It seems that even sporty-orientated brands are opting for the popular SUV route as vehicle buyers worldwide are still turning away from sedans and hatchbacks to this body style and most importantly with lower emission drivetrains.
Even class-leading players in the ultra-luxurious and top performance marques have SUVs these days. Think of the Rolls Royce Cullinan, Porsche’s Macan and Cayenne, Bentley’s Bentayga to mention only a few at the top end of the market.
Add to that, hybrid-driven and electric power trains and the Tonale, as the first hybrid from Alfa, is an important part of the manufacturer’s zero to zero strategy to electrify all Alfas.
For the once struggling Italian manufacturer, Alfa Romeo, the international launch of the bigger SUV Stelvio during 2017 and the smaller Tonale seems to be doing the trick in terms of driving sales and growth. Alfa Romeo is part of the Stellantis empire.
In South Africa, the bigger Stelvio began to put the iconic brand back on the sales map with 103 vehicles finding owners locally. The smaller Tonale might only have achieved sales of 20 units last year, but keep in mind it was only launched locally towards the end of November 2022.
Last year, Alfa Romeo’s total local sales were a mere 190 units (Giulia – 67, Stelvio - 103 and the Tonale – 20). With the addition of the Tonale, the sales figures will surely change for the better in 2023.
Internationally, Alfa Romeo vehicles’ registrations have increased to 22% vs 2021 in Europe (in a region that is dropping by -11% vs 2021).
The Tonale, Alfa’s first hybrid, has been the star of the year. Welcomed by the media with 8 international awards, it represents the first milestone in the “zero to zero” strategy: -40% of CO2 emissions.
The Alfa Romeo Tonale has a 1.5L turbocharged petrol engine with an output of 118 kW and 240 Nm. It is paired to a TCT 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission. The Tonale is also powered by a 48 Volt 15 kW electric motor, which makes it possible for the 1.5L engine to propel the wheels even when the combustion engine is turned off. Alfa Romeo claims the Tonale has a fuel consumption of 5.7l/100 km.
Pricing:
Tonale Ti (R739 900), Tonale Special (R799 900) and the Tonale Veloce (R819 900).
Supergroup Dealerships announced the upcoming launch of four new MG dealerships as part of its growing portfolio. The new locations that are set to open soon, include three on the East Rand, one in Rustenburg and one in Paarl, Western Cape.
The highly anticipated F&I Industry Awards 2024, which were held recently, showcased the pinnacle of excellence and innovation in the automotive financial and insurance sector.
In a groundbreaking move towards offering a comprehensive, one-stop integrated service to its customers, Absa has introduced an integrated Finance & Insurance solution for dealer partners across South Africa. This innovative initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing customer experience and streamlining financial services.
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Toyota announced that it has expanded its Land Cruiser 70 Series with the addition of new 5-speed manual gearbox option in the range. The manual powertrain will be offered in both the Single Cab and Station Wagon variants.
Peugeot has updated its Landtrek bakkie with the big news of the addition of a new, more powerful engine. The Landtrek continues to establish itself in the one-ton pick-up segment, which represents 2.5 million annual sales worldwide. It is sold in around 40 countries, predominantly in Africa, the Middle East and South America.
Ulterio Motiv, the newly launched sister company of respected armouring establishment, SVI Engineering, has launched its most affordable product to date, this time based on one of the best-selling bakkies in South Africa – the Ford Ranger.
