The Alfa Romeo Tonale, the hybrid SUV emblematic of the Milanese brand's revival, is now at the center of an unexpected controversy. The UNARMA union, representing some of Italy's carabinieri, has lodged an official complaint with the Rome public prosecutor's office, denouncing the Tonale's unsuitability for field missions.
An SUV deemed unfit for service
Since June 2023, several Tonales, in their 160 hp version with seven-speed automatic gearbox, have been integrated into the law enforcement fleet for mobile patrol missions. These vehicles have been modified for service: partial armouring, a cell for arrested persons, blue LED lights, radio equipment, etc.
But according to UNARMA's first-hand accounts, the vehicle's handling would be problematic in emergency situations, such as high-speed pursuits or on rough roads, a common terrain for carabinieri. Several agents claim that these defects could endanger their safety and compromise the effectiveness of interventions.
A series of incidents
The complaint refers to a growing number of internal reports, and also mentions accidents involving recently delivered Tonales.
Although the Tonale is considered safe for everyday driving by the general public, the question raised here concerns exclusively intensive operational use by law enforcement agencies, where stresses are much higher.
The UNARMA union goes to the front
In an official statement, Antonio Nicolosi, UNARMA's national general secretary, denounced an "unacceptable" situation: "It is the responsibility of the administration to guarantee safe, reliable means that are fully adapted to operational requirements. We will not stop until everything is cleared up."
UNARMA is requesting a full investigation, including access to technical documents, supply contracts, acceptance reports and test results. The union stresses that this action is aimed at protecting agents, not tarnishing Alfa Romeo's image.
A sensitive case for Alfa Romeo
This issue is all the more sensitive in that it comes at a time when the Tonale will soon benefit from an update this year. For Alfa Romeo and StellantisThe Tonale is a strategic model.
It now remains to be seen whether this complaint will result in a change of specification for service vehicles, or even a change of supplier for future fleets destined for the Carabinieri. For the time being, to the best of our knowledge, the police had Alfa Romeo Junior delivered to thembut not the carabinieri.
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I own a Tonale PHEV and while I love it as a family car, it's not really a sports car. It has great acceleration, but that's the only "sporty" thing about it. I've had many occasions where it doesn't stick to the road in tight corners, doesn't brake fast enough and generally feels like a tall, heavy SUV. The Italian police should have bought Giulia cars instead.
Yes, of course, this Tonale order is. Completely illogical, a sports car is basically a rear-wheel drive vehicle, which is what carabinieri have always had; Guilia in the 60s and 70s, Alfetta, Alfa 75 and 90....
In short, sporty sedans, not family Suvs, which aren't Alfa Romeo at all...
Finally people who know what an Alfa Romeo should be, it should not look like a truck as I keep saying, thanks again to Carlos Tavares for his sabotage of our beautiful Italian car industry.
The Tonale dates back to before Picsouvares...
Mi sembra strano. A meno che i C.C. volessero un fuoristrada con tenuta di strada sul veloce simile ad una berlina sportiva! La Tonale è un SUV medio "tranquillo". O lo si modifica pesantemente su sospensioni ammortizzatori impianto frenante ecc.ecc. e si può strapazzarlo a dovere, o lo si usa per altre mansioni.
Ma dico: provarlo prima, NO????
Purtroppo da quando Alfa, Fiat e lancia sono state comprate dai francesi di STELLANTIS.......le auto italiane non vanno bene.
Logico la concorrenza è super agguerrita,specie la Tonale fa cagxxe
What suffering for an Alfaist to see what the brand is becoming, Peugeot chassis and engines, loss of style and sportiness, forced electrification... added to the technocratic and ideological European regulations that are ruining the industry... let's hope that Alfa will quickly get its act together, a century of automotive history.
Unless I'm mistaken, the Tonale is a specific Alfa base and not derived from PSA's EMP2s, which are actually quite efficient...
Misplaced bashing.
And no, it's not Alfa Romeo-specific at all, it's based on a Jeep Compass...
The tonal
Mhev 160 CV ha un bel motore ma il cambio anche usato in manuale è lento i blocchi elettronici escludono manovre di emergenza (senza Cintura non si parte) ed il freno di emergenza elettrico esclude le tipiche manovre testa coda degli inseguimenti
Bella suv da famiglia ma inadatta alle forze di Polizia
Hello,
The many "glowing" comments about Stellantis, Carlos Tavares and, more broadly, the French, in connection with this publication leave me wondering. Either the people who publish them are misinformed, or they are conveying misinformation. After all, the Tonale is a pure FCA product, developed under FCA on an FCA platform. Only the commercial launch took place under Stellantis. Not that C. Tavares is a friend of mine, but it seems he's got a good back in any situation this rich boy... 😉
I think people have already labelled Alfa Romeo as a Peugeot in disguise, rightly or wrongly, quite simply... and in this case it's Stellantis' fault.
And the future Stelvio, which looks more like a DS/Peugeot than an Alfa Romeo, won't help matters...
Der Tonale hat für einen Alfa Romeo zu wenig Qualität bei Motor und Fahrwerk, das Getriebe ist zu lahm und schlecht abgestimmt.
Wer Alfa fährt will kleinen verkleideten Peugeot bekommen.
...la parziale blindatura effettuata avrà alterato la distribuzione dei pesi della vettura sbilanciandola in determinate condizioni!
Oppure i Carabinieri non le sanno guidare!
An Alfa Romeo "under investigation" for poor roadholding... thanks Elkann.
So much for trying to create a sporty image based on a Jeep Compass...
The 160 hp Tonale, plus the weight of the armor, a tall SUV body, and it's used for high-speed driving? There's a problem: it's unsuitable for sporty driving, or for chasing a more powerful car. You should have chosen a more powerful Stelvio, or a Giulia.
The carabinieri are even spoiled! compared to our gendarmes with Alpines on the freeways! real soaps, vehicles totally contrary to fast interventions and pursuits ... on Motorways! Bravo to the decision-makers, civil servants who surely have no idea of the realities of fast driving... in all weathers!
Merci Thank you merci a vous