Alfa Romeo Tonale start of production confirmed for H2 2021

[Bili]

Yesterday was celebration of the 40th birthday of Fiat Panda at Giambattista Vico plant in Pomgliano d'Arco near Naples Italy.

During the event FCA EMEA COO Pietro Gorlier has put the end to rumors and confirmed Alfa Romeo Tonale production start for the 2nd half of 2021.

One interesting video:

Screenshots taken out of it:

 

[pumadog]

Even in CAD graphics that interiour looks a lot better than the clinic study prototype!

The confirmation for 1.5 years without a C segment Alfa in production is pretty sad though. I see worldwide Alfa sales below 40,000 for 2020-2021 coming… What made them decide to stop AR model development for 4-5 years after the Stelvio?

 

[Bili]

@pumadog

Most of projects are stolen by Maserati or frozen. For example Alfa 8C was planned for this year with presentation in June. Now it's known as Maserati MC20 and will be unveiled in May.
The decision came less than year and a half ago.
Or Alfa E-SUV which is was project directly related to a next Generation Grand Cherokee WL. It's on freeze. They can start development with immediate effect.

Both of these projects were frozen under guidance of Mike Manley. I have a feeling that under late Sergio this projects would have a go.
Now under duo of Manley and Gorlier I have a feeling that they've gave up (for the time being) of North American market and that all attention is on the Europe. Push for C and than B SUV segments. Most likely this year or the next one these two segments will both overtake compact hatch/sedan/SW segment in terms of volume.

Just imagine production start of ultimate track weapon during this year and than E segment SUV late this or early next with C SUV to follow.
I think that Alfa Romeo image would be a lot different.

I'm not the happiest person with recent decisions from FCA. And I can tell you that Maserati fans, and usually they have money, are not happy with MC20. They were hoping to get Ferrari based Alfieri. A proper car to take on Porsche 911. As we know Alfieri is cancelled. Alfa GTV and 8C are nowhere to be seen while we got plans for Maserati MC20 and new generation GT/GC.
Just a coincidence? I don't think so.

 

[pumadog]

Ok, that brand unrelated development was underway. But Alfa E-SUV and sports car wouldn't help European sales numbers much. Why did they neglect their biggest segment C?

One can only hope that Tavares believes in Alfa.

 

[Bili]

@pumadog

Such products would help with brand awareness, brand image. Such products could help with sales of other products like C or B SUV.

But for sure E segment SUV is the most important product for North American market. Are they abandoning North American market?

I can now start what's important for French or Italian markets... But I would not except for mentioning that Italian market is much less wealthy than some 15 years ago. It doesn't help with sales.

Speaking about this CAD. I'm not happy with this design. Floating infotainment screen, I can't see rotary knob for infotainment, and more or less Jeep Compass central tunnel design. #nothappy
At least central tunnel looks a bit wider in comparison to a Jeep Compass. We can only hope that this is not final product version.

 

[pumadog]

Hu, I don't see any central tunnel surface at all, it's totally open apart from the cup holder position. About the infotainment screen I also prefer an integrated design. But the Big benefit of this solution is flexibility for future size upgrades, instead of being stuck in outdated sizes as Mito and Giulietta were.

 

[Bili]

@pumadog

Central tunnel layout it... There. You can see where are cupholders. Than compare it to a Compass or Tonale as was used for clinic. Not much space for rotary knob. Of course if this is the final design.

Floating screen? Giulia and Stelvio doesn't have and AFAIK they are future proof for 10.25" screen although they are currently using 8.8". The issue can arise if some of competitors opt for 12.3".

Tonale is planned with a 10.25" infotainment screen. Let's say that I prefer a some sort of semi-floating design like on the new BMW 1 Series.

 

[pumadog]

Giulia and Stelvio doesn't have and AFAIK they are future proof for 10.25" screen although they are currently using 8.8".

Without changes to the dashboard? That would surprise me. Looks pretty close already at the top right corner of the screen.

