Alfa Romeo will launch the Tonale Hybrid compact SUV to the New Zealand market in February 2023, with a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) arriving later in the year.
Named after one of Italy’s highest mountain passes, the Tonale Hybrid offers classic tenets of Alfa Romeo design such as the V Scudetto Grille and available 20‐inch five‐hole wheels.
The Tonale Hybrid will be available in two trims – Ti and Veloce – which will arrive in New Zealand Dealerships from February 2023 priced from $59,990 and $66,990 respectively.
It is available to order now with a clean car rebate of $2,129 available.
“This is a very exciting time for the Alfa Romeo brand as we look ahead to a new era of electrification and connectivity,” Alfa Romeo New Zealand marketing and communication manager Sarah Williams says.
“The Tonale Hybrid features Italian design mixed with modern style and ingenuity that make this driver‐centric vehicle a one‐of‐a‐kind,” she says.
Featuring a 1.5L 4‐cylinder, petrol engine coupled with 7‐speed dual clutch transmission and a 48V battery, the Tonale Hybrid is a Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (mHEV) capable of producing 118kW at 5750rpm and 240Nm at 1500rpm.
The Variable Geometry Turbocharger enables the Tonale Hybrid to offer fuel economy of 5.6L/100km, with petrol performance while managing to meet stringent emissions regulations.
It has class‐exclusive capabilities of travelling under EV conditions at low speed and while parking (<15 km/h) and utilising the 48V battery to assist the vehicle with performance. It is capable of silent starts due to the 15kW electric motor and an energy recovery to the 48V 0.8kWh battery during periods of decelerating and braking.
The interior of the has been inspired by the successful racing history of Alfa Romeo. Sporty sophistication is apparent from every vantage point with the Alcantara® seats and impressive tech components such as the new Cannocchiale Digital Display.
The 12.3‐Inch TFT instrument cluster and 10.25‐Inch touchscreen infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, provide the driver access to ample amounts of information.
A 360° Surround View Camera is available with four cameras providing a full view of the vehicle and its surrounds. The driver can select one of four adjustable views when using the camera, to improve forward or rearward visibility.
The Level 2 Autonomous Driving utilises the front radar and camera as well as the Hands‐Off Detection (HOD) sensor on the steering wheel.
The ‘3+3’ headlights, with new full‐LED adaptive matrix were developed in conjunction with Marelli, make up a unique frontline for the car and simultaneously provide daylight, dynamic turn signals and a ‘welcome and goodbye’ feature (activated when the driver turns the car on or off).
The Tonale Hybrid sees the introduction of new lighting technology including; Adaptive Driving Beam which constantly adjusts the dipped headlights according to speed and specific driving conditions; Glare‐ Free High Beam Segmented Technology which automatically detects traffic in front and travelling in the opposite direction to avoid glare from other cars; a third module which is automatically activated when turning corners to ensure the best lateral lighting.
These technologies offer greater efficiency – in terms of durability and energy saving, with twice the light intensity of conventional halogen lamps and lower emissions – and improved safety, with less eye strain and better driving comfort.
Brake‐by‐Wire technology guarantees a strong pedal feel, immediate response and added safety benefits. Frequency Selective Dampers (FSD) improve the handling of Tonale Hybrid while retaining a comfortable ride. Koni is Alfa Romeo’s historical technological partner and has developed the FSD shock absorber for Tonale. FSDs are able to change the level of hydraulic shock damping via an additional frequency sensitive valve to compensate road surface inputs.
EuroNCAP have published a 5‐star safety rating for the Alfa Romeo Tonale Hybrid and it will be tested by ANCAP in early 2023.
