The future SUV Alfa Romeo will soon reach another important milestone. While the project, known internally as A4U, remains largely under wraps, a Supplier Convention An event dedicated to the new «C-UV» is scheduled for September 29, 2026, at the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese. This event demonstrates, above all, that the replacement for the Tonale is gradually entering a much more concrete phase of its development.
In the illustration on the invitation sent to suppliers, a massive SUV is concealed beneath a red drape. However, it’s impossible to draw any conclusions about its design: this silhouette appears to be nothing more than a creation designed for the event’s promotional materials.
The future Tonale is starting to take shape
This event on September 29 will be primarily aimed at suppliers who will be involved in the vehicle’s production. Therefore, don’t expect a public unveiling, much less a reveal of the final car. However, Alfa Romeo could use the event to show its partners a vehicle, a model, or technical components that are much more advanced than what we currently know.
The timeline is consistent with a launch that is still some time away. The new Alfa Romeo C-SUV is expected in the fourth quarter of 2027, while the current Tonale is expected to be discontinued in November of that same year.
Production is scheduled to take place in Melfi on the STLA Medium platform, which it will share with the Peugeot 3008, Lancia Gamma, and DS No. 7, among others. But according to our latest information, Alfa Romeo has apparently sought to differentiate this model quite clearly from its cousins. This Alfa Romeo could therefore feature a significantly different design and proportions despite sharing a common technical platform.
An Alfa Romeo Designed with the U.S. in Mind, Too?
Another factor could explain certain technical and stylistic choices: the project is reportedly taking internationalization constraints into account, with the possibility of exporting this SUV to the United States. It could thus become one of the first vehicles on the STLA Medium platform truly designed to also meet the requirements of the U.S. market.
This ambition would also help explain the model’s expected growth. While the Tonale measures 4.53 m, its successor could exceed 4.60 m, with a more family-oriented and likely higher-end positioning. It would effectively replace both the Tonale and the Stelvio.
Electric and full hybrid?
Details about the powertrain are also becoming clearer. Contrary to what one might have imagined just a few years ago, this future SUV will not be exclusively electric. The STLA Medium platform will allow Alfa Romeo to offer a multi-energy lineup with several levels of electrification.
As we mentioned recently, an electric Veloce version with approximately 375 ch seems particularly plausible. That’s exactly the power output expected for the upcoming Lancia Gamma HF Integrale.
But the biggest innovations could come from hybrid models. More powerful PHEVs—particularly those with all-wheel drive—are expected in the STLA Medium family. Most importantly, the future Alfa Romeo could be the first model to feature a new 1.6-liter full-hybrid powertrain—a particularly interesting option for markets where the all-electric 100 % is gaining traction more slowly.
It remains to be seen what Alfa Romeo will actually show its suppliers on September 29. For the public, the secret is likely to remain well-kept for now, but in Arese, the future replacement for the Tonale is clearly getting ready to step out of the shadows a little more. It’s very likely that we’ll have new information after that date.
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The 375h HP Electric Veloce, priced at around 70,000–75,000 euros and weighing about 2.2 metric tons, will be an instant sales flop.
Really? STLA M cars are heavier and have less efficient interior layout than models based on the Small Wide platform. Not to mention that the current-generation Tonale has non-plug-in 4-cylinder engines, which future models won’t have—and the same goes for the independent rear suspension. At best, future models are a step to the side, not a step backward.
So first the DS8 flopped, and now the Lancia Gamma is following in its footsteps. They’ve really got it all figured out over at Stellantis—they’re determined to sell expensive stuff to customers who don’t even exist!!
Only the DS7 will fare somewhat better by drawing on its existing customer base. But honestly, buying a DS7 with the improved PureTOC is still pretty pathetic. .
The Lancia Gamma isn't on the market yet, although I also think it will be a flop.
As for this Alfa Romeo, the overall silhouette under the tarp suggests that it won't be all that different from its cousins.
Clearly, the back is still the same as ever…
You're deliberately ignoring the other models in the lineup, which sell better. For every Tonale that Alfa sells, Peugeot sells more than 3,300 8s!
It took Alfa more than 3 years to sell 100,000 Tonales, while Peugeot sells about 120,000 3008s a year!
