Essential Winter Maintenance Checklist for Your Alfa Romeo

Even the highest-quality tires will wear down over time, and worn tires make driving difficult or even dangerous. As your Alfa Romeo dealership, we'd like you to know a few signs you need to visit us for a tire service. Tire Bulge A tire bulge appears as a raised area on the tire surface. Bulges usually form if you strike a speed bump or a curb at the wrong angle or if part of the tire is pinched against a solid object. The impact damages the cords that make up the tire, forming an air-filled pocket. The rubber over the affected area is also stretched thinner than it should be. As you drive, the air inside the tires heats up due to friction with the surface. This causes tire pressure to increase and the tires to expand slightly. This extra pressure on the weakened rubber around a bulge can cause it to burst, and your tire will blow out. If you notice a bulge, visit us ASAP. We can't repair the tire's internal damage, but we can replace it quickly so you can drive safely. Bald Tire The tread is the raised section on the part of a tire that's in contact with the surface. It helps the tire to securely grip the surface, improving control while driving and reducing your stopping speed when you brake. Tread is broken up by grooves, which are designed to channel water, mud, or snow behind the tire so they don't collect between the tread and surface and reduce your control. Surface friction causes the tread to steadily wear down, and when the tread thickness reaches 2/32", a tire needs to be replaced. A bald tire has lost almost all its tread and looks smooth. These tires provide almost no surface grip, making it likely that you could lose control if you have to brake suddenly on a slick surface. We'll fit and balance new tires to replace any that are bald. Cupped Tires Cupping is a type of damage that can occur on the outer edges of the tread. It appears as regularly spaced indents where rubber has been scooped out, and is caused by sections of the tire hitting the surface harder than they should. This could be due to worn shocks, which help absorb the impact when you drive over a rough surface. It can also happen if your wheel alignment is incorrect. Our technicians can correct any wheel alignment issues or replace worn shocks while you wait. We'll also check the cupped tires to ensure they are still safe to drive on. Contact our service department today at Criswell Alfa Romeo in Germantown, MD.

2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale: A Compact SUV With Proper Alfa Hardware The 2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale occupies an interesting corner of the compact luxury SUV world. It has the touchscreen, heated seats, driver assistance, and cargo-friendly shape expected of the breed, but Alfa Romeo has also given it a 268 hp T urbocharged engine, Q4 All-Wheel Drive, selectable driving modes, and, on the right trim, adaptive suspension and Brembo® brakes. For drivers around Germantown, MD, there's some proper engineering beneath the Italian tailoring. A 268 hp Turbo Engine Sets the Tone The Tonale uses a 2.0L T urbocharged 4-cylinder producing 268 hp and 295 lbs. ft. of torque, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. Q4 All-Wheel Drive is standard on Sprint. The Alfa Romeo DNA Selector gives the driver 3 distinct calibrations: Dynamic sharpens throttle, braking, and steering response, Natural handles more conventional driving, and Advanced Efficiency adjusts operation with reduced fuel consumption in mind. It's a straightforward system, but one that acknowledges the driver may want the Tonale to behave differently on a favorite road than it does crossing town. Sprint Is Hardly a Stripped-Down Starting Point The entry-level Sprint already receives Frequency Damping Suspension and 18-inch 5-hole aluminum wheels, along with adaptive LED headlamps. Inside are heated front seats, a heated sport steering wheel, and 12-way power front seats with 4-way lumbar adjustment. A 10.25-inch Uconnect® 5 NAV touchscreen sits alongside a 12.3-inch Driver Information Display, with wireless charging, Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto™, remote start, rain-sensing wipers, and front and rear Park-Sense® assistance also included. Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning with Stop, Pedestrian/Cyclist Emergency Braking, Blind-Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Path Detection, Adaptive Cruise Control with Full Stop, and Lane Keep Assist give Sprint a substantial driver-assistance package from the outset. Veloce Is Where the Chassis Gets More Interesting Veloce adds the equipment keen drivers are likely to notice first: adaptive suspension and Brembo® front brakes. The latter use red-painted calipers with white Alfa Romeo script, sitting behind 19-inch Diamond-Cut 5-hole wheels. Gloss-black exterior details and a hands-free power liftgate are also included, but the mechanical additions are more significant than the decoration. Inside, leather-trimmed ventilated front seats are joined by an Alcantara®-wrapped dashboard and armrest, aluminum pedals and door sills, and ambient lighting. Column-mounted paddle shifters are listed for late availability, while a harman / kardon ® sound system and 20-inch wheels are available. Sport Speciale Turns Up the Visual Drama Sport Speciale takes a more conspicuous approach, starting with standard 20-inch Diamond-Cut aluminum wheels and unique silver Brembo® brake calipers carrying white Alfa Romeo script. Silver exterior moldings and Speciale badging continue the theme. The cabin is more adventurous still, using Black and Pearl Alcantara® seating with Ice-colored seatbacks and inserts. Available dual-mode suspension adds another performance-oriented element, while a harman / kardon ® sound system, black roof, and Active Assist Package can further expand the specification. Interior imagery also shows a leather-wrapped steering wheel and aluminum paddle shifters, details entirely in keeping with the Tonale's sporting brief. The Brembo® Setup Is More Than Red Calipers The Tonale's braking system deserves attention because Alfa Romeo hasn't treated braking feel as an afterthought. Its Integrated Braking System uses brake-by-wire technology designed to improve response and pedal feel. Available Brembo® hardware adds fixed ventilated front calipers and rear discs, with 4-piston hardware intended to provide strong braking performance as conditions change. Combined with the available adaptive suspension, it gives the upper Tonale trims mechanical substance to accompany their more assertive appearance. Explore the 2026 Tonale at Criswell Alfa Romeo The 2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale remains a practical compact SUV, but its specification has some distinctly Alfa Romeo priorities. There are 268 hp and 295 lbs. ft. of torque, Q4 AWD, the DNA Selector, and available adaptive suspension and Brembo® braking hardware. Visit Criswell Alfa Romeo in Germantown, MD, to c ompare the Tonale Sprint, Veloce, and Sport Speciale or schedule a test drive online.

