And because of industry efforts to save money at all cost through parts and technology sharing, it’s expected the new Tonale will be powered by an existing hybrid drive that already powers American cousin Jeep Renegade.
Leaked images on an Italian car forum show what is said to be a production ready car with most of the motor show edges smoothed out, leaving a very handsome SUV that’s perched on classic Quadrifoglio Verde wheels with styling features like headlights that hark back to a number of the brand’s legendary cars like the SZ .
Local Alfa Romeo spokesperson Lesley Sutton says it’s too early to say whether the model will appear on SA shores. Just like the Stelvio, the Tonale is named after a mountain pass road in Northern Italy and we can expect it be as tidy as its larger cousin when the roads get twisty.
The Tonale is said to be the result of a two-pronged market offensive by FCA, owner of the Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Jeep brands. Whereas the more mainstream Alfa Romeo will unleash the Tonale to fight in the upper-luxury compact crossover segment populated by the likes of VWs T-Cross, Kia Seltos and Renault Captur, cousin Maserati is in the conversation with a new high-end compact SUV to chase after Porsche’s Macan.