Where can the new Alfa Romeo Tonale plug-in hybrid take you? Well, if you’re of an historical frame of mind, it can certainly transport you to the past. To a time when cars were elegant, with sweeping, fluid lines rather than abrasive geometric shapes. To a time when true beauty mattered more than Instagram clicks.
Alfa Romeo is a badge with more than 100 years behind it now, with a history of dominance in motor sport. The first Formula One World Championship was won by an Alfa Romeo. So was the second. Its road car innovation has a great pedigree. Stand-out moments include the 1950s Alfa 1900, was more like a 1960s car in terms of its tech, and the glorious 1970s Alfasud, which mixed pin-sharp handling with hatchback practicality.
The Tonale might be a modern car, but it hasn’t forgotten its heritage. Sit inside and press a button and the digital dashboard changes its layout to a photo-real recreation of the dials of a 1960s Alfa Romeo Giulia GTV. A small touch, perhaps, but one that speaks volumes.
Of course, the Tonale can take you to the future. Alfa Romeo is famous for its twin-cam, and later twin-spark, engines but the brand is rapidly becoming an electric one. In fact, by 2027, Alfa Romeo will be making nothing but fully electric cars, and this Tonale, with its plug-in hybrid system, is a major first step on that road. It’s a road Alfa Romeo will be driving quickly along — in fact, Alfa Romeo aims to be one of the fastest brands to get from where we are today to carbon-neutrality.
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If you fully charge the 15.5kWh battery, something you can do from a home charging point in about two-and-a-half hours, then you can drive the Tonale for as much as 56km on clean, silent electric power — probably a bit more, up to 80km, if most of your journeys are in and around town, where the lower speeds will help preserve battery range.
Let it take you to far-flung places
It’s a somewhat delicious feeling, driving a car that looks as sporty and dynamic as this, but doing so in complete silence, whizzing past bystanders who expect it to be noisy, and then are suitably surprised when it isn’t. You’re not only doing good, but you also feel good about it.
You’ll want to go further, though. An Alfa Romeo is never an ordinary car, always a thoroughbred so you’ll want to take it, and let it take you, to far-flung places and distant destinations.
The beauty of the plug-in hybrid system is that you can do that and do it with ease. When you’ve used up your 56km of electric range, the Tonale’s 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine wakes up, and combines with the electric system to provide you with 280hp, yet the combined CO2 emissions figure is just 29g/km. On a combined full tank and full battery, you should be able to go for 600km before you need to stop again.
Better yet, the four-wheel drive–with the rear-wheels powered by an electric motor, which saves weight, saves space, and saves fuel–means that our un-Italian weather needn’t interrupt proceedings.
Challenging the conventions of design
Alfa Romeo’s have always been amongst the most beautiful cars, whether we’re talking about the humble 1750cc Duetto Spider of the 1960s, or the astonishing T33 Stradale — half road car, half racing car, all about making any nearby Ferraris look pedestrian. But neither has the brand been afraid to challenge the conventions of design. For proof of that, see the astonishing SZ Coupe of the 1980s, or the more recent mid-engined 4C sports car.
The Tonale references both sides of Alfa Romeo’s design mind. It has the classical soft curves of the 1960s models, but those deep-set, three-element LED headlights are clearly a nod to the SZ, while the wonderful Teledial alloy wheels have been an Alfa Romeo hallmark since the 1970s.
Inside, you’ll find high-backed bucket seats that could have come straight from Sophia Loren’s living room. Speaking of living room, you’ll also find space for tall people in the back seats and a roomy and versatile boot which expands to furniture-fitting proportions when you fold down those back seats.
That’s what makes this Tonale such a great car: it can look both ways, to the past and the future. The past is reminiscent of racing glories and the curves of the traditional Italian carrozzeria, courtesy of the craftsmen and women who shaped aluminium and steel into complex, beautiful shapes by hand.
Transforming for the future
The future is electric, and the Tonale is already there, complete with a delightful little so-called Easter egg. That’s the green serpent on the badge, a symbol of Alfa Romeo’s home town of Milan, which in this model has become a snaking plug, signifying its plug-in capabilities.
Just as importantly, the Alfa Romeo Tonale looks to today, to the now. Underneath the beauty, behind the technology, lies a practical car, that feels every inch a premium product to drive.
It’s what is exciting John Saunders, managing director of Alfa Romeo in Ireland, and part of Gowan Auto. “Alfa Romeo has started a very exciting transformation, the brand has reached its first milestone in achieving zero emissions and full electrification by 2027,” he explains.
“Tonale represents the beginning of this metamorphosis with the introduction of both mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) technology to this iconic brand. Although Alfa Romeo are making considerable advancements towards a new era of connectivity and electrification it is important to note that we are also staying true to our DNA of Italian style and dynamic driving experience.”
“With a redefined look, Alfa Romeo continues to embrace a long-standing sporty heritage which spans more than a century, but keeps an eye on the future, with the Tonale representing the vision of sustainable technology and efficiency. We look to the future of the Alfa Romeo brand with immense excitement.”
With its electric range, its spirited performance when you need it, and more importantly its ability to give you long-range freedom, without the need to stop and charge-up on longer journeys, it means that as well as the past and the future, the Alfa Romeo Tonale can take you to that greatest of all destinations — wherever your whim decides.
Test drive the Alfa Romeo Tonale today at Alfa Romeo Ireland and learn more how you can take advantage of 4.9 per cent finance across the Alfa Romeo range or a three year Alfa Care service plan offer. All vehicle purchases come as standard with a complimentary Alfista Tribe Drivers Kit, regardless of which tactical offer is selected. T&Cs apply. Offer ends 31st July 2023.