2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale jumps on NFT bandwagon to stand out from BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA and Audi Q3

Alfa Romeo has finally lifted the lid on its crucial Tonale small SUV, and it will come with a new piece of tech to differentiate itself from rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLA, Audi Q3 and BMW X1.

In a first for the automotive industry, Alfa Romeo will include non-fungible token (NFT) technology on its Tonale.

“The technology is based on the ‘blockchain card’ concept, a confidential and non-modifiable record of the main stages in the life of an individual vehicle,” the Alfa Romeo release said.

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“With customer’s consent, the NFT will record vehicle data, generating a certificate that can be used as a guarantee that the car has been properly maintained, with a positive impact on its residual value.

“On the pre-owned car market, NFT certification represents an additional source of credibility for owners or dealers to count on. In the meantime, buyers will be reassured in their choice of car.”

Basically, owners of the Tonale can opt in for a digital certificate that their vehicles have been properly serviced and maintained.

CarsGuide has contacted Alfa Romeo Australia to determine if this feature will make it to Australian cars, of if it will be available exclusively for overseas markets.

Regardless, the crucial new Tonale has been confirmed for an Australian arrival in 2023.

Revealed with three engine options, each with some form of electrification to keep fuel consumption and emissions down.

Kicking off the range is a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine with 48-volt mild-hybrid tech punching out 97kW/240Nm.

The more potent hybrid version uses the same-sized engine with a variable-geometry turbocharger for a 119kW output.

Both aforementioned Tonales send drive to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The flagship (for now) plug-in hybrid Tonale pairs a 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine with a 15.5kWh battery pack for a 205kW combined output, as well up to 80km of tailpipe-emissions-free driving range.

With all-wheel-drive traction, the Tonale PHEV can accelerate from zero to 100km/h in just 6.2 seconds.

From the outside, the Tonale sports Alfa Romeo’s signature triangle-shaped front grille, which is flanked by slender three-segment headlights.

The lower from bumper also features prominent air intakes like the Giulia and Stelvio.

The rear of the Tonale features connected tail-lights, while the use of coloured wheelarch cladding instead of black plastic serves up a more premium vibe.

Inside, Alfa Romeo says the Tonale will be fitted with the latest version of the brand’s Uconnect 10.25-inch multimedia system, which comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Safety also plays a key role for the Tonale, with tech like adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, driver attention alert, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring and a surround-view monitor on offer.

Expect to see full pricing and specs closer to the Tonale’s 2023 Australian launch.