Alfa Romeo today – a hallowed brand that should be doing so much better in our
market. I recently drove their new small and stylish Tonale SUV. Launched last
year and already Alfa Romeo’s best seller. This stylish mild hybrid compact
premium SUV really impressed. Alfa Romeo Aust. has now added a full plug-in
hybrid or PHEV version of the Tonale. Plug in hybrids offer affordable electric
power for the daily work commute, around 60km’s, and petrol power perhaps for
the sportier weekend drive. Petrol power drives the front wheels, electric power
the rear wheels and there’s no physical connection between the two. This plug-in
Hybrid Tonale comes only in Veloce grade at $88,200 drive-away, a $20,000 lift
over the similarly specified mild hybrid Tonale – like several other plug-in hybrids
or PHEVs from European importers it’s enough to make you think twice about
purchase. On the plus side the interior is a standout, so too the dashboard and
ergonomics, in a roomy four-seat cabin although boot space a little inhibited due
to the rear mounted battery. There’s nice finishes and a stack of driver assist,
comfort and convenience features but the high price is limiting. On the other
hand, the drive experience excellent – details next segment. I’m David Berthon

Alfa Romeo today – a hallowed brand that should be doing so much better in our market. I recently drove their new small and stylish Tonale SUV. Launched last year and already Alfa Romeo’s best seller. This stylish mild hybrid compact premium SUV really impressed. Alfa Romeo Aust. has now added a full plug-in hybrid or PHEV version of the Tonale. Plug in hybrids offer affordable electric power for the daily work commute, around 60km’s, and petrol power perhaps for the sportier weekend drive. Petrol power drives the front wheels, electric power the rear wheels and there’s no physical connection between the two. This plug-in Hybrid Tonale comes only in Veloce grade at $88,200 drive-away, a $20,000 lift over the similarly specified mild hybrid Tonale – like several other plug-in hybrids or PHEVs from European importers it’s enough to make you think twice about purchase. On the plus side the interior is a standout, so too the dashboard and ergonomics, in a roomy four-seat cabin although boot space a little inhibited due to the rear mounted battery. There’s nice finishes and a stack of driver assist, comfort and convenience features but the high price is limiting. On the other hand, the drive experience excellent – details next segment. I’m David Berthon

A weekly show with all the latest information and news in the motoring industry. Hosted by 2GB's very own motoring corespondent David Berthon. 

For more engaging content visit the 2GB website, or listen live to 2GB 873.

A weekly show with all the latest information and news in the motoring industry. Hosted by 2GB's very own motoring corespondent David Berthon.&nbsp;
For more engaging content visit the 2GB website, or listen live to 2GB 873.

Motor Torque with David Berthon

A weekly show with all the latest information and news in the motoring industry. Hosted by 2GB's very own motoring corespondent David Berthon. 

For more engaging content visit the 2GB website, or listen live to 2GB 873 

A weekly show with all the latest information and news in the motoring industry. Hosted by 2GB's very own motoring corespondent David Berthon.&nbsp;
For more engaging content visit the 2GB website, or listen live to 2GB 873&nbsp;

Alfa Romeo's Tonale plugin hybrid PHEV SUV - interesting small premium SUV with Italian flair

Driving the new plug-in hybrid or PHEV version of Alfa-Romeo’s compact Tonale
SUV, available only in the high grade Veloce at $88,200 drive-away, a not
insignificant $20,000 more than the similarly specified mild-hybrid Veloce. The
plug-in hybrid Tonale mates a 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine and six-speed
automatic driving the front wheels and an electric motor and 15.5kWh battery at
the rear driving the rear wheels. Despite no physical connection between the two
the all-wheel drive experience is smooth and with the electric motor providing
max torque from rest the performance noticeably livlier than the mild hybrid
Veloce. You get around 60km of pure electric range while the petrol engine
returned 8.2L/100km on 95 grade petrol. Charging around 2.5 hours on a typical
home charger. Three driving modes available, with regenerative braking
recovering battery energy in all three. It features electronic adaptive dampers,
controlled by Alfa Romeo’s DNA driving modes, in D for dynamic mode
noticeably adjusting powertrain calibration and stiffening the damping. Warranty
five-year/unlimited km with battery warranty eight years/160,000km. Service costs
$3100 over five years. The drive experience very satisfying but like most plug-in
hybrids the exalted purchase price is enough to make most purchasers think
twice. I’m David Berthon

