There have been – as beforehand reported – many adjustments going down inside design at FCA’s European design facility because