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Alfa Romeo Tonale: Why UK Drivers Are Putting the Journey First This Bank Holiday

A new survey commissioned by Alfa Romeo reveals that British motorists are planning to embrace the open road this August Bank Holiday weekend, with millions of drivers expected to cover billions of miles across the UK.

Around one in three UK adults, or 34%, plan to travel by car over the August Bank Holiday weekend, according to new research from Alfa Romeo. Collectively, motorists are expected to cover an estimated 2.3 billion miles, highlighting just how important the car remains for Britain’s traditional weekend escape.

For many drivers, however, the destination is only part of the attraction. The research suggests that the journey itself is becoming an increasingly important part of the weekend getaway, with scenic roads, driving enjoyment and the freedom to explore influencing how people plan their trips.

More Than Half of Drivers Expect to Travel Further

The August Bank Holiday traditionally provides an opportunity for Britons to leave the cities behind and explore more of the country, and this year’s research suggests motorists are prepared to put extra miles on the odometer to do it.

Of those planning to travel, 51% expect to drive further than they normally would on a weekend getaway. Despite the rise of rail travel and other forms of transportation, the car remains the preferred way to enjoy a UK weekend escape for 78% of respondents.

Freedom and flexibility are the biggest reasons for choosing the car, with 47% of those surveyed identifying them as the main appeal. Another 34% say the opportunity to see more of the country is one of the biggest attractions of a road trip.

That combination of flexibility and exploration means the humble road trip remains a compelling proposition for British drivers.

Scenic Routes Are Becoming Part of the Destination

For a growing number of motorists, getting there isn’t simply something to endure before the holiday begins. It is part of the experience.

More than half of respondents, 52%, say they would be willing to drive further than usual to take a more scenic route. Meanwhile, 40% would add up to 30 minutes to their journey if it meant enjoying beautiful scenery along the way.

Almost four in 10 drivers, or 38%, go even further, saying that beautiful scenery during the journey is an essential part of a weekend getaway.

The findings suggest that navigation apps and the fastest possible route aren’t necessarily the only considerations when planning a road trip. For some drivers, a winding country road with spectacular views can be more appealing than shaving a few minutes off the journey.

The Road Can Influence Where Drivers Go

The route itself can also influence the choice of destination. According to the research, 41% of respondents say the roads they need to take influence where they choose to go for a weekend getaway.

For 22%, enjoying the drive is among the most important factors that can make or break a weekend escape.

That puts the driving experience firmly back in the spotlight. Rather than simply viewing a car as transportation between two points, these motorists see the journey as part of the leisure experience.

It is precisely the kind of driving experience Alfa Romeo says it has targeted with the new Tonale.

Alfa Romeo Tonale Targets the Weekend Road Trip

The new Alfa Romeo Tonale is positioned as an SUV for drivers who want practicality without giving up the enjoyment of driving.

The Italian SUV combines Alfa Romeo’s distinctive styling with a chassis, steering and suspension setup designed to deliver a more engaging experience behind the wheel. The company highlights its balanced chassis, direct steering and sporty suspension as key elements of the Tonale’s driving character.

Jules Tilstone, Managing Director of Alfa Romeo UK, said the research shows that the journey remains an important part of the getaway for many British drivers.

“For many British drivers the journey to reach a weekend getaway destination is an important part of the trip itself, with scenic routes and driving enjoyment influencing how they choose to travel,” Tilstone said.

He added that the Tonale is designed to combine the driving experience associated with Alfa Romeo with the practicality required for longer journeys.

Practicality Still Matters on a Long Weekend

While driving enjoyment is clearly important, motorists heading away for several days also need enough space for luggage, passengers and everything else that comes with a bank holiday escape.

The Alfa Romeo Tonale offers up to 500 litres of boot space, which can be expanded to 1,550 litres with the rear seats folded. That gives the compact SUV enough flexibility for longer journeys, particularly when carrying luggage for a family or group of passengers.

Powertrain choice is another part of the Tonale’s appeal. The model is available with hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology, giving buyers different approaches to combining performance, efficiency and everyday usability.

That flexibility is particularly relevant for drivers who may spend a mixture of time navigating urban streets, motorways and scenic country roads during a long weekend.

Drivers Want Time to Switch Off

Perhaps the most revealing statistic in Alfa Romeo’s research is that 54% of respondents consider having time to relax an essential part of a weekend getaway.

The road trip can therefore serve two purposes. It is a practical way of reaching a destination, but it can also provide an opportunity to disconnect from the routine of everyday life.

