Alfa Romeo Tonale joins Italian Carabinieri fleet

Alfa Romeo has delivered a total of 400 examples of the Tonale to the Italian Carabinieri, the national gendarmerie of Italy.

The new cars will be utilised by the Carabinieri's mobile radio units, and join the force's fleet of Alfa Romeo Giulias to raise efficiency of its emergency response further. It is this precise responsiveness that has earned the force and its fleet the nickname 'Gazelle' and inspired its insignia - a bolt of lightning and a jumping gazelle.

The Alfa Romeo Tonales delivered to the force come in a red and blue livery, mirroring the colours of the mobile radio unit

The Alfa Romeo Tonales supplied to the force come equipped with a 161bhp 1.5-litre engine paired to a seven-speed automatic transmission. On the outside, they sport a red and blue livery complete with a white roof, mirroring the colours of the mobile radio unit.

The cars are also said to be partially armoured to protect the officers, and come with a single cell for the secure transport of prisoners, as well as a two-tone electronic siren and flashing blue LED lights.

The interior of the cars have also been redesigned and modified to provide officers with maximum comfort, as well as to house specific equipment including bulletproof vests, high-visibility torches, and long firearms.

The partnership between Alfa Romeo and the Carabinieri is said to have first begun in 1951, and Alfa Romeo states the force has utilised a host of its vehicles including the Alfetta, 90, 75, 155, 156, 159 and the Giulia Quadrifoglio.