Alfa Romeo readying electric Audi Q2 rival

Alfa Romeo will launch its first pure-electric vehicle in 2022 – a small stylish SUV designed to go head to head with the Audi Q2 and Mercedes GLA.

According to

Set to join the current Alfa Romeo Stelvio and the smaller Alfa Romeo Tonale that's due in 2021, the third Alfa SUV is central to the Italian brand's plan to revive its fortunes by cashing in on the demand for high-riding vehicles.

Based on the same eCMP (common modular platform) as the new Peugeot 208, the electric Alfa is set to be powered by a single front-mounted motor but, unlike the French hatchback, the Italian SUV is expected to offer more power and a bigger battery than the little Peugeot, which has a 100kW motor and 50kWh lithium-ion cells.

As well as battery powered, the all-new small Alfa SUV could come with a range of efficient small turbo-petrol engines -- possibly including the same 1.2-litre PureTech that produces up to 97kW in the 208.

For some markets a 75kW 1.5-litre turbo-diesel could also be an option.

Thanks to its advanced underpinnings, from launch the small SUV should come equipped with plenty of semi-autonomous driving aids.

When the unnamed SUV lands as a belated replacement for the ageing MiTo hatch in 2022, Alfa Romeo will offer just four vehicles including the Giulia, Stelvio and Tonale.

Speaking to the Brit mag, an insider said the new pure-electric Alfa would "stay consistent to Alfa Romeo’s sportiness and use electric motors for a performance approach".

Hinting at more power and better handling than current Peugeots, the Alfa spokesman said that to emphasise the small SUV's performance, engineers are considering piping a fake soundtrack into the cabin.

“The idea isn’t to make fake sounds to recreate an internal combustion engine, because we won’t have fake things inside Alfas," he said.

"The idea is to create a specific sound to get emotion from both the driver and car. An advantage of an electric car is silence – if the customer wants to drive that way. But also the possibility of an aggressive mode.”

There's no official confirmation yet, but it's thought Alfa Romeo could unveil a concept version of the latest member of its growing SUV family early next year.