For drivers who enjoy being behind the wheel, an enjoyable road can become part of that experience. A scenic route, an engaging car and the freedom to stop wherever the mood takes you can turn a straightforward journey into something closer to an adventure.

Why the Car Still Matters for UK Getaways

The research provides an interesting snapshot of Britain’s relationship with the automobile. Even as motorists face rising running costs, changing powertrain technology and increasing alternatives to private-car travel, the freedom offered by a car remains difficult to replace for leisure journeys.

The ability to choose when to leave, alter the route, discover smaller destinations and carry everything needed for a weekend away gives the car an inherent advantage.

And for more than half of those surveyed, the willingness to take a longer or more scenic route demonstrates that speed isn’t always the priority.

Sometimes, the best part of a road trip is simply the road.

Alfa Romeo Tonale: A Road-Trip SUV With Driving Enjoyment in Mind

With 2.3 billion miles expected to be covered across the UK during the August Bank Holiday weekend, British motorists will spend plenty of time behind the wheel.

Alfa Romeo’s research suggests that many of them won’t necessarily want the quickest possible journey. Instead, scenic roads, flexibility and the enjoyment of driving are increasingly important elements of the getaway.

That is the space in which the Alfa Romeo Tonale is looking to make its mark: combining SUV practicality, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains and usable cargo capacity with the sharper driving character traditionally associated with the Alfa Romeo brand.

For motorists who believe that a weekend escape should begin the moment the engine starts, that could make the Tonale an interesting alternative to the more conventional family SUV.

And this August Bank Holiday, with millions of drivers heading onto Britain’s roads, there may be no better reminder that sometimes the journey really is just as important as the destination.

Source: Alfa Romeo

NEW CARS

Alfa Romeo Tonale Makes UK Debut at Inaugural Manchester Motor Show

Alfa Romeo is set to underline its renewed confidence in the compact SUV segment with the UK debut of the updated Tonale, which will be unveiled at the first-ever Manchester Motor Show in January 2026. Making its public bow at the Manchester Central Convention Complex, the new Tonale represents a decisive evolution of the brand’s first C-SUV, sharpening its sporting edge while staying true to Alfa Romeo’s unmistakable Italian design language.

At the heart of the updates lies a renewed focus on driving dynamics – an area where Alfa Romeo continues to differentiate itself from mainstream rivals. The new Tonale promises a more authentic driving experience thanks to near-perfect weight distribution, the most direct steering in its class and dedicated Brembo braking hardware. Complementing these mechanical upgrades is Alfa Romeo’s DSV electronic suspension, designed to strike a careful balance between everyday comfort and the precision expected from the Milanese marque.

Visually, the Tonale has been subtly but effectively reworked. A wider wheel track enhances its stance, while a redesigned front end and updated trilobe grille give the SUV a more assertive road presence. The refreshed look is further supported by the introduction of three new metallic paint finishes, adding extra depth to an already distinctive silhouette.

Powertrain choice remains a key part of Tonale’s appeal. Buyers will be able to choose between hybrid and plug-in hybrid configurations, reinforcing Alfa Romeo’s gradual transition towards electrification without sacrificing performance character. The range will be offered in three trim levels – Tonale, Ti and the sportier Veloce – with the updated model arriving in UK showrooms from the first quarter of 2026.

Beyond the Tonale, visitors to the Manchester Motor Show will be able to explore Alfa Romeo’s wider line-up, including the new Junior in both Ibrida and fully electric Elettrica forms, alongside the high-performance Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio models. Adding a playful twist to the brand showcase, attendees can also test their reactions and competitiveness by playing virtually against Alfa Romeo ambassador and Italian tennis star Jasmine Paolini via a speed-of-serve tennis simulator.

The event also brings tangible incentives for potential buyers, with special offers available on new Alfa Romeo purchases made before the end of January, applicable to both cash and PCP deals.

The inaugural Manchester Motor Show will take place on Saturday 10 January 2026, marking a new chapter for the UK’s automotive event calendar – and providing Alfa Romeo with a high-profile stage to introduce the next evolution of the Tonale.

Source: Alfa Romeo

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2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale – When Passion Meets Precision

There are few things in life more gloriously Italian than a red Alfa Romeo shimmering under Tuscan sunlight. So when the brand decided to launch its refreshed Tonale in Pisa — home of tilting towers, art, and artificial intelligence — it wasn’t just a location choice. It was a statement. Because this isn’t merely a mid-life facelift; it’s Alfa Romeo’s manifesto on how to make technology feel alive.

The New Tonale isn’t shouting for attention with wild wings or outrageous horsepower. Instead, it whispers — beautifully, seductively — that it’s been refined, retuned, and repainted to capture everything Alfa stands for: emotion, balance, and that impossible-to-define quality Italians call “anima” — soul.

