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Alfa Just Facelifted The Tonale. Now It Could Kill It

  • Alfa Romeo Tonale production will reportedly end in November 2027.
  • The Pomigliano d’Arco factory will retool for affordable urban EVs.
  • Alfa plans a new compact SUV and a premium compact hatchback.

When Alfa Romeo introduced the Tonale in 2022, the company framed it as one of the most important models for the brand’s future. It was the first electrified Alfa, it marked the brand’s entry into the popular compact SUV segment, and it spawned a second version in the short-lived Dodge Hornet. Now the Tonale looks set to reach the automotive graveyard sooner than anyone expected.

Stellantis hasn’t confirmed anything, but recent information from the Italian metalworker unions FIM-CISL and UILM points to production at the Pomigliano d’Arco factory ending in November 2027. That timing comes despite the facelifted Tonale that debuted in late 2025 with revised styling and an upgraded interior.

Review: Alfa Romeo’s 2026 Tonale Finally Earns The Badge On Its Nose

A five-and-a-half-year run is short by Alfa standards. The aging Giulia and Stelvio are scheduled to stay in production for more than 11 years. Older models tell the same story, with the MiTo and Giulietta hatchbacks lasting 10 and 11 years respectively. So what is pushing the compact SUV into early retirement?

 Alfa Just Facelifted The Tonale. Now It Could Kill It

Start with the factory. Pomigliano d’Arco, home to the Tonale and the Fiat Panda, has to be completely retooled for an upcoming low-cost urban EV project. That program is expected to grow into the next-gen Fiat Pandina and a mechanically related Citroen, both aiming to make electric mobility more affordable for European buyers.

Review: The Junior Is Everything Alfa Romeo Needed And Nothing Alfisti Wanted

Slow sales are another likely factor. Tonale production crossed the 100,000-unit milestone in 2024, but demand has cooled since the arrival of the subcompact Junior, which became the volume seller the brand had been chasing.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that the Tonale rides on the aging FCA Small Wide 4×4 LWB architecture, also used by the previous-gen Jeep Compass from 2016. This platform traces its routes to the distant 2005, well before the FCA-PSA merger and during the collaboration with General Motors.

 Alfa Just Facelifted The Tonale. Now It Could Kill It

Even if Tonale production ends in November 2027, remaining stock could keep the SUV on sale through 2028. The closely related Dodge Hornet, for its part, was discontinued in early 2026 after only three years on the market.

Another Compact SUV?

While the Tonale is slowly heading into the sunset, Alfa Romeo recently announced it is developing a new compact SUV. The yet-unnamed model will be based on the STLA Medium architecture, most likely offering the choice between hybrid and fully electric powertrains.

More: Now That It’s Dead, You Can Buy A New Hornet For Nearly Half The Price

While we don’t have a debut date, the new crossover is part of the Fastlane 2030 strategy meaning it will arrive before the end of the decade. Alfa is also working on a new compact hatchback that will ride on the STLA One platform serving as the spiritual successor of the long-discontinued Giulietta. Those two models will fill the gap of the Tonale in the compact segment, hopefully sticking around for longer than their predecessor.

 Alfa Just Facelifted The Tonale. Now It Could Kill It

Stellantis

The Lancia Gamma Returns As A Fastback Crossover, Not A Sedan

  • A 143-hp hybrid opens the lineup with a claimed 621-mile range.
  • Three electric versions follow, topping out at 370 hp and AWD.
  • The Gamma rides on STLA Medium bones shared with the DS No8.

Stellantis is not letting Monday’s Alfa Romeo Giulietta news take the week. Less than 24 hours after confirming a replacement for the Giulietta compact hatch, the group has rolled out the first official images and details of the incoming Lancia Gamma, in advance of its Paris Motor Show debut in October. The new Gamma is being pitched as a crossover fastback, with hybrid and fully electric powertrains both on the menu.

The styling picks up where the new Ypsilon subcompact hatchback left off. Up front, split LED headlights and DRLs lean into the Mandalorian-helmet look the brand seems committed to, with active shutters cut into the lower bumper for cooling and aero duty.

Read: Stellantis Puts Cheap Cars Under $30,000 Back On America’s Menu

Down the sides, the surfacing is clean, the door handles sit flush in the lift from DS Automobiles, and a thin band of gloss-black cladding wraps the wheel arches. The roofline is not as aggressively raked as the Peugeot 408 or the DS No8, both of which sit on related Stellantis bones, but the Gamma still carries the coupe-SUV stance the segment now expects.

There is a deeper cut for Lancia fans too. The black trim running down the C-pillars is a subtle callback to the original Gamma Berlina fastback saloon.

