Alfa Romeo’s stylish new Tonale hybrid has recently made its dynamic debut, gracing the roads at Tempio Voltiano around Lake Como, where Alessandro Volta invented the first battery.
While Alfa Romeo has radically evolved and launched itself into a new, technological, sustainable and electrified era, the new Tonale maintains the brand’s DNA of Italian sportiness and the functions and connectivity on board make it the most technological Alfa Romeo to date. It combines quality with dynamic features to reinvent sportiness in the 21st century.
Fitted with a range of efficient hybrid engines, the Alfa Romeo Tonale will be available in two trims for UK drivers – Ti and Veloce. Alfa Romeo will also offer an exclusive EDIZIONE SPECIALE version of the Tonale for the new model’s launch phase.
An exclusive for Alfa Romeo, the 160hp 48v Hybrid Variable-Geometry Turbo (VGT) engine is making its debut. The 1.5-litre petrol engine is paired with a seven-speed Alfa Romeo TCT dual-clutch transmission and the 48-volt 15 kW and 55 Nm P2 electric motor (135 Nm due to the 2.5:1 transmission ratio) and can propel the wheels even when the internal combustion engine is turned off. Thanks to this technical solution it is possible to travel in electric mode up to 15kW in every situation in which it is necessary, including driving at low speeds, parking and cruising, in order to provide an authentic hybrid driving experience.
The Alfa Romeo Tonale still maintains the performance credentials expected of the brand, capable of zero to 60mph in 8.8 seconds and on to a maximum speed of over 130mph.
Performance and efficiency
To maximise performance and efficiency, a second generation 48-volt lithium-ion high performance battery is used. Its 0.8 kWh capacity is more than twice that of batteries commonly used on BSG hybrid systems, while providing a high-power output of up to 22 kW. The new battery has a volume of about 11 litres and does not affect the size of the boot as it is installed under the central tunnel, between the front seats. The dual voltage system with DC/DC converter from 48 to 12 volts manages the interface with the electrical architecture of the vehicle.
Designed to optimise thermodynamics, and therefore to save on fuel consumption, the new four-cylinder turbocharged engine has a high compression ratio (12.5:1), a new cylinder head with compact combustion chamber, dual variable valve timing and special ‘high-tumble’ intake ducts.
This 160hp version is exclusive to Alfa Romeo. Thanks to a new variable-geometry turbocharger it can combine great responsiveness at lower speeds and high power for a sportier drive, all while maintaining a high level of efficiency.
Fully loaded
The new Tonale also provides customers with a range of features to enhance driving experience. Highlights include: Silent Start, to start up the vehicle using EV mode only; Energy Recovery, to recover energy that would otherwise be wasted as the car decelerates and during braking; Boost and Load Point Shift, e-Boosting allows increased torque on the wheels; and Electric Drive, enabling the vehicle to travel using only the electric motor.
Further functions are also available to prioritise the EV capabilities of the new Tonale. These include e-Creeping which uses the electric motor to provide the start-up normally available in vehicles with automatic transmission; e-Launch, to start the vehicle using only the electric motor; e-Queueing, for the car to keep going in a traffic jam, in a stop and go pattern and e-Parking, to simplify parking manoeuvres.
NFT technology first
In a worldwide exclusive, NFT technology makes its debut in the Tonale. An entirely new feature in the automotive sector, Alfa Romeo is the first manufacturer to link an NFT digital certificate to a vehicle. The technology is based on the concept of the blockchain card, a confidential and unmodifiable digital register where the main information of each vehicle gets recorded. Based on the customer’s selection, the NFT generates a certification in which the data of the vehicle’s lifetime gets recorded.
This certification can be used to ensure that the vehicle has been well-maintained and therefore supports its residual value. The NFT verification is seen on the pre-owned car market as a further source of credibility which aids the owner/reseller, but also reassures the buyer when choosing a second-hand vehicle.
Technology rich
The Tonale adopts next-generation electronic architecture. Standing out among the technological innovations, Alexa built-in-voice AI provides the convenience of hands-free, voice-initiated interactions, making it easier to keep hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. By simply asking Alexa, Tonale customers can control vehicle functions including playing music, listening to audiobooks, getting directions, checking traffic, managing their smart home devices and more.
With the Alexa ‘MyAlfa’ skill, customers can also receive ongoing updates on vehicle status from the comfort of their home. For example, you can find out the level of charge and/or fuel, search for points of interest, find the car’s latest location, send remote locking and unlocking commands and much more.
There is also the standard, brand-new, built-in infotainment system which offers content, functionality and up-to-date services thanks to the customisable Android operating system and the 4G connectivity with Over The Air (OTA) updates. The system is made up of a 12.3-inch digital screen and a 10.25-inch main touchscreen which, with a total size of 22.5-inch, is the largest in the segment.
The sophisticated and fluid multitasking interface allows the driver to have all the information within view without taking one’s eyes off the road, providing a smartphone-like experience, and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality as standard.
A dynamic drive
The Alfa Romeo Tonale offers maximum driving pleasure thanks to specific technical solutions. One element that contributed to this goal was the perfect weight distribution between the two axles – specific to the Alfa Romeo tradition of construction – which required special management of mass and materials, carried out both by working on the car’s layout and by placing all the heavier components as centrally as possible. The Tonale versions equipped with front-wheel drive use the excellent balance of masses to optimise torque delivery on the ground and handling through corners.
The steering ratio (13.6) enhances the engaging and instinctive driving experience in any situation and at any speed. The adoption of the geometry in the independent front suspension reduces rebound in a natural way, accentuating the precise and intuitive steering feeling, limiting the application of software filtering and optimising control of front wheel steering. The sportiness is further enhanced by the aluminium shift paddles: a hallmark of the brand and a one-off in this class.
Unique in its class, the new Alfa Romeo Tonale adopts the Integrated Brake System (IBS), an innovative electromechanical system that combines stability control with conventional servo brakes. The system guarantees instantaneous brake response thanks to the integration between electronics and mechanics, together with significant weight optimisation, optimal feeling and the total absence of pedal vibrations. In addition, the IBS manages the blending between regenerative braking (to maximise energy recovery) and dissipative braking (achieved through the braking system), in a manner totally undetectable to the driver.
Two driving modes are available: Comfort and Sport. Comfort ensures the smoothest performance on uneven roads, while Sport mode predominates in the D.N.A. Dynamic and ESC Off selections, which reduces body movements and increases vertical rigidity, aimed at improved vehicle dynamics in corners. Finally, by pressing the dedicated button on the DNA selector, the calibration of Dynamic mode can be activated or deactivated.
Comfort and well-being on board
Along with a spacious interior, comfort and well-being for everyone on board is further ensured by its dual-zone air conditioning, sophisticated infotainment system, ventilated and heated front seats and a 14-speaker sound system by Harman Kardon. The new model includes an electric tailgate and a wireless charging pad in front of the gear stick, to place and charge your smartphone in total safety for the highest experience in comfort.
The Tonale is one of the few models in its class to offer the Semi-Automatic Parking system, which indicates the space available to park in and completes the car’s entry and exit manoeuvres itself.
For more information on the Alfa Romeo Tonale, visit alfaromeo.co.uk/models/tonale.
