The 2021 Alfa Romeo Tonale: The Stunning Hybrid Crossover We Need

It seems that Alfa Romeo is finally joining the hybrid party with their upcoming subcompact luxury crossover, the 2021 Alfa Romeo Tonale. We may have had to wait some time for this kind of offering from the Italian auto giant, but now it’s here, and we are sure that no one will be disappointed.

Image credit: carscoops.com

According to information from Alfa, the 2021 Tonale will embody all that’s best about the brand --- stunning design, fun driving and that Italian sense of adventure. In addition, we know that the Tonale will come with great driver seat height, AWD as an option and a huge amount of additional power and high-end features for the Quadrifoglio model, should Alfa add it to the top of the trim hierarchy.

Judging from images released so far, the 2021 Alfa Romeo Tonale promises gorgeous curves on the body and rear, with terrific, striking edges and symmetry at the front end. The distinctive 3-part angular grille, contemporary headlights and stunning metallic finishes are a wonder to behold. All of this is before we get to the alloys with that outstanding and powerful-looking circular pattern coming together to accentuate the star pattern in the middle.

Image credit: carscoops.com

Expected RRP is around AU$49,000, but no official announcement has been made as of yet. It’s clear that the main competition for the Tonale will be found in models like the Audi Q3, BMW X1, Volvo XC40 and similar high-end luxury crossovers. As a first hybrid offering, Alfa can expect a difficult contest, but information so far is showing a lot of plus points for the Tonale.

We know that the Tonale is going to be built on the Small Wide platform from FCA. This has already been used on the highly popular Jeep Compass and Renegade in the US market. Alfa Romeo have had some setbacks in the past over reliability, and after clawing back a lot of faith with the Giulia and Stelvio, they are looking to secure a brighter future with the Tonale.

One marked change we expect is that the Tonale will be FWD as standard, a departure from their usual rear-wheel design. As mentioned above, we fully expect AWD as an option that will be blow the competition wide open. A hybrid model will mean a rear-mounted electric motor assisting the combustion engine up front.

Image credit: carscoops.com

The interior concept images show that they’re continuing their steady evolution of the driver-centric dashboard. The Tonale appears to have a larger 12.3” digital instrument cluster. It also has a 3-spoke steering wheel, adding that athletic edge to the interior experience. The concept car also had an impressive 10.3” touchscreen infotainment system, so it’s reasonable to expect at least that as an available option in the production model.

We eagerly await more news on this amazing new offering from Alfa. The Tonale promises to accelerate Alfa’s global image as the go-to Italian brand for sporty luxury. Production is expected to commence in late 2021.