Iconic Italian auto brand Alfa Romeo launched its PHEV version

The century-old iconic Italian luxury and high-performance car manufacturer Alfa Romeo is on the path of rapid transformation, with bold plans for the classic Italian brand – which observed its 113th anniversary in 2023, to be entirely electric by 2027, following the road to a zero-carbon future.

The Tonale SUV debuted in 2022, driven by a 1.5-litre petrol engine with mild-hybrid technology. However, Alfa has now released a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version, significantly boosting the Tonale's performance. The PHEV is a significant feature when considering the possibility of increased efficiency and pure electric driving.

A six-speed automatic gearbox with huge aluminium metal paddle shifters. A 180hp 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine powers the new Tonale's front wheels. A 90kW electric motor is located in the rear, with no physical connection to the front axle. This is referred to as e-AWD by Alfa, and it means that the Tonale can switch between three 'DNA' driving modes that alter how the two power sources interact.

The Tonale can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 6.2 seconds while operating in Dynamic mode, significantly improving over the ordinary Tonale mild hybrid. The vehicle's top speed is 128 mph, with an electric-only top speed of 84 mph.

AlCircle's industry analysis with forecasts to 2027, ‘Future of Aluminium in Transportation Sector’, reveals that the usage of aluminium in the European transportation sector is estimated to be around 5.8 million tonnes in 2022 and is anticipated to reach 6.3 million tonnes by 2027, witnessing a CAGR of 1.6 per cent.

It further states that of the total aluminium used in the European transportation sector, passenger cars accounted for a major share of around 72 per cent in 2022. Stringent legislative norms in reducing carbon footprint and changing customer preferences have resulted in the reduction of passenger car weight, which has increased the usage of aluminium. The EU is taking steps for the future of sustainable mobility in the region.