All-New Alfa Romeo Tonale Off To A Good Start!
United States & China Will Play Key Roles In Growth For The Italian Brand...
The all-new Alfa Romeo Tonale is off to a good start in Europe, with the most recent reports saying that the Italian marque has already taken more than 5,000 initial orders for the C-SUV. The Tonale is a key component to the renaissance being performed over at the Alfa Romeo brand, as the automaker looks to rapidly grow the brand globally. The Tonale takes on the world in one of the biggest and most competitive segments worldwide.
According to Alfa Romeo’s CEO, Jean-Phillipe Imparato, the Tonale is expected to take in 20,000 orders for 2022 and expect to grow to 45,000 in 2023. Those numbers seem to be reasonably in reach for the Italian brand. But while the European market is off to a good start for Tonale, the two key markets will be the United States and China.
The Tonale is expected to arrive in China by the end of the year, pushing its front-wheel-drive (FWD) turbocharged 1.5-liter mild-hybrid (mHEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Q4 all-wheel-drive powertrain options. It will be followed up by a North American launch in early 2023, focused on the United States. The North American model will feature the PHEV Q4 model, as well as a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder Q4 model.
However, the one question that remains will be just how the addition of the all-new 2023 Dodge Hornet C-SUV (a virtual clone of the Tonale) will cannibalize the Tonale’s market share in North America. Both models will feature similar powertrains and a majority of styling elements, as shown in recent spy shots. It is expected the real difference will lie between the equipment and material quality.
The Hornet will arrive in dealers in early 2023 and will be only offered in the North American marketplace. It is expected that Dodge will unveil the new C-SUV next month.