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Lancia

The crossover measures 4.67 m (183.9 inches) long, 1.89 m (74.4 inches) wide, and 1.66 m (65.4 inches) tall, which makes it roughly 15 cm (5.9 inches) shorter and 80mm (3.2 inches) taller than the DS No8. We keep mentioning the French fastback because the two models share the STLA Medium architecture, and both are built at the Melfi plant in Italy.

One Hybrid, Three EVs

Stellantis has confirmed an entry-level hybrid producing 143 hp (107 kW / 145 PS) with a claimed range north of 1,000 km (621 miles). It is almost certainly an electrified take on the turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder used across the group, in everything from the Peugeot 208 to the Jeep Compass.

Read: Fiat’s Pandina Replacement Has Three Seats And The Driver Sits In The Middle

The rest of the Gamma lineup goes fully electric, with three outputs and battery sizes to pick from. The base EV opens the range with 227 hp (169 kW / 230 PS) and over 540 km (335 miles) of range. A step up brings 242 hp (180 kW / 245 PS) and more than 740 km (460 miles). At the top sits a dual-motor all-wheel-drive flagship producing a combined 370 hp (276 kW / 375 PS), with up to 675 km (419 miles) on a single charge.

Big Screens And A Coffee-Table Console

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The interior has a similar layout to the DS No8, including what appears to be a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 16-inch infotainment display. The bigger display runs Lancia’s SALA system and absorbs the climate controls into the touch interface.

Where Lancia separates itself is the center console, anchored by the brand’s signature “tavolino” tray that takes its cues from a small coffee table. The Italian crossover also gets its own ambient lighting setup and different door cards than its French cousin, along with a three-spoke steering wheel with integrated controls.

Also: The Plant That Built Dodge’s Last Hellcat Muscle Cars Could Make Chinese EVs Next

Given where Lancia is trying to position itself, the cabin should lean upscale, and the pictured example mixes black fabric with white synthetic leather and a handful of metal-look accents. The edge of a panoramic roof peeks into the photo, and the overall shape suggests this could be the most family-friendly Lancia since the long-gone Phedra minivan.

Order books open after the summer, with pricing yet to be confirmed and more details promised over the coming months.

 The Lancia Gamma Returns As A Fastback  Crossover, Not A Sedan

Lancia

Maserati’s Sales Collapsed And Alfa’s Lineup Aged, Now Both Get Four New Models

  • Alfa Romeo will launch a new compact SUV and a halo model.
  • Maserati has officially confirmed a pair of E-segment models.
  • Both Stellantis brands will leverage multi-energy platforms.

Stellantis used its FaSTLAne 2030 strategy update to telegraph the obvious, which is that the next five years will be busy ones for nearly every brand under its roof. The plan calls for 60 all-new products and 50 refreshes across the portfolio, and to the surprise of anyone who had written them off, Alfa Romeo and Maserati are both on the invite list.

Alfa’s contribution includes two cars that sit apart from the long-awaited replacements for the Stelvio and Giulia. One is a new C-segment SUV. The other is a limited-production halo model. Both were shown under sheets during the official presentation, though the webcast slipped in a mockup rendering of the SUV.

More: A 550 HP Inline-Six From The Charger Could End Up In Alfa’s Next Giulia And Stelvio

The yet-unnamed model has a sporty stance making us wonder if Alfa Romeo will bring back the Giulietta nameplate. It has aggressive LEDs, a larger than usual trilobo grille, and an aerodynamic roofline. Overall, it appears to bridge the gap between the subcompact Junior and the compact Tonale, potentially serving as a rival to the likes of the Cupra Formentor, VW T-Roc, and Toyota C-HR.

As with most Stellantis products, the upcoming C-SUV will most likely be offered with hybrid and fully electric powertrain options. It is also expected to get the new STLA SmartCockpit infotainment.

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The other new Alfa Romeo is a “Bottega Fuoriserie” product, and a follow-up to the limited-production 33 Stradale. However, unlike the mid-engined supercar, this one appears to have a hatchback or shooting brake bodystyle. Chances are it will evoke the styling of a classic model from the Alfa Romeo history and share its underpinnings with a Maserati.

More Maserati Models

Speaking of the Trident brand, it will expand its lineup with an SUV and a grand tourer positioned in the E-Segment. The first will likely be a successor to the discontinued Levante, sitting above the Grecale which is getting a facelift soon alongside the GranTurismo and GranCabrio.

More: Maserati’s Sales Collapsed, So It’s Trying The Same Cars Again With New Bumpers

The other model has a low-slung silhouette with a long hood and a grand tourer stance reminiscent of the Ferrari 12cilindri. Its sharp nose is similar to the 2016 Maserati Alfieri concept but its footprint appears to be larger. The pushed-back cabin and the sloping roofline suggest it will have a two-seater cabin unlike the 2+2 layout of the GranTurismo and GranCabrio.

While there is no word on technical specifications, we expect the E-Segment Maseratis to come fitted with combustion engines rather than taking the EV route.

