Introducing the Alfa Romeo Tonale in Malaysia: Not the Alfa your dad told you about
Arvind · Mar 10, 2024 12:00 PM
0
0
Alfa Romeo is a brand that is marked by a niche but passionate following in Malaysia, no less with a presence reaching back to the 1960s. However, it wasn’t without a chequered history of highs and lows, and a revolving door of local distributors that have all touted big plans only to fall short thereafter. The last was Sime Darby Auto Italia which dropped the brand back in 2013.
With the recent establishment of Stellantis Malaysia, there are telltale signs that the brand will be relaunched in Malaysia – where Stellantis recently stated “prospects of bringing in a wider range of vehicles from other brands under the Stellantis portfolio”.
Stellantis Malaysia's recent press image which shows the Alfa Romeo Tonale, far right.
A recent announcement by Stellantis Malaysia had a photo of an Alfa Romeo Tonale parked at the company's Gurun plant, that can't be accidental. An Alfa Romeo, at Stellantis Malaysia's plant, perhaps hinting at a future locally assembled (CKD) Alfa Romeo?
Where does the Alfa Romeo Tonale sit and its key rivals?
The Alfa Romeo Tonale is a 5-seater compact SUV which measures 4,528 mm in length, 1,841 mm in width and a height of 1,601 mm which for reference, puts it alongside competitors such as the BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA.
Its wheelbase measures 2636 mm, slightly shorter than that of the BMW X1, at 2,692 mm.
Within the current Alfa Romeo lineup, the Tonale slots in as the entry-level model of the range, beneath the Giulia sedan (a BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class competitor) and the Stelvio mid-sized SUV which rivals the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC.
The Tonale is offered with an all-new mild-hybrid powertrain (in two power output levels) and a range-topping plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version depending on the market.
The mild-hybrid variants are powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol 4-cylinder engine which is aided by a built-in 48V ‘P2’ electric motor.
The Tonale's turbocharged 1.5-litre mild-hybrid powertrain shown
Although Alfa Romeo refers to it as a hybrid, the Tonale is technically a 48V mild-hybrid (MHEV), with a belt-driven starter-generator (BSG). Full hybrids have a drive motor that's directly connected to the wheels. However, the Alfa Romeo's setup is a little different from other MHEVs. The BSG is quite powerful, at 20 PS and 55 Nm with a hybrid-like 0.8 kWh battery capacity. It can do standing starts in electric power alone, just like a full-hybrid.
The hybrid powertrains are offered in 130 PS and 160 PS versions, driving the front wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The Tonale's 1.3L MultiAir PHEV powertrain shown
The range-topping Tonale Q4 PHEV features a 1.3-litre turbocharged ‘MultiAir’ 4-cylinder engine, coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission to provide traction to the front axle, with an electric motor capable of supplying 122 PS and 250 Nm driving the rear wheels for a combined 280 PS and 520 Nm.
Fitted with a 15.5 kWh battery, the Tonale Q4 offers an electric driving range of up to 80 km and will accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 6.5 seconds.
The Tonale's key features and equipment?
Safety wise, the Tonale offers Level 2 autonomous driving capabilities, integrating Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (IACC) and Lane Centering (LC), Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Path Detection, and a 360-degree camera.
Being an Alfa, driving dynamics are not compromised; the Tonale is claimed to offer perfect (50:50) weight distribution and the most direct steering in its segment. Alongside, it features an Integrated Brake System (IBS) brake-by-wire system for greater response and optimised regenerative braking.
The suspension features a MacPherson and an innovative 3-arm setup at the rear. The Tonale can be specified with passive dampers with Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) or Dual Stage Valve electronic suspension co-developed with Marelli – a historic technology partner of Alfa Romeo.
How much is the Alfa Romeo Tonale and where is it built?
Having gone on sale in Europe towards the end of 2022, the Tonale is priced between GBP 36,000 (~RM 216k) and GBP 52,000 (~RM 312k) for the range-topping Q4 variant in the UK.
In comparison, the BMW X1 is priced between GBP 35,000 and GBP 49,000 in the UK.
The Alfa Romeo Tonale is built exclusively at the refurbished Giambattista Vico Stellantis plant in Naples, Italy.
What do the reviews of the Alfa Romeo Tonale say?
Top Gear’s review characterised the Tonale as a pragmatic choice for actual buyers rather than just fans of the brand. A different kind of Alfa Romeo that balances rationality with the brand's traditional appeal.
It offers a well-made, practical, and logically laid-out interior while maintaining enough Alfa Romeo character in its performance, driving dynamics and design to stand out from less engaging rivals. The Tonale could be an attractive option for those looking for a distinctive and fun-to-drive compact crossover with the added benefit of hybrid efficiency.
Autocar on the other hand says it’s a good-looking SUV “with above-average driving dynamics and long-distance comfort, and impressive multimedia, but just an okay powertrain and interior”. However, they remain sceptical if this ‘make-or-break model’ has the chops to turn Alfa Romeo’s fortunes around.
Though nothing has been confirmed for now, the Tonale's preview by Stellantis Malaysia to stakeholders is a telling sign. With the right products and market strategy, no less by the brand owners themselves, fingers crossed, we could finally see the return of the iconic Alfa Romeo brand in Malaysia.
Arvind can't remember a time when he didn't wheel around a HotWheels car. This love evolved into an interest in Tamiya and RC cars and finally the real deal 1:1 scale stuff. Passion finally lead to formal training in Mechanical Engineering. Instead of the bigger picture, he obsesses with the final drive ratio and spring rates of cars and spends the weekends wondering why a Perodua Myvi is so fast.
