Geneva was a big success with the concept, but can the road-going version attract buyers?
The Tonale, which Alfa Romeo must put on the market soon to join the larger Stelvio, is a perfect choice considering that crossovers and SUVs are all the rage. Although the compact model was shown off at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, it is a striking concept. However, unless you’re talking about the BMW, history shows that a production model seldom matches the showcar’s flair.
The road-going Tonale was conceived by INDAV Design. It has a more refined appearance with larger headlights than the original concept. The lower grille now has a pair fog lights, and the design is more appropriate for production models. The side cameras have been removed. Instead, the mirrors are now standard. Meanwhile, the pop-out handles on the front doors were replaced with regular ones. The “hidden” handles on the rear doors are still in use, as some Alfa Romeo models had them for many years.
The next rendering shows a new set of wheels that replace the 21-inch alloys in the concept. They have a retro-flavored design that mimics a dial phone wheel. Although the new shoes look slightly chunkier than the Alfa Romeo showcar, they are very Alfa Romeo.
We mentioned earlier that the headlights have a counterpart at the back, where the taillights are slightly larger than the concept’s rear clusters. These are not connected by a light bar at the tailgate, where the Alfa Romeo badge is located. An ordinary-looking exhaust tip replaced the flashy design of the concept and is more in line the Stelvio.
FCA will soon have the new compact crossover for sale if everything goes according the plan. The Tonale is Alfa Romeo’s most popular model. We do not know the exact specifications of the hybrid powertrain, but we do know that it will use the Jeep Renegade’s engine and Compass PHEVs.
Alfa’s product roadmap through the end 2022 states that there are plans to add a larger SUV to the Stelvio. The MiTo could make the transition to a crossover. The Stelvio will undergo a mid-cycle refresh, which will result in a longer-wheelbase Stelvio derivative.