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Stellantis Confirms New Alfa Romeo SUV And Halo Car – And Two Maseratis

  • Alfa Romeo will launch a new compact SUV and a halo model.
  • Maserati has officially confirmed a pair of E-segment models.
  • Both Stellantis brands will leverage multi-energy platforms.

Stellantis’ FaSTLAne 2030 strategy includes the debut of 60 new and 50 refreshed products across its brand portfolio. Luckily, Alfa Romeo and Maserati are also invited in the party, confirming a few interesting launches.

Alfa Romeo has teased a new C-SUV and a limited production halo model which are separate from the upcoming successors of the aging Stelvio and Giulia. In the official presentation, the new models were covered under a veil, but the webcast gave us a sneak peak of the SUV in a mockup rendering.

More: A 550 HP Inline-Six From The Charger Could End Up In Alfa’s Next Giulia And Stelvio

The yet-unnamed model has a sporty stance making us wonder if Alfa Romeo will bring back the Giulietta nameplate. It has aggressive LEDs, a larger than usual trilobo grille, and an aerodynamic roofline. Overall, it appears to bridge the gap between the subcompact Junior and the compact Tonale, potentially serving as a rival to the likes of the Cupra Formentor, VW T-Roc, and Toyota C-HR.

As with most Stellantis products, the upcoming C-SUV will most likely be offered with hybrid and fully electric powertrain options. It is also expected to get the new STLA SmartCockpit infotainment.

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The other new Alfa Romeo is a “Bottega Fuoriserie” product, and a follow-up to the limited-production 33 Stradale. However, unlike the mid-engined supercar, this one appears to have a hatchback or shooting brake bodystyle. Chances are it will evoke the styling of a classic model from the Alfa Romeo history and share its underpinnings with a Maserati.

More Maserati Models

Speaking of the Trident brand, it will expand its lineup with an SUV and a grand tourer positioned in the E-Segment. The first will likely be a successor to the discontinued Levante, sitting above the Grecale which is getting a facelift soon alongside the GranTurismo and GranCabrio.

More: Maserati’s Sales Collapsed, So It’s Trying The Same Cars Again With New Bumpers

The other model has a low-slung silhouette with a long hood and a grand tourer stance reminiscent of the Ferrari 12cilindri. Its sharp nose is similar to the 2016 Maserati Alfieri concept but its footprint appears to be larger. The pushed-back cabin and the sloping roofline suggest it will have a two-seater cabin unlike the 2+2 layout of the GranTurismo and GranCabrio.

While there is no word on technical specifications, we expect the E-Segment Maseratis to come fitted with combustion engines rather than taking the EV route.

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Stellantis Is Chasing Japan’s Kei Car Formula With Two Legendary Nameplates

  • Stellantis confirms compact affordable electric city cars built for European buyers.
  • EU’s new kei-style M1E rules could dramatically lower costs for tiny electric vehicles.
  • Fiat Panda and Citroen 2CV spiritual successors appear increasingly likely under plan.

Europe’s big carmakers were built on the backs of small, ultra-affordable cars like the original Citroen 2CV and Fiat Panda. Now Stellantis is ready to do it all over again, with a range of tiny EVs starting in 2028.

Stellantis this week announced a new affordable EV initiative called E-Car that will build a line of small electric cars across multiple brands. They’ll be built at the company’s Pomigliano plant in Italy, home to generations of budget friendly Fiat models over the years, and currently producing the Alfa Romeo Tonale and existing base Panda.

Related: Stellantis Just Decided Which Four Brands Actually Matter And Fiat Is One

The automaker says the new project will focus on compact EVs designed specifically for European cities, shorter commutes, and buyers who’ve effectively been priced out of the new car market entirely. That shrinking affordability gap has become a huge issue across Europe. Average vehicle prices have climbed dramatically in recent years, as has the average age of used cars on the road, while genuinely cheap new cars have nearly vanished.

Much of the motivation comes from fresh European Commission regulations creating a new M1E category for small electric vehicles under 4,200 mm (165.4 inches) long. Think of it as Europe’s rough equivalent of Japan’s kei car philosophy, only with batteries instead of tiny 660 cc turbocharged engines. The proposed framework reportedly gives automakers more flexibility and long term regulatory certainty compared with other types of cars, making the business case far less terrifying than before.

Less Grande Panda

 Stellantis Is Chasing Japan’s Kei Car Formula With Two Legendary Nameplates

Stellantis hasn’t confirmed exactly which models will arrive first, but the clues aren’t subtle. The company specifically highlighted Pomigliano’s history building iconic affordable cars like the Fiat Panda, while recent reports have pointed toward a smaller, cheaper Panda inspired by the original 1980s model and designed to fit under the new Grande Panda. Citroen also appears eager to revive the spirit of its legendary 2CV with a no nonsense electric runabout sitting beneath the C3.