The 2026 Alfa Romeo Giulia: Italian Performance Without Limits Do you want a luxury sedan, but want one that isn’t boring? T he 2026 Alfa Romeo Giulia is what you’re looking for, it combines sharp looks with spirited performance that can’t be ignored. This is a car built around excitement - featuring best-in-class horsepower with its standard turbo engine and 0-60 times of 5.1 seconds with available all-wheel drive. For drivers in Germantown, MD, this is one of the most compelling options in the luxury sedan segment today. A Powertrain Built for Passion At the heart of the 2026 Alfa Romeo Giulia is an all- aluminum 2.0 L turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 280 h p and 306 lb-ft of torque. It pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission with manual mode, and you can choose between rear-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive through the Q4 system. The available DNA Drive Mode Selector lets you switch between Dynamic, Natural, and Advanced Efficiency modes to match your driving style at any moment. Two Trims, One Character The 2026 Alfa Romeo Giulia is offered in two configurations: the standard Giulia and the Veloce package. The base model comes with an 18-in Dark Turbine alloy wheel, a sport front fascia, a Dark V Scudetto grille, and the option of a dual-pane sunroof. Inside, you'll find leather-trimmed sport seats in standard black or available red, a heated steering wheel, and front and rear heated seats. For buyers who want to learn all about the 2026 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce, that package adds red painted brake calipers, gloss black window surrounds, aluminum paddle shifters, black sport leather-trimmed seats with power bolster, and a Veloce-specific rear bumper with diffuser. A Tech-Forward Interior Step inside the Giulia and you'll find a 12.3-in color digital cluster display - unsurpassed in its class - along with an 8.8-in multitouch display with interactive widgets. An available 14-speaker Harman Kardon ® Premium Audio system delivers concert-quality sound on every drive. A wireless charging pad keeps your phone powered without a cable, and the available onboard Wi-Fi hotspot keeps every passenger connected. Real aluminum trim inserts, perforated leather-trimmed shift knob, and acoustic laminated glass complete the refined cabin experience. Safety Systems That Keep You Confident The 2026 Alfa Romeo Giulia comes loaded with technology designed to support attentive driving. Standard features include LaneSense Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Path Detection, Traffic Sign Recognition, And Driver Attention Alert. The available active driving assist package adds intelligent speed assist for even more support. Full Speed Forward Collision Warning Plus rounds out the safety suite by alerting you to potential frontal impacts and automatically engaging the brakes if needed. Connectivity That Works for You Alfa Connect Services bring a range of remote capabilities to the 2026 Alfa Romeo Giulia. Through the Alfa Romeo app, you can lock and unlock doors, control climate settings, and monitor your vehicle's health remotely. The SOS Call Assist feature connects you with a dedicated support team in any emergency. Navigation with real-time traffic and weather updates helps you plan smarter routes, and you can even send directions from your phone directly to the onboard system before you leave home. Visit Criswell Alfa Romeo to Experience It for Yourself If you've been curious to learn all about the 2026 Alfa Romeo Giulia's capabilities up close, there's no better way than seeing it in person. The 2026 Alfa Romeo Giulia offers a rare combination of Italian style, performance, and modern technology that's hard to find in this segment. Visit Criswell Alfa Romeo online at alfaromeousaofgermantown.com to browse current inventory, explore trim options, and schedule your test drive today. Drivers throughout Germantown, MD, are just a short trip away from discovering what makes this sedan truly special.