Anticipated at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, a few months ago the Alfa Romeo Tonale saw its release “pushed” to 2022 without giving any exact date for its disclosure.
At the time, the order for the postponement came directly from Alfa Romeo's new chief executive, Jean-Philipe Imparato, who, according to Automotive News, was not particularly impressed by the performance of the plug-in hybrid variant.
Now, about six months after this postponement, it seems that the CEO of Alfa Romeo is already happier, at least that indicates the fact that the long-awaited transalpine model finally has a concrete date for its launch: March 2022.
a long gestation
Already “caught up” in a series of spy photos, the Alfa Romeo Tonale will be the first model from the Italian brand to be launched since the merger between FCA and PSA. For this reason, there are still many doubts about its mechanics, particularly with regard to the plug-in hybrid version.
On the one hand, being a model whose development began before the merger, everything would point to its plug-in hybrid version using the mechanics of the Jeep Compass (and Renegade) 4xe, models with which the new Italian SUV shares its platform ( Small Wide 4X4) and technology.
In the more powerful version (most likely to be used by the Tonale given the focus on performance boosted by Imparato), this plug-in hybrid system “houses” a front-mounted 180hp 1.3 Turbo gasoline engine with an electric motor. 60 hp mounted at the rear (which ensures all-wheel drive) to achieve a total of 240 hp of maximum combined power.
However, within the Stellantis “organ bank” there are more powerful plug-in hybrid mechanics. The Peugeot 3008 HYBRID4, a model developed under the aegis of Jean-Philipe Imparato, offers 300 hp of maximum combined power and there is also the Peugeot 508 PSE that sees its three engines (one combustion and two electric) deliver 360 hp.
Taking this into account, we would not be surprised to see the Tonale with one of these plug-in hybrid systems, the only thing left to wonder is if your platform is compatible with these or will “force” you to resort to the solution used by the first electrified Jeeps.