Recent reports suggested that Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa’s new plan for the company involves putting most energy into four of its more than a dozen brands. Fiat is one of them, along with Jeep, Ram and Peugeot, while the others would take versions of those brands’ cars and technologies.

 Stellantis Is Chasing Japan’s Kei Car Formula With Two Legendary Nameplates

Fiat, Citroen

Stellantis’ Cheapest New EV Is Chinese, Made In Europe, And $15K Under Its Own Peugeot

  • Leapmotor’s new B05 starts at €26,900 in Italy before any local incentives apply.
  • The Chinese-designed hatchback is built at a Stellantis plant in Zaragoza, Spain.
  • Local assembly lets the B05 sidestep the EU tariffs aimed at Chinese-made EVs.

As European EV buyers grow more price-sensitive, new entrants are finding sharper ways to undercut established players without giving up headline specs. Stellantis is putting its strategic partnership with Leapmotor to work, launching the new B05 across Europe as a fully electric hatch aimed squarely at the freshly updated VW ID.3 Neo. A hotter Ultra variant will follow, with the next GTI in its sights.

Aggressive Pricing

The Leapmotor B05, known as the Lafa 5 in China, first appeared in Europe last September at the Munich Auto Show, then a static prototype. It is now on sale in European markets, priced in Italy from €26,900 ($31,500) to €30,900 ($36,200) before local incentives.

More: Stellantis’ Secret Weapon Against Chinese EVs In Europe Turns Out To Be A Chinese EV

This places the entry-level version €9,600 ($11,200) below the pre-facelifted VW ID.3 in Italy. The Leapmotor B05 also comes in €11,450 ($13,400) under the Renault Megane E-Tech and €13,080 ($15,400) less than Stellantis’ own Peugeot E-308 in the same market.

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The EU-spec Leapmotor B05 is currently being assembled at Stellantis’ Figueruelas plant in Zaragoza, Spain. Producing the car locally allows the company to avoid steep EU tariffs on Chinese-built EVs, helping it land at a price point that undercuts even the now-discontinued MG4.

Competitive Specs

Measuring 4,430 mm (174.4-inch) long, the EV rides on Leapmotor’s “LEAP 3.0” architecture and uses Cell-to-Chassis (CTC) technology. This setup integrates the battery into the structure, improving rigidity. The company also claims a 50:50 weight distribution and notes that the suspension was co-tuned with Stellantis’ global engineering teams.

More: Opel And Alfa Romeo’s Next EVs May Be Built Around Chinese Tech, Not German Or Italian

European buyers can choose between two LFP battery packs: a 56.2 kWh Pro unit with a WLTP range of 401 km (249 miles), or a 67.1 kWh Pro Max pack offering up to 482 km (300 miles). DC fast charging peaks at 174 kW, allowing a 30-80% charge in as little as 17 minutes.

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The Leapmotor B05 is fitted with a rear-mounted electric motor offering 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS) and 240 Nm (177 lb-ft) of torque. For those seeking better performance, the upcoming B05 Ultra bumps the output figures to 241 hp (180 kW / 245 PS) and 255 Nm (188 lb-ft), combined with a lowered suspension, fatter anti-roll bars, beefier brakes, a more aggressive bodykit, and performance tires.

Generous Equipment

Despite its budget pricing, the Leapmotor B05 is packed with tech. The entry-level Life trim has a comprehensive list of standard equipment, including a 14.6-inch touchscreen, an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, an AI-powered voice assistant with facial recognition, dual-zone climate control, a 360-degree camera, a panoramic glass roof, and a full ADAS suite.

More: This Leapmotor Packs Lamborghini Huracan Power Into A $38K Family SUV

The flagship Design trim adds 19-inch alloy wheels instead of 18-inch units, along with a heated steering wheel and heated, ventilated seats trimmed in eco-leather. It also brings 256-color ambient lighting that reacts to music, plus a more advanced ADAS package.

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The B06 Ultra has not yet been detailed for Europe, though the Chinese version includes a front splitter, side skirts, a rear spoiler, and a rear diffuser, along with unique 19-inch wheels. Inside, it adds sport seats with a massaging function, suede-style upholstery, and LiDAR-based driver assistance systems.

More: Stellantis Turns A Tiny Chinese Hatch Into A Delivery Van That’s Light On The Van Part

In China, the Leapmotor Lafa 5 is even cheaper compared to its EU-spec B05 twin, currently priced between ¥90,800-114,800 ($13,300-16,800). The Lafa 5 Ultra sits at the top of the lineup, priced between 118,800-124,800 ($17,400-18,300). However, it is worth noting that the entry-level variants of the Chinese-spec model have lower output and a smaller battery pack.

 Stellantis’ Cheapest New EV Is Chinese, Made In Europe, And $15K Under Its Own Peugeot
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