Photo: Stellantis
The Alfa Romeo Tonale has tried on a police suit in a premiere, and it's not just for size. The premium subcompact crossover has joined the Carabinieri fleet in Italy, and the first copy, which is part of a batch comprising 400 cars, was delivered earlier this week in Rome to the General Command of the Carabinieri.
As usual, all Alfa Romeo Tonale cop cars destined for the Carabinieri feature a dark blue color on the outside with red and white shades. It's equipped with emergency lights, strobe lights, and a two-tone electronic siren.
To keep occupants safe in case things go south, it features partial armoring and gets a single cell at the rear to transport prisoners. Moreover, the Italian car firm says the Carabinieri's Tonale was modified to house the specific equipment comprising bulletproof vets, high-visibility torches, and long firearms, so it's always ready for duty.
Power-wise, it comes with a 1.5-liter gasoline engine assisted by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system for a combined output of 163 horsepower delivered to the wheels through a dual-clutch seven-speed automatic transmission. It won't break any speed records, but it will still do the 0 to 62 miles per hour (0 to 100 kph) in a decent time estimated at under eight seconds.
Alfa Romeo says this is the first time a compact crossover is used by the Carabinieri, speaking about the "greater versatility in carrying out the service" and mentioning the "significant increase in the level of comfort guaranteed to the operating personnel" said to be "especially useful during long shifts." Moreover, the decision to go for a hybrid vehicle "represents the Arma's commitment to environmental protection."
Anyone who knows a thing or two about Alfa Romeo and the Carabinieri can tell you that this is not their first collaboration. In fact, the automaker and the police fleet have been holding hands since after the end of World War II. The first Alfa used by the Carabinieri was the 1900 M Matta in 1951, and a year later, the 1900 Sedan joined it. The original Giulia was in service from 1963 to 1968, and the offering then comprised the Alfetta, 90, 75, 155, 156, and the very pretty albeit problematic 159. As for the hottest Alfa Romeo to take on this duty, it is none other than the Giulia Quadrifoglio, a rival to the likes of the BMW M3 and four-door Mercedes-AMG C 63.
Previewed by a concept back in 2019, the Alfa Romeo Tonale was unveiled over a year ago. You can consider it one of the most important products for the brand in recent history, as it is their most affordable crossover, sitting under the premium compact Stelvio. The Tonale shares its construction with the Jeep Compass, and it joins the Stelvio and Giulia, as well as their Quadrifoglio range-topping versions, in the United States, where it has an MSRP of $42,995.
To keep occupants safe in case things go south, it features partial armoring and gets a single cell at the rear to transport prisoners. Moreover, the Italian car firm says the Carabinieri's Tonale was modified to house the specific equipment comprising bulletproof vets, high-visibility torches, and long firearms, so it's always ready for duty.
Power-wise, it comes with a 1.5-liter gasoline engine assisted by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system for a combined output of 163 horsepower delivered to the wheels through a dual-clutch seven-speed automatic transmission. It won't break any speed records, but it will still do the 0 to 62 miles per hour (0 to 100 kph) in a decent time estimated at under eight seconds.
Alfa Romeo says this is the first time a compact crossover is used by the Carabinieri, speaking about the "greater versatility in carrying out the service" and mentioning the "significant increase in the level of comfort guaranteed to the operating personnel" said to be "especially useful during long shifts." Moreover, the decision to go for a hybrid vehicle "represents the Arma's commitment to environmental protection."
Anyone who knows a thing or two about Alfa Romeo and the Carabinieri can tell you that this is not their first collaboration. In fact, the automaker and the police fleet have been holding hands since after the end of World War II. The first Alfa used by the Carabinieri was the 1900 M Matta in 1951, and a year later, the 1900 Sedan joined it. The original Giulia was in service from 1963 to 1968, and the offering then comprised the Alfetta, 90, 75, 155, 156, and the very pretty albeit problematic 159. As for the hottest Alfa Romeo to take on this duty, it is none other than the Giulia Quadrifoglio, a rival to the likes of the BMW M3 and four-door Mercedes-AMG C 63.
Previewed by a concept back in 2019, the Alfa Romeo Tonale was unveiled over a year ago. You can consider it one of the most important products for the brand in recent history, as it is their most affordable crossover, sitting under the premium compact Stelvio. The Tonale shares its construction with the Jeep Compass, and it joins the Stelvio and Giulia, as well as their Quadrifoglio range-topping versions, in the United States, where it has an MSRP of $42,995.
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