The Tonale is a premium model, unlike the 3008, which, by the way, is now in its third generation (compared to just one for the Alfa Romeo).
And the 3008 isn't a cousin of the Tonale.
"Premium Model!!! Ha, that’s a good one. I think that, in every respect, this Jeep disguised as an Alfa has absolutely nothing "premium" about it—except for FCA’s pretentious marketing (even more so than Pigot’s), which dared to come up with this piece of junk.".
The Gamma n hasn't even come out yet—what do you honestly think of its success?
Simply put, it’s a trial by insinuation
Let’s hope this future C-SUV doesn’t share trim elements with the 3008, the way the Junior does by borrowing too many elements from the 2008 (not to mention the PureTech, which we have a hard time seeing any appeal in).
We need hybrid engines with character—so definitely not a Peugeot.
So are we showing the Alfa Tonale SUV the door because it didn't impress?
I agree… when you go from a Giulia or a Stelvio to a Junior, it really is a (too) big difference.
I’d even go so far as to say that switching from the Junior to the Giulietta—even though the latter is now a bit outdated—is a real shock, in terms of build quality, engines, and driving pleasure. Having rented a Junior Ibrida for several days for the second time before getting back into my Giulietta, it’s like night and day.
And compared to the Giulia and the Stelvio, it's a world apart from the Junior and the Tonale.
Alfa Romeo is falling far behind with its Jeep and Peugeot models.
Back when I still had my Giulietta Imola (before a Belgian bought it and turned it into a tuned-up monstrosity), I had the chance to see the Junior at a dealership. For the same price as the Giulietta Imola back then, the car had less power, fewer features, a lower-quality finish (door panels), was smaller (and, in my opinion, much less attractive).
I agree. The Junior is a slapdash job. It's still not an Alfa Romeo.
Yet the Junior accounts for 50% of Alfa's sales!
I don't mind that it's too similar to a 2008 model, but apparently that doesn't bother the people who buy it.
Factually speaking, you’re right, but there’s still a bias: it’s the only latest Alfa Romeo model, the least expensive one, the only one available as a 100 % electric, and it accounts for… 30,000 to 40,000 sales per year. So yes, 50 %, but you have to put that in context.
«Yet the Junior accounts for 50% of Alfa's sales!»
It’s the brand’s entry-level, mass-market model, which explains it (just as the 206 sells better than the 3008, for example). That doesn’t mean it’s a success, though—far from it.
I'm not repulsed by Stellantis's policies, which are, in any case, the same as those of VW and others.
All I need is the distinctive design, street style, and performance that are typical of the AR.
By now, the sharing of platforms, engines, and even body parts is inevitable.
Anyone who sees it differently is still stuck in the past.
I've been an Alfa Romeo fan my whole life
Enough, enough… They’ve been losing them along the way for ten years now. An Alfa Romeo fan at heart, I’ve just switched to VW.
I agree—all this negativity about modern sharing policies is tiresome. I'm glad the brand still exists. Let's see what this new model brings.
Hey Stanislas, do you own a Junior? I have a BEV Junior alongside a Stelvio, and I can’t agree with you. Bashing AR doesn’t help anyone; AR customers who own these models have a different opinion. What’s so bad about sharing components within the group? In my opinion, Stellantis needs to realize that today, very few potential customers are willing to pay significantly more just for the AR name than they would for other similarly equipped Stellantis models. That’s the flaw in their thinking, and I hope that once the new C-SUV has an attractive, market-competitive price, it will sell successfully.
This isn’t meant to be a negative review of the Alfa Romeo Junior; it’s just my honest opinion after spending many days driving it on all kinds of roads. I love Alfa Romeo cars, but when some new models aren’t that great, I just share my opinion. To be honest, while the Junior Ibrida drives exactly the same as the Fiat 600 Hybrid (and many other Stellantis cars built on the same platform and powered by the same engines), I have to say that the Junior Veloce is much better than the other Junior models and offers a very enjoyable driving experience.
I’ve recently seen a lot of positive reviews of the Alfa Romeo Tonale 2.0 Turbo Q4 for the U.S. market. But it’s coming out late and isn’t available in the EU. This all-new Peugeot-based model could only fare worse, with no mechanical all-wheel drive and no 2.0-liter turbo engine.
