5 Things I Learned About the 2023 Tonale from Alfa Romeo

If you spot one in your rearview mirror, there is no denying the sharp, downward pointed grill emblazoned with the iconic red, green, and blue emblem that is unlike any other in the automobile world: an Alfa Romeo. Their vehicles are still considered niche but the Italian born company is striving to change that and their latest showcase aiming to turn heads is called Tonale, a premium compact SUV that comes in an interesting plug-in hybrid flavor. It’s got the sleek curves of the Alfa Romeo family but this vehicle is poised to blaze its own path, possibly straight into the American consumer’s heart.

I recently got a sneak peek at the soon to be available Tonale and these are five things I learned about it.

1. First Things First: How do you pronounce Tonale?

I butcher names so I didn’t even attempt to pronounce this name out loud until I heard Larry Dominique pronounce it himself when he introduced the vehicle to a showroom full of Texas auto journalists. Larry is senior vice president, Head of Alfa Romeo and Fiat North America, so he certainly knew what he was talking about. Phonetically it sounds like Tone-ah-lee and once it rolls off the tongue it sounds quite sophisticated.

Named after an infamously high mountain pass in Italy, Tonale carries on a tradition of preserving it’s Italian heritage by joining a growing family of Alfa Romeo vehicles known for their luxurious craftsmanship and ability to perform on the track. Tonale’s big brother Stelvio is also named for an even higher mountain pass that carries the honor of being the highest paved mountain pass in the Eastern Alps. Alfa Romeo likes its mountain roads and we can’t blame them.

2, Tonale isn’t just a hybrid, it’s a plug in Hybrid

Alfa Romeo has pledged to go full electric across their lineup by 2025 and Tonale’s hybrid powertrain option is a step towards that direction. The hybrid Tonale features a 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor mounted on the rear axle. Rounding out the powertrain is a six-speed automatic transmission and a 15.5kwh lithium-ion battery. All together, the hybrid Tonale can generate 272 horsepower and its electric-only driving range tops off at 30 miles. 30 miles doesn’t sound like much, especially driving in a metroplex as large as my hometown of Dallas/Fort Worth. Although, apparently, the average American drives less than 30 miles a day.

Tonale also comes in a traditional gas powered, turbo charged engine variation, but the hybrid version sounds a bit more appealing on paper. Both versions – gas and hybrid – sit on an independent suspension and adaptive dampers are offered as options. You will have to plug in the hybrid version of the Tonale but it should offer an overall decent fuel economy over the gas engine.

3. With the Tonale, Alfa Romeo is reintroducing itself to a younger, hipper, and influential crowd

Alfa Romeo has been in existence for over 112 years but they still feel like an upstart, craft automobile company, producing a scarcity of vehicles catering to the discerning driver looking for a forgeign touch in both performance and design. However, Alfa Romeo wants to become more of a household name or at least a familiar brand with the average American car buyer looking for a new kind of premium vehicle. They’re targeting a specific portion of that market, too: young, hip and influential drivers.

If young and hip are what Alfa Romeo is going for, then the Tonale’s sleek design should go a long way in turning heads. The elegantly designed nose of the vehicle is what first catches the eye; it’s a bit snub-nosed but the previously mentioned spear of a grill creates an energetic facade that stands out on the road. The horizontal configuration of tails lights in the rear is a thing of beauty and Alfa Romero’s iconic circular patterned rims have me gawking every time I see them. Inside the Tonale’s cabin, the refinement of design continues, creating a modern cockpit full of bells and whistles. I’m pleased to find that while it contains an impressive digital gauge cluster, the dash is thankfully clear of a large, IPad like infotainment screen. Those monstrosities seem to be all the rage in hybrid and electric vehicles these days.

4. The D.N.A. of your driving style is Translated into the Tonale’s D.N.A.

A finely tuned driving experience is what Alfa Romeo is all about, so it should come at no surprised that there are multiple driving modes built into the Tonale, personalizing the drive to each driver. The name for such a driving mode selection system could have been named after another mountain pass but Alfa Romeo went the clever route and created an ingenious acronym: D.N.A.

The three driving modes that make up the DNA are Dynamic, Natural, and Advanced Efficiency or “All Weather Mode.” The driver switches between these modes by turning a dial located on the center console. These modes are the brainchild of Alfa Romeo engineers who created the technology to improve performance through subtle changes in the engine, transmission, suspension, handling, and brakes. Whether seeking a leisurely Sunday afternoon cruise or spirited rumble on a winding road, there is a driving mode to pair with your – dare we say – Dad Driver’s DNA.

5. Yes, it comes with an NFT.

I don’t pretend to fully understand what an NFT is or how it works but I do realize that the Tonale NFT could be a game changer. It’s one of the first vehicles coming to market that’s embracing this modern technology. The Tonale’s NFT works like this: the purchase of a new Alfa Romeo Tonale comes with a tethered NFT. Think of it as a “proof of ownership” or a digital baseball card that contains information about the Tonale that was purchased. Useful data like maintenance history will be tied to the NFT and it can be transferred from owner to owner if the Tonale is resold.

Alfa Romeo hasn’t yet released all the information about the Tonale’s NFT or the specifics of what blockchain it will utilize but one thing is for sure: the company is hoping to make waves in an area of car technology that is only beginning to be explored. Thinking of the Tonale’s NFT as a record of vehicle history is something I can wrap my brain around and automobile NFTS could be the way of the future. Then again, Alfa Romero’s target audience – a young, hipper crowd – have already embraced this new tech in droves and they will no doubt see the Tonale NFT as a badge of ownership/honor. Larry Dominique told us that a priority of his tenure will be to market more Alfa Romeo vehicles to the female side of the automotive customer base. Turns out, women purchase NFTs just as much as men do, so this NFT business may certainly be a valuable selling point.

Tonale, By Golly

The Alfa Romeo Tonale will go on sale sometime in early 2023 and there is certainly much more to learn about this suave entry into the premium SUV market. Pricing for instance – there is no official word on final pricing but to stay competitive, I’m expecting the Tonale to fall somewhere in the mid to high $30,000s for the base level trim. That would make the Tonale quite accessible for many car buyers while still maintaining a certain level of prestige. Like that mountain pass its named after, the Tonale, at its core, was imagined and built for everyone, but it takes a certain kind of driver to appreciate the experience.