Alfa Romeo Tonale compact SUV hits Geneva
Dinky Alfa looks like a shrunken Stelvio and rides on the same platform as the Jeep Renegade
Alfa Romeo has announced its second SUV, the Tonale, at the Geneva Motor Show.
Though the compact model is only a near-production concept for now, the finished article is expected to look very similar – and will ride on the same platform as its American sister model, the Jeep Renegade.
The Tonale, like the Stelvio, takes its name from a mountain road – in this case the Tonale pass in Northern Italy.
Slotting into Alfa’s line-up below the Stelvio, the Tonale shares that model’s styling cues, including a bold nose with slim LED headlights, a long bonnet and the triangular Alfa Romeo grille given top billing.
Around the rear, the curvy rear end features similarly slender taillights – albeit they’re likely to be beefed up a bit for production models. Classic Alfa Romeo teledial alloy wheels feature on the concept, as well as hidden rear door handles.
Alfa hasn’t given any information on powertrains, but given that the Tonale shares its chassis with the Jeep Renegade it’s safe to expect a range of existing Fiat Chrysler powertrains, such as the 1.0-litre and 1.3-litre petrol units seen on the latest Fiat 500X. An electrified model could also follow, given the announcement of an all-electric Renegade elsewhere at the Geneva Show.
If produced, the Tonale will be entering a fiercely competitive segment. Rivals include Volkswagen’s T-Roc and the Audi Q2, not to mention the BMW X2, Lexus UX, Jaguar E-Pace, Mercedes GLA, Mini Countryman and Volvo XC40.
