that will be released in 2021, and a pure electric small SUV that is suspected to be released in 2022. Note that at this time, fiat Chrysler (FCA) plans for the production version of The Alpha Romeo Tonale model will be released in 2021.
Ref: Future product planning announced by Fiat Chrysler (FCA) in its third quarter 2019 earnings report
Tip: On January 16, 2021, the merger of Fiat Chrysler (FCA) and the Logo Citroën Group (PSA) was officially completed, and the two parties officially became a new group, Stellantis. It is reported that the name comes from Latin, literally translated as "illuminated stars".
(3) In December 2019, the platform was changed
In December 2019, overseas media announced that Fiat Chrysler (FCA) and Logo Citroen Group (PSA) would share their existing technologies and model platforms after the merger; and according to the latest news at the time, Symbol Citroën Group (PSA) wanted to suspend the Alpha Romeo Tonale project that was close to mass production and transfer it to the CMP (also known as EMMP1) platform of The Logo Citroën Group (PSA) for production. Until then, Alfa Romeo Tonale's production model was thought to be based on the Fiat Chrysler (FCA) Small Wide 4×4 platform used by the Jeep Liberty and the Fiat 500X.
Ref: PSA's CMP (also known as EMP1, Small Car Platform) and EMP2 Platform (Compact/Midsize Car Platform)
Although objectively speaking, the CMP (also known as EMP1, small car platform) and EMP2 platform (compact/medium-sized car platform) provided by the logo Citroën Group (PSA) have more lightweight technologies and material applications, and at the same time, the new energy power system including plug-in hybrid and pure electric power systems have been adapted, and on the whole, it is more advanced than the model platform of Fiat Chrysler (FCA), but the alpha · The news that Romeo Tonale will replace the model platform for production does not seem to have been further confirmed by the authorities, and few other media have mentioned it since.
(4) In April 2021, the release time will continue to be postponed in pursuit of superior performance
By April 2021, overseas media reported that Alfa Romeo's new CEO, Jean-Philippe Imparato, hoped that the Tonale compact SUV would have better performance and needed to improve the vehicle's plug-in hybrid system, so the car may be postponed until early 2022.
Whether this news is true or not, at least from the actual situation later, The production version of Alfa Romeo Tonale ultimately failed to launch in 2021, as originally planned, and finally waited until early February 2022 to finally be officially released.
It was also reported that Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato also claimed that some models in the future will use the STAL large platform. It also stressed that the company's top management hopes that all of Alfa Romeo's future models will provide some form of electrification, including plug-in hybrids. It can be seen that Alfa Romeo's relatively firm determination to transition to electrification began almost in April 2021.
(5) In July 2021, it was officially determined that a plug-in hybrid system would be introduced
In July 2021, Alfa Romeo's new CEO, Jean-Philippe Imparato, confirmed at a meeting with senior executives at the G.B. Vico plant in Pomigliano D'Arco, southern Italy, that Alfa Romeo Tonale would launch a plug-in hybrid version and become the first plug-in hybrid model in Alfa Romeo's portfolio. At this point, the introduction of a plug-in hybrid system by Alpha Romeo Tonale has been officially confirmed.
(6) In February 2022, the mass production version was officially released
Since July 2021, after the exposure of road test spy photos, the exposure of interior spy photos, and the official announcement of trailers, this Tuesday (February 8, 2022), Alfa Romeo Tonale's mass production version finally ushered in the official release. It's been almost three years since the Alfa Romeo Tonale concept debuted at the 89th Geneva International Motor Show.
Ref: Alfa Romeo Tonale production edition
From the outside, The Alpha Romeo Tonale headlights feature a rather individual daytime running headlight, a three-stage wavy design that is very attractive, and the chrome trim of the family's iconic inverted triangle grille looks quite sporty; the front surround and air intake design is also sharp.
On the side of the body, Alfa Romeo Tonale's roof line is more fluid, the front and rear fenders are more prominent, the wheel rim adopts a classic five-hole design and another new "Y" shape five-spoke style, the overall feeling is more dynamic.
