Alfa Romeo Tonale Hybrid 160 Ti, the premium C-suv that was missing – testing by ANSA Motori

With the excitement of having the helpful Amazon Alexa app on board the new Alfa Romeo C-suv, it’s easy to get caught up and try using it to establish a conversation with Alfa Romeo. After all, all car manufacturers have their own soul, and therefore, they are also supposed to have their own “voice”. And Alexa could be the perfect tool for a user who liked this new model – as we were – to complement the Alfa Romeo, and above all to this exciting extension of the show, and now also the hybrid, which will meet the new needs. from clients.
However, we’ll never know if Alexa’s AI is able to enjoy this kind of dialogue, or rather the comparison between a machine and a human. Speaking of a pleasant experience behind the wheel of the Tonale isn’t actually part of the features that Amazon’s car-mounted voice assistant offers. With voice commands directed to Alexa, it is alternatively possible to constantly update the vehicle’s status – even from home if you have the system – by asking questions about fuel level, asking the last position of Tonale, to triggering remote door lock and unlock commands, and more. So much. And of course use Alexa, even from inside the car, to find a nearby restaurant, to set the lights or the air conditioning, all without getting distracted from driving.

However, there is one thing that is easy to share: the commitment that Alfa Romeo has put into making life on board fun and functional, whether the driver wants to exploit the sporty DNA of this premium C-suv, or whether the Tonale is used for daily commuting. For work as well as for leisure.
Once you get behind the wheel, you’ll notice (as standard) a new infotainment system that consists of two large screens – totaling 22.5 inches, which is a record in the segment – and an advanced, easy-to-have HMI (Human Machine Interface) for all the features at your fingertips. . Moreover, thanks to the customizable Android operating system and 4G connectivity with Over The Air (OTA) updates, the new infotainment system ensures constantly updated content, features and services.
The “Telescope” instruments are beautiful and easy to read as the historical analog indicators are replaced by a 12.3″ TFT screen which can also be reconfigured in Evolved, Relax and Heritage layouts.
Even the touch screen on the dashboard, inspired by the latest smartphones, allows it to be programmed according to the logic of the tools. Thus everyone can create their own homepage, where every feature is an application. This facilitates access to Alfa DNA (to select driving modes), radio, telephone, navigator, air conditioning, connected services and ADAS customizations.
Tonale technology, in the latter field, is an innovative technology in the service of safety and comfort, which is never considered invasive or likely in relation to humans.
There are new Level 2 autonomous driving systems that combine a front camera by monitoring the vehicle’s perimeter both longitudinally and laterally. But also Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (IACC) and Lane Centering (LC) systems.
The Autonomous Emergency Braking system with vulnerable road users is really useful, warning the driver of danger due to a pedestrian or cyclist and hitting the Tonale to a stop to avoid or mitigate collision. On request, Blind Spot Detection is available, which monitors rear blind spots, indicating which vehicles are approaching, and Rear Cross Lane Detection, which identifies vehicles approaching from the side when moving in reverse.
But the Tonale, like all Alfa Romeos cars, is above all a model that enhances the efficiency of electronic systems and connectivity, with its physicality, with the musculature that is the legacy of more than a hundred years of sports DNA. In the hybrid version the subject of our detailed test on the roads of Lazio, Umbria and Tuscany, the 1.5-cylinder 160 hp VGT (Variable Geometry Turbo) engine makes its exclusive debut, equipped with a variable geometry turbocharger and direct petrol injection at 350 bar. The car features front-wheel drive and a new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, incorporating a 15 kW, 55 Nm P2 48V electric motor that drives the wheels even when the turbocharged petrol is switched off.
This is a solution that translates into many EV features such as 100% electric starting, battery-only parking maneuvers (even urban travel at low speed) and above all during the hovering phase. This is the case when the Tonale advances on the highway due to inertia and saves a lot of gasoline. This list of features includes Silent Start; energy recovery; Boosting and loading point shifting; Electrical engine; electronic crawl: electronic launch; Electronic queuing and electronic waiting.
This is why the Tonale Hybrid VGT 160, with a top speed of 210 km/h and a 0-100 sprint in 8.8 seconds, is approved for a WLTP consumption of 5.7 – 6.3 liters per 100 km combined, with CO2 emissions being given in 130 g/km.