I drive a Tonale PHEV—my first Alfa. No matter how much Alfisti bash it, it's still an amazing car to drive. German drivers hate it 🙃 when it zooms past them.
I’ve got a new Junior (so far, so good), but I was looking for a used Tonale PHEV with low mileage before I bought it. Tell me the pros and cons of your Tonale. I also have a Mito (fantastic engine, soft suspension). As for the Junior, I have to say it looks better in person, and the ADAS works well. I think the 1.6 JTDm engine was developed in collaboration with GM, and I like it, so as long as the 1.2L French engine doesn’t leave me stranded on the road, it’s fine.
As for the electric version, it will only sell if it features an 800V architecture with an LFP battery and a price well below that of the Volvo EX60—that is, less than 65K€. We also need to factor in the GLA, which starts at under 45K€ for the base model. As for the 1.6L, no further comments.
This «new SUV» will replace both the high-end versions of the Tonale and the Stelvio! The DS7 is 4.66 meters long, so we can estimate a length of 4.7 meters for the Alfa, given its sloping, coupe-style roofline.
My only concern is about the engines… seeing an Alfa with a 1.2-liter turbocharged engine producing 145 CV is really sad…
This «new SUV» will replace both the high-end versions of the Tonale and the Stelvio! The DS7 is 4.66 meters long, so we can estimate a length of 4.7 meters for the Alfa, given its sloping, coupe-style roofline.
My only concern is about the engines… seeing an Alfa with a 1.2-liter turbocharged engine producing 145 CV is really sad…
I have a new Junior with 4,500 km. It looks better in person, and the ADAS systems work as they should. I also have a 1.6 JTDm Mito with 380,000 km (fantastic engine, soft suspension). I think this engine was developed in collaboration with GM, so if the 1.2-liter is French, I don’t care as long as it doesn’t leave me stranded on the road.
No, FCA's 1.6 Mjtd engine was not developed in collaboration with GM, except for the 2.0 Mjtd engine. .
The problem has been the same for Alfa for over 10 years. And the failure of the Giulia and Stelvio (compared to the sales figures of the 156, which was still followed by the Giulietta, which also sold well) confirms this. There aren’t enough customers willing to spend more than 40,000 euros (let’s round that up to 50,000) on an Alfa Romeo. It’s the same story with those silly DS models or even Lancia. To sell cars, you need a loyal customer base first. So yes, there are still a few fans hanging around (like here), but what’s that—10,000 sales?
What is a flop? You really need to compare models in roughly the same Alfa price range. I think it’s inaccurate to call the Giulia and Stelvio flops. Approximately 200 metric tons of the Alfa Stelvio and 150 metric tons of the Giulia were produced, for a total of about 350 metric tons. So there weren’t just a few fans «hanging around here.» In the past, approximately 100 metric tons of the Alfa 166 and 270 metric tons of the Alfa 164 were produced (which were in roughly the same price segment as the Stelvio and Giulia at the time). Comparing these figures to high-volume models like the Giulietta (approx. 470 metric tons) and the 156 (approx. 680 metric tons) is not really fair. Approximately 250 metric tons of all Alfa 159 series models were produced.
Having driven a Tonale this summer instead of my Stelvio 280 TI, it’s a whole different story:
I’ll set the diesel engine aside, but everything else is worthy of a tractor… the steering is heavy and not very precise, and the suspension—with 18-inch wheels—is extremely stiff compared to my Stelvio, which has 20-inch wheels, Dynamic suspension, and handling that’s just average. It reminded me of the Jeep Renegade I had for 10 days in Guadeloupe. My Giulietta 170 TCT felt more like an Alfa!
In short, my Giulia and my Stelvio might end up being my last Alfas.
Thank you for confirming my «shock» after three years in the Giulia when I test-drove the Tonale, which was sold to me as a premium car at a premium price.
The platform is designed to be compatible with U.S. standards. The first vehicle based on the STLA M platform scheduled for release in the U.S. is the Jeep Compass. If the A4U project is based on the STLA M platform, it can be sold in the U.S. once the U.S.-specific validation work is completed and the financial constraints recently imposed by the Trump administration (tariffs) allow for a competitive price in the U.S. market with manufacturing in Italy.