Driving the new plug-in hybrid or PHEV version of Alfa-Romeo’s compact Tonale SUV, available only in the high grade Veloce at $88,200 drive-away, a not insignificant $20,000 more than the similarly specified mild-hybrid Veloce. The plug-in hybrid Tonale mates a 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine and six-speed automatic driving the front wheels and an electric motor and 15.5kWh battery at the rear driving the rear wheels. Despite no physical connection between the two the all-wheel drive experience is smooth and with the electric motor providing max torque from rest the performance noticeably livlier than the mild hybrid Veloce. You get around 60km of pure electric range while the petrol engine returned 8.2L/100km on 95 grade petrol. Charging around 2.5 hours on a typical home charger. Three driving modes available, with regenerative braking recovering battery energy in all three. It features electronic adaptive dampers, controlled by Alfa Romeo’s DNA driving modes, in D for dynamic mode noticeably adjusting powertrain calibration and stiffening the damping. Warranty five-year/unlimited km with battery warranty eight years/160,000km. Service costs $3100 over five years. The drive experience very satisfying but like most plug-in hybrids the exalted purchase price is enough to make most purchasers think twice. I’m David Berthon

Alfa Romeo's Tonale plugin hybrid PHEV SUV - $20000 price lift a dampaner

Canada has just followed the U.S. by imposing a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese
electric vehicles from October 12. These moves much the same as the
Australian Government imposed to protect our local car industry when Holden,
Ford and Toyota were still manufacturing cars here. The Australian new car
landscape will be totally different next year with the loss of established brands
like Citroen and the arrival of around 12 new brands from China – names like
Xpeng, GAC Motor, Geely Auto, Zeekr, Jaecoo, Leapmotor, Nio, Skywell, Changan
and Jetour. I’ve said for some time that early adopters of electric cars are going
to suffer from poor resale – two new car dealers told me this week they could not
get anyone to provide a trade in price on a Tesla Model 3, especially models
getting towards the end of their battery warranty. I’m David Berthon

Canada has just followed the U.S. by imposing a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles from October 12. These moves much the same as the Australian Government imposed to protect our local car industry when Holden, Ford and Toyota were still manufacturing cars here. The Australian new car landscape will be totally different next year with the loss of established brands like Citroen and the arrival of around 12 new brands from China – names like Xpeng, GAC Motor, Geely Auto, Zeekr, Jaecoo, Leapmotor, Nio, Skywell, Changan and Jetour. I’ve said for some time that early adopters of electric cars are going to suffer from poor resale – two new car dealers told me this week they could not get anyone to provide a trade in price on a Tesla Model 3, especially models getting towards the end of their battery warranty. I’m David Berthon

Canada the latest country to slap a 100% tariff on Chinese electric cars

The move to electrification has taken on many faces from various car companies
– Hyundai this week announced plans to increase its hybrid product lines from
seven to fourteen models, including the first hybrid models for its luxury Genesis
brand. In announcing a new $133 billion-dollar electric vehicle strategy to
investors as the ‘Hyundai Way’ the South Korean car maker outlined plans to use
hybrid vehicles ‘as a key bridge’ to the broader solution of battery-electric
vehicles. Sales of hybrid electric vehicles in Australia more than doubled in the
first six months outpacing battery electric car sales by 60 per cent. Announcing
the plans at it&#39;s 2024 CEO Investor Day the company used the acronym ‘EREV’
standing for Extended Range Electric Vehicle” to describe hybrid models using
an internal combustion engine as well as electric power to extend driving range
beyond 900km. I’m David Berthon

The move to electrification has taken on many faces from various car companies – Hyundai this week announced plans to increase its hybrid product lines from seven to fourteen models, including the first hybrid models for its luxury Genesis brand. In announcing a new $133 billion-dollar electric vehicle strategy to investors as the ‘Hyundai Way’ the South Korean car maker outlined plans to use hybrid vehicles ‘as a key bridge’ to the broader solution of battery-electric vehicles. Sales of hybrid electric vehicles in Australia more than doubled in the first six months outpacing battery electric car sales by 60 per cent. Announcing the plans at it&amp;#39;s 2024 CEO Investor Day the company used the acronym ‘EREV’ standing for Extended Range Electric Vehicle” to describe hybrid models using an internal combustion engine as well as electric power to extend driving range beyond 900km. I’m David Berthon

Alfa Romeo's Tonale plugin hybrid PHEV SUV - interesting small premium SUV with Italian flair

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