Alfa Romeo planning two smaller SUVs

Alfa Romeo is developing not one but two all-new small SUVs to slot below its Stelvio mid-size SUV.

Confirmation of the two volume-selling SUV models came yesterday during an earnings call by parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), following last week’s confirmation it will merge with France’s PSA Group, owner of Peugeot, Citroen and Opel.

As we’ve reported, FCA’s latest business strategy for Alfa Romeo scraps last year’s five-year product plan to reincarnate GTV and 8C sports cars and produce all-new large and small SUVs.

Instead, it rationalises the Alfa Romeo range to just four models, including the existing Giorgio platform-based mid-size Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV, which will both receive a midlife facelift in 2021.

The other two models are both small SUVs and there’s now no sign of a new 4C sports car or Giulietta hatch.

According to FCA’s new plan for Alfa Romeo, the first new SUV to appear – in 2021 – will be the small SUV already previewed by the Alfa Romeo Tonale concept in March (pictyred here in red) and revealed via leaked images in October (pictured at the bottom in silver).

Referred to as a C-UV -- and therefore a direct rival for the Audi Q3 and BMW X1, both priced from around $45,000 -- the Tonale will be available with regular and plug-in hybrid powertrains.

It will be positioned below the Stelvio (from $64,900) and could become Alfa’s best-seller.

Also appearing in a slide shown at the FCA earnings call, the smaller new Alfa is referred to as B-UV, meaning the unnamed mini-SUV should be similar in size to the Audi Q2 or Lexus UX200.

Due to enter production in 2022, the all-new compact SUV will be offered with combustion engines and also a fully-electric powertrain – or BEV (battery electric vehicle) as FCA calls it.

What's not yet clear is the platform architecture/s that will underpin the new compact models. Both could be based on the FCA Small Wide 4x4 platform the underpins the Fiat 500X and Jeep Renegade. But given the smaller SUV will come in an EV version, it could leverage PSA's small e-CMP platform.

Both the Alfa Romeo Tonale and its baby brother will be offered with the brand's next-gen infotainment system that will debut in the facelifted 2021 Stelvio and Giulia.

A larger, more functional 10.2-inch touch-screen will take care of infotainment duties and the new models will also be available with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

But among the casualties of Alfa Romeo's new focus on profit-making SUVs are the Giulia-ased, 400kW all-wheel drive GTV coupe and the larger 8C coupe, which FCA said in 2018 would be based around a carbon-fibre monocoque platform, powered by a mid-mounted 520kW-plus twin-turbo engine and an electrified front axle and accelerate to 100km/h in less than three seconds.

Also apparently eliminated are plans for a large flagship SUV expected to be called the Castello, along with Alfa’s existing Giulietta hatch and 4C coupe and convertible.

The Alfa Romeo 4C was built at the same Modena factory as the Maserati GranTurismo and GranCabrio, a factory that is already being retooled to build Maserati’s new electrified sports car.

The Trident brand has also promised an all-new mid-size Maserati SUV to slot beneath the Levante and replacements for the GranTurismo coupe and GanCabrio convertible, but it’s unclear whether those plans will be affected by the FCA-PSA merger.

Alfa Romeo's Australian division would not comment on the ramifications of the product changes for the local market, where it says the 4C remains available for now.