The Tonale is a new crossover model from Alfa Romeo that will slot below the Stelvio in size and price.

With an available plug-in-hybrid model, this will be Alfa's first electrified offering.

Like the Stelvio, the Tonale's name comes from a famed twisty road, in this case the Tonale Pass in the Italian Alps.

Alfa Romeo will flesh out its crossover lineup with a new model called the Tonale, a vehicle smaller than the Stelvio that's being previewed in concept-car form at the Geneva auto show. The Tonale looks to use more space-efficient front-wheel-drive underpinnings and will compete with other subcompact luxury SUVs such as the BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA-class, Audi Q3, and Jaguar E-Pace.

A plug-in hybrid version with an electric motor at the rear will be on the menu, kicking off Alfa's plans for more electrified models going forward. The company says electrification won't come at the expense of performance and driving dynamics, with the technology instead enhancing those classic Alfa characteristics while also increasing efficiency.

View Photos Michael Simari Car and Driver

Recognizable as an Alfa Romeo thanks to its distinctive front grille, the Tonale nonetheless has quite different proportions than its big brother, denoting that it doesn't use the rear-drive platform underneath the Giulia and Stelvio. Instead, we suspect it uses a version of Fiat Chrysler's front-wheel-drive compact platform that underpins a number of Jeep models. The plug-in model will have multiple driving modes, including one that allows for maximum performance from both motors and another that lets the Tonale drive under electric power only. The hybrid gets a special logo that's a variation of Alfa's snake emblem but with an electric-plug graphic. It's likely that the Tonale will also offer a conventional turbocharged four-cylinder engine as its base powertrain and all-wheel drive as an option.

View Photos Alfa Romeo

We're technically seeing the Tonale in concept-car form at this point, but the vehicle being shown at the Geneva auto show doesn't look too far from production aside from its slightly fanciful interior trimmings and some exterior details like door handles and side mirrors. The concept features a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.3-inch central touchscreen with a new infotainment interface; both are sure to make their way to production. Although Alfa Romeo hasn't set an official date for its arrival, we'd expect to see the Tonale debut in its final form within a year or so.

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