The stunning Alfa Romeo Tonale will go into production in 2021.
At the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, Alfa Romeo unveiled the design of its upcoming compact crossover SUV in the form of the stunning Tonale concept.
At the concept unveiling, Alfa Romeo said that the Tonale will go into production by the end of 2022. We now know it will be late 2021.
"The new Alfa Romeo Tonale will go into production here in Pomigliano in the second half of 2021," Pietro Gorlier, chief operating officer for Europe and emerging markets at Alfa Romeo's parent company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, said in an interview published Monday. He told the Car Sales publication.
The Pomigliano plant in Pomigliano d'Arco, Italy, is responsible for Fiat's Panda subcompact SUV. However, the Tonale will not have the same suspension as the Panda. The original plan was to use the platform used in the Jeep Compass and Renegade, but due to FCA's merger with PSA Group, the Tonale will use PSA's CMP. The platform is expected to be used. Since this platform supports battery power, an EV is possible for the Tonale. A plug-in hybrid variant is also expected.
The Tonale, which will compete with the Audi Q3, BMW X2, and Mercedes-Benz GLA, is an important step in bringing Alfa Romeo's U.S. sales down to below 20,000 units last year.
Unfortunately, Alfa Romeo's future lineup will no longer see the previously announced mid-size SUV, GTV coupe, and 8C supercar. Following the announcement of the FCA and PSA merger last December, plans for these models have been canceled. The good news is that the Giulia sedan will be added to the lineup. Information on it should be unveiled today.