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Alfa Romeo has unveiled the first teaser image of the model that will replace its Tonale compact crossover, which is scheduled to make its debut in early 2028.

The teaser highlights the car’s rear quarter, revealing a sharper new tail-light design and a sculpted rear wing. These elements suggest that the new model could feature a sleeker, coupé-inspired roofline compared to the more upright profile of the current Tonale.

This upcoming vehicle, which is yet to receive an official name, will be one of two Alfa Romeo offerings in the C-segment — a crucial category within the European market — as the Italian marque aims to re-establish its foothold in the mainstream segment.

Like the spiritual successor to the Giulietta hatchback, the new crossover will be built on Stellantis’s latest multi-energy STLA One platform, which spans multiple segments and supports various powertrain types.

Alfa Romeo has already confirmed that the Giulietta successor will be available with both internal combustion and electric powertrains to broaden its customer base. The same dual-powertrain strategy will be carried over to the Tonale’s successor.

The petrol-powered variants are expected to use upgraded versions of the mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid systems currently utilised across other Stellantis brands.

During Stellantis’s investor day in May, Alfa Romeo stated that it intends to “leverage Stellantis’ global scale while differentiating its offering to continue developing authentic Alfa Romeos”, reaffirming its commitment to brand identity even amid larger corporate synergies.

The upcoming crossover will play a key role in Alfa Romeo’s future, especially since the Tonale ranked as the brand’s second-highest-selling model globally in 2025. Its top performer, however, was the smaller Junior crossover.

The fate of Alfa Romeo’s flagship models — the Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV — remains uncertain. Both models were temporarily discontinued in September 2025, only to have production resumed a few months later due to delays in developing their successors.

The next-generation Giulia and Stelvio were initially planned as all-electric vehicles but have since been delayed to allow the integration of hybrid powertrains.

In May, Alfa Romeo noted that it was “studying solutions to continue operating in the D-segment”, suggesting that further adjustments and possible postponements could be on the horizon.

The current Giulia and Stelvio are confirmed to stay in production and on sale until at least 2027.

Alfa Romeo’s global sales increased by 20% last year, reaching approximately 73,000 units. This growth was largely driven by the ramp-up in production and deliveries of the high-volume Junior crossover.

The Tonale received a design refresh and several mechanical updates in October, though it remains to be seen how successful these revisions will prove in the market.

According to information obtained by Autocar, fewer than 200 units of the updated Tonale have been sold since its arrival in UK dealerships in January.