Design: Necessary Beauty, Not Optional Drama

You can spot an Alfa Romeo even in silhouette — and this one’s no different. The face is now sharper, with a three-dimensional concave badge inspired by the divine 33 Stradale and a reimagined Trilobo grille that gives it a planted, purposeful stance. The front track is wider, the overhangs shorter, and the whole car sits like it’s flexing before a sprint start.

New 19- and 20-inch wheels — light, sculpted, and unmistakably Alfa — complete the look, while the new Rosso Brera, Verde Monza, and Giallo Ocra paints are pure operatic exuberance. You can even spec a black roof, which makes it look like the world’s most elegant wasp.

The black-and-white Alfa emblems and rear “Tonale” script in stealthy black ink are subtle nods to the brand’s current obsession with minimalism. The result? A C-SUV that looks less like it wants to take the kids to school and more like it wants to overtake the school bus. Twice.

Interior: Espresso Meets Engineering

Slide inside and you’ll instantly understand why Alfa Romeo calls this “necessary beauty.” Everything you touch — from the ribbed red leather cannelloni seats to the Alcantara-wrapped dashboard — feels like it was crafted by people who care about how you feel behind the wheel.

The paddles are still carved from billet aluminum (because of course they are), and now there’s a redesigned rotary gear selector in the center console that feels more Maserati than mainstream. Even the ambient lighting glows in a gradient inspired by the Biscione, the brand’s legendary serpent emblem. Because who else would think to put a mythical snake on the dashboard?

Veloce and Sport Speciale trims add heated everything, a Harman Kardon symphony of 14 speakers, and semi-automatic parking for those who’d rather save their skills for mountain passes than supermarket bays.

Under the Skin: DNA Still Intact

If you’re worried Alfa has gone soft with all this tech and touchscreen talk, fear not. Underneath, the Tonale still plays by Alfa’s old rules: perfect 50:50 balance, lightning-quick steering (13.6:1, the sharpest in class), and suspension that walks the tightrope between comfort and corner-carving.

There’s a choice of three hearts beating under that sculpted bonnet. The 175-horsepower 1.5-liter hybrid is the everyday charmer; the 130-horsepower diesel is for marathon drivers; and the range-topping 270-horsepower Q4 Plug-in Hybrid is the proper enthusiast’s pick. That last one marries electric serenity with all-wheel-drive traction and the kind of mid-corner stability that would make a Stelvio proud.

Every system — from the Dual Stage Valve suspension to the brake-by-wire setup borrowed from the Giulia — is tuned not for spec-sheet heroics, but for that spine-tingling moment when machine and driver stop being separate entities. This is where Alfa still rules.

Tech and Safety: Because Passion Deserves Protection

Alfa’s engineers haven’t forgotten that this century demands silicon alongside soul. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch infotainment system with wireless mirroring, and a swarm of Level 2 driver assists keep things smart and safe.

It’s loaded with radar eyes, drone-view cameras, lane-keeping logic, and adaptive everything. But it never feels intrusive — the car assists, it doesn’t insist. Even the over-the-air updates are there to evolve the car without robbing it of personality.

Trim Tiers: Espresso Shots of Personality

The new Tonale line-up follows the Italian espresso principle: same core blend, different intensity.

  • Tonale: The entry point — elegant, well-specced, and far from basic.
  • Sprint: Adds dark bodywork, 18-inch wheels, and a sportier swagger.
  • Ti: The sophisticated one — red or black leather, heated everything, and that quintessential Italian grand-touring feel.
  • Veloce: The true driver’s choice, complete with DSV adaptive suspension and red Brembos.
  • Sport Speciale: The collector’s launch edition — Alcantara, ambient serpent lighting, and enough exclusivity to make you feel like you own the prototype.

Verdict: The Soul of Alfa, Digitally Remastered

The New Tonale isn’t about reinvention; it’s about refinement. It takes the DNA of the 2022 model — the first Alfa Romeo C-SUV — and fine-tunes it into something more cohesive, more stylish, and, crucially, more Alfa.

It’s faster where it counts, smarter when you need it, and prettier everywhere else. It’s a car that proves technology doesn’t have to kill emotion — it can amplify it.

As CEO Santo Ficili put it: “Technology enhances passion.” And behind the wheel of the New Tonale, that doesn’t sound like marketing. It sounds like the truth.

Finally, an SUV that remembers cars are supposed to make you feel something. Beautiful, balanced, and brimming with Italian soul — the New Tonale is proof that passion can still drive progress.

Source: Stellantis