In an “X-Recordsdata” tv episode known as “Teliko,” the present modified its standard tagline throughout the title sequence from “The reality is on the market” to “Deceive, Inveigle, Obfuscate.” Each taglines would apply to the thriller across the identify of Alfa Romeo’s coming subcompact SUV.
For the longest whereas, primarily based on data from unnamed sources, the city runabout twinned with Europe’s Jeep Avenger was anticipated to be named the Alfa Romeo Brennero, honoring Italy’s Brennero Go (Brenner Go in English). Then automaker design head Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos mentioned one thing to Autocar over the summer time that led Autocar to jot down, “that identify was dominated out by Mesonero-Romanos.” Autocar did not quote the designer’s phrases used to dismiss the anticipated identify, it solely quoted what got here subsequent, Mesonero-Romanos saying, “The mannequin identify is now determined. will probably be Italian and will probably be lovely. However greater than that, I can not say for now.”
Perhaps we’ve recognized all of it alongside.#AlfaRomeo pic.twitter.com/dE10xGYXwO
— Alfa Romeo (@alfa_romeo) December 6, 2023
The determined, Italian, lovely identify is Brennero. That is what we get from an automaker publish on X bearing the caption, “Perhaps we have recognized all of it alongside,” and a 15-second animation flashing 4 GPS coordinates. One coordinate picks out Alfa Romeo’s historical past museum, the Museo Storico, one other the Balocco Proving Grounds, one other the Stelvio Go, and at last, the Brennero Go. This publish may very well be thought-about Alfa answering its personal query from June of this yr — a month earlier than Mesonero-Romano’s supposed denial — with the caption, “A game-changing #SportyUrbanVehicle is on the horizon. What would be the identify of our new Alfa Romeo? Take a guess within the feedback under.”
Hypothesis has gathered round a couple of laborious factors. The Brennero sits on the CMP/e-CMP platform utilized by the Avenger, the Fiat 600, the Peugeot 2008, and the DS 3 Crossback. In electrical type, it suits the Avenger’s 54-kWh battery and entrance axle e-motor making the identical 154 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque, and can doubtless get across the identical 248 miles on a cost on the WLTP cycle. As the brand new entry-level providing beneath the Tonale, if the Brennero adopts Avenger dimensions, the Brennero shall be about 16 inches shorter than the Tonale, its roof about three inches decrease.
Extra speculative hypothesis supposes there may very well be a dual-motor all-wheel-drive Brennero developed from the drivetrain within the Avenger 4×4 Idea. And assuming the Alfa gives a light hybrid powertrain just like the Avenger, there are a few prospects just like the 1.2-liter ICE and a mixed 154 hp from the Avenger or a extra highly effective setup utilized by Peugeot.
Automaker CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato mentioned of the mannequin, “You will notice that will probably be an Alfa Romeo. … We’re spending time on designing that automobile with the identical spirit. And the drivability of the automobile, the efficiency of that automobile, shall be pushed by the tuning that we do on the Tonale.” He delayed the Tonale after deciding it wanted extra time within the improvement oven. We do not know what was achieved, however we mentioned of the Tonale in our First Drive, “This factor’s enjoyable.”
The Brennero is not anticipated to return to the U.S., however European drivers may welcome a subcompact that is zippier than most early subsequent yr. And primarily based on a reported leak from a UX designer engaged on show graphics, the Brennero may be rather a lot flashier, too.