At the rear of the vehicle, Alfa Romeo Tonale's taillight set is similar to the headlights design and is equipped with a small roof spoiler to improve the recognition of the new car, while the new car still uses a hidden exhaust layout.
In the interior, Alfa Romeo Tonale continues the design of the Alpha Romeo family, the full LCD instrument panel is not absent, and with a three-spoke multi-function steering wheel; the central control multimedia display adopts a suspension design, retaining part of the physical physical buttons and driving mode selection knobs below, the design of the gear lever is more traditional, and the overall collocation looks full of technology.
References: Alfa Romeo Tonale production edition powered at a glance
In terms of power, Alfa Romeo Tonale offers a variety of engine versions including gasoline and diesel, of which the gasoline engine will be available in 130 hp and 160 hp versions, and will be equipped with a 48V micromix system, matching a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission; the diesel version will be equipped with a 1.6T diesel engine with a maximum power of 130 horsepower; and the plug-in hybrid version will appear as a top model, will be equipped with a four-wheel drive system, the maximum power of the system can reach about 278 horsepower.
※ Tonale's position in Alfa Romeo's existing and future product planning
Back in early August 2021, Alfa Romeo, a brand owned by stellantis Group (a new company formed after the merger of Fiat Chrysler (FCA) and The Iconic Citroën Group (PSA), as we mentioned earlier, said it would accelerate the pace of electrification. It is reported that Alfa Romeo's comprehensive electrification transformation includes three regions in Europe, North America and China, and it is possible to become a pure electric car brand in 2027.
Since Alfa Romeo's compact hatchback Giulietta was discontinued in Q1 2020, only Giulia and Stelvio remain on sale. However, some overseas media have said that these two models may face elimination in 2027. Therefore, Alfa Romeo must launch new model products as soon as possible to ensure the normal continuation of the product line.
Ref: Alfa Romeo Giulietta, discontinued in Q1 2020
Ref: 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2.0T 280HP Deluxe Edition
Ref: 2021 Alpha Romeo Giulia 2.0T 280HP Deluxe Edition
In addition to the release of tonale, it is reported that the Alfa Romeo brand will launch a new car every year for the next five years, and there will be four electric models by 2024. Among them, Alfa Romeo plans to launch a new SUV model in the second half of 2023, which will be built on the new "STLA Small" platform of the Stellantis Group, currently named "Brenner", overseas positioned "B-SUV", and is expected to be a small SUV positioned under the Tonale. In terms of power, the new car, named Brenner, will be available in fuel, plug-in hybrid and even pure electric.
References: Previous renderings by Alpha Romeo Brenner drawn by an extrovert
In addition, according to overseas media reports, the classic sports car ALFA GTV, which was discontinued as early as 2005, is still expected to be revived. However, after the resurrection, the ALFA GTV may become a pure electric vehicle model, and its positioning will be a flagship product of a pure electric four-door coupe model, using pure electric drive, or will form a competitive relationship with BMW i4, Mercedes-Benz EQS and other models.
Ref: Leaked image of the resurrected GTV appearance that was exposed by overseas media in November 2019
So, when it comes to this, if anyone asks, what is the position of tonale in The current and future product planning of Alfa Romeo? The answer is already clear, that is, the status of "inheriting the past and starting the future".
As the brand's first plug-in hybrid model, The Alpha Romeo Tonale, positioned in a compact SUV, ignited the fuse of Alfa Romeo's comprehensive electrification transformation, which means that Alfa Romeo's comprehensive electrification transformation has finally begun to take root.
※ Editor's Comments:
Based on the information currently understood, Alfa Romeo Tonale is expected to be the first to complete deliveries in overseas markets in June this year. However, in the face of the world's largest automobile consumer market, I believe that whether it is the Alfa Romeo brand or the entire Stellantis Group, it will certainly not ignore the importance of the Chinese car market. Therefore, it is only a matter of time before Alpha Romeo Tonale will still be introduced to domestic sales in the future.
As for whether Alfa Romeo's introduction of the Tonale, especially the introduction of a plug-in hybrid system for the car, is a compromise with the times, is it still necessary to ask? Obviously, this is just the normal operation of the Alfa Romeo brand to adapt to the needs of the times and keep pace with the times.