SPY PICS: Alfa Romeo Tonale back on track

The on-again, off-again Alfa Romeo Tonale is back on again, showing signs of growth after being paused for half a year.

Put on ice for a second time after new Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Phillippe Imparato wasn’t happy with the plug-in hybrid version’s integration, the Tonale is back testing on Italy’s roads.

Spy photos from Europe courtesy of Walter Vayr show the Tonale line astern with Alfa’s existing Stelvio, indicating the once-ingrown small SUV is running according to the rough schedule Imparato gave it when he pushed its production schedule back by three months.

That still means the Alfa Romeo Tonale won’t be in European showrooms until early 2022, even though it was meant to have been launched by now.

First revealed in concept form at the Geneva motor show in March 2019, before being leaked in production guise in October that year, the Alfa Romeo Tonale was originally intended for production in 2020 but then delayed until 2021 and is now expected on sale in Australia from late 2022 at the earliest.

These images also show Alfa’s second SUV and third model – following the axing of the Giulietta earlier this year, leaving Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV as its only two models – won’t be much smaller than the Stelvio.

While the Stelvio rides on a 2818mm wheelbase and measures about 4690mm long, 1900mm wide and 1650mm wide, the Tonale will be about 4.5 metres long but almost as wide and with shorter overhangs.

But while it may present a similar side profile, Alfa’s new compact SUV is based on the front/all-wheel drive Small Wide 4x4 platform under the Jeep Compass and the discontinued Jeep Renegade, rather than the more expensive rear/all-wheel drive Giorgio platform of the Giulia and Stelvio.

Alfa’s answer to the Audi Q2, BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA will be available with Stellantis’ electrified 177kW four-cylinder powertrain, which offers up to 50km of zero-emissions driving, making its Alfa’s first plug-in hybrid.

There will be no hot Quadrifoglio Verde version, though Alfa remains mum on what else the six-month production delay may deliver for its all-new baby SUV.

Due to be built at the Pomigliano d'Arco factory in Italy, the Tonale is likely to become Alfa’s best-seller, although there are rumours it could be joined by an even smaller SUV possibly called the Brennero.

Reports suggest it will be built in Poland, available in all-electric form and eventually also offered in Jeep, Fiat and Lancia flavours.