 

[Bili]

Without changes to the dashboard? That would surprise me. Looks pretty close already at the top right corner of the screen.

There are already Chinese solutions which can be found on Ali Express with 10.25" screens for Stelvio. Didn't check for Giulia. And it was like 2 years ago.

 

[Bili]

 

[KrisW]

As far as I can see, The CAD model shows exactly the same cabin as shown in the "clinic" photos.

Looking at those pictures again, I see that the touchscreen and the row of AC switches in that clinic car are the same parts that will be used in 500e.

 

[pumadog]

I like those switches, but don't think that using such a central, visible part across brands is a good idea. Otherwise they have done it before with Giulietta's aircon control. Well, that CAD might be a "mule" version to play around.

 

[KrisW]

I like those switches, but don't think that using such a central, visible part across brands is a good idea

The different surrounds make the two parts look different, and the Alfa part may also be finished differently (matt rather than gloss, but it's hard to tell from such a low-res image).



This kind of re-use is much less obvious than the way the Giulietta's very distinctive AC controls kept appearing throughout FCA vehicles. (I'm also wrong about the touchscreen - the Tonale's is wider than the 500e model we've seen)

While I like differentiation for styling reasons, I think it's good ergonomics to standardise the control layout across cars... I'm also very happy to see real, physical buttons in the 500e cabin (even for the transmission: P,D,N,R buttons make more sense than the traditional lever when there's no mechanical linkage involved) - François's comments about "urban Tesla" had me worried that for cabin controls we'd be subjected to some phone app designer's idea of what ergonomics should be - all animation and no usability.

 

[pumadog]

I do agree with everything! Why do we see 3 controls for the seats? Left, right, rear? If Alfa goes for a traditional gear lever I hope for the one of the Giulia instead of the Compass Gummiknüppel.

 

[Bili]

@pumadog

Giulia doesn't have a mechanical linkage unlike Compass.

 

[Bili]

The different surrounds make the two parts look different, and the Alfa part may also be finished differently (matt rather than gloss, but it's hard to tell from such a low-res image).

View attachment 3346

This kind of re-use is much less obvious than the way the Giulietta's very distinctive AC controls kept appearing throughout FCA vehicles. (I'm also wrong about the touchscreen - the Tonale's is wider than the 500e model we've seen)

While I like differentiation for styling reasons, I think it's good ergonomics to standardise the control layout across cars... I'm also very happy to see real, physical buttons in the 500e cabin (even for the transmission: P,D,N,R buttons make more sense than the traditional lever when there's no mechanical linkage involved) - François's comments about "urban Tesla" had me worried that for cabin controls we'd be subjected to some phone app designer's idea of what ergonomics should be - all animation and no usability.

And this is a difference in comparison to PSA's execution. In PSA they are trying to produce unique interior for each brand.
I'm not sure that Alfa Romeo customer wants to see identical HVAC controls to any Fiat.

Screen size? I'm not sure that Tonale as is used for clinic had definitive version of infotainment screen. Besides angle of view can be deceiving. Did they use wide angle or telephoto lens for taking pictures.
FCA will not have infinite versions of 10" infotainment screen. For now they are just two. One should be 10.25" wide screen while the other one is 10.1" as is used on Pacifica MCA.

 

[KrisW]

I do agree with everything! Why do we see 3 controls for the seats? Left, right, rear? If Alfa goes for a traditional gear lever I hope for the one of the Giulia instead of the Compass Gummiknüppel.

The "Seat" buttons are for the ventilation: upper, middle and foot-well. (I thought the same as you at first)

The gear lever is unlikely to be same as Giulia, as that's a ZF part, but the Alfa automatics used a different gearknob with metal inlays (... and is "Knueppel" a euphemism for something else, there...? ).

@Bili unique interiors are possible while preserving common controls. There's a lot that can be done with surface treatment and inlays to make the same part look different..

 

[pumadog]

Ah, of course! Knüppel: That's to everyone's individual interpretation. Will the Tonale go for automatic transmission as standard?