Alfa Romeo Considering Tonale Quadrifoglio, but Cautious About Diluting the Brand

The performance division of Alfa Romeo, known as Quadrifoglio, currently offers two high-performance vehicles: the Giulia Quadrifoglio and Stelvio Quadrifoglio. These models are equipped with a potent 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 engine delivering 505 horsepower. The brand recently introduced the Tonale crossover, which lacks a high-performance variant. The head of Alfa Romeo North America hinted that this might not change.

Larry Dominique, the Senior Vice President and Head of Alfa Romeo and Fiat North America, expressed to The Drive that if the Tonale cannot match the performance leap seen in the current models, he is hesitant to diminish the Quadrifoglio’s prestige.

“If the Tonale cannot offer a similar level of performance enhancement as our existing models, we won’t pursue it,” stated Dominique, responding to inquiries about competing with BMW’s M-Sport or AMG’s 43/53 models from Jerry Perez, the Deputy Editor at The Drive.

“CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato and I are receptive to the idea, but under the condition of maintaining exceptional performance levels,” he further explained.

While the base Tonale is commendable, providing 285 hp with its plug-in hybrid system powered by a 1.3-liter engine and rear electric motor, the power output is akin to non-Quad Giulias and Stelvios. Achieving Quadrifoglio-level performance would require reaching power figures in the range of 450 to 500 horsepower.

It seems that a potential Tonale Quadrifoglio would be an ultra-high-performance crossover. It’s a hefty amount of power, approximately 20 gigatons, for a vehicle styled in a compact, rounded shape.

Dominique mentioned that they weren’t directly involved in the development of the car under their leadership, thus the platform’s specifications were predetermined.

“The platform and powertrain foundation for the Tonale were established prior to our tenure, and we are currently exploring options, but have yet to find a satisfactory solution,” he explained.

“While we aim to offer more enhanced versions of our mainstream trims like Veloce, the Quadrifoglio must remain superior in all aspects,” he emphasized. “I intend to maintain the integrity of the Quadrifoglio brand unaltered.”

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