Alfa Romeo Teases The SUV It Needs To Fight BMW And Audi

Arrivederci, Tonale

Alfa Romeo might not be at the top of Stellantis' priority list at the moment, but the Italian automaker is at least getting some attention. Its parent company is still keen on refreshing the entire lineup before the end of the decade, though it will come at the cost of discontinuing a nameplate.

Up on the chopping block is the Tonale, Alfa's competitor for the usual Germans, namely the Audi Q3, BMW X1, and Mercedes-Benz GLA. It eventually spawned the Dodge Hornet as a lower-priced alternative, and that one wrapped up production earlier this year. Neither really produced the sales Stellantis would've hoped for in the U.S, and tariffs eventually got in the way.

With that, its legacy comes across as mixed. While it's keeping Alfa afloat in the U.S., its efforts were still not quite enough to make a real difference.

The Replacement is Coming

The Alfisti probably won't shed a tear for the Tonale, nor will it go down in history as one of the greatest models Alfa Romeo has produced. Still, the Italian automaker needs a volume model to survive, or at the very least, give Stellantis a good reason to stay under its wing. That's not going to be easy given the limited appeal and lineup.

With that, Alfa will have another crack at the small luxury crossover market with a new model. The company recently released a teaser photo of the future vehicle, though you won't see much beyond a section of its quarter panel and taillight. It doesn't have a name yet, either, but we're not banking on Tonale being reused in this case.

What to Expect

The yet-to-be-named crossover will ride on the STLA Medium platform. That means it'll share the same bones as the Peugeot 3008, Peugeot 5008, Opel/Vauxhall Grandland, and the new-generation Jeep Compass that still isn't available stateside. With that level of platform sharing, the Alfa version should be priced more competitively in a tough market, especially in Europe.

For this model, Alfa is taking a multi-powertrain approach by offering pure combustion, hybrid, and full-electric versions, which is one of the benefits of the STLA Medium platform. If we were to base it on the specs from the Euro-market Jeep Compass, this crossover can be available with a 1.2-liter mild-hybrid turbo three-cylinder with 145 hp, a 1.6-liter turbo plug-in hybrid with a combined output of 225 hp, and a pair of EVs with either 215 hp (single motor) or 375 hp (dual-motor).

It'll actually be a while before this model reaches customers. Per Alfa Romeo, the crossover will make its world premiere by late 2027, so this one will be for the 2028 model year. It was designed at the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo in Turin and was to be built at the Melfi plant in the province of Potenza in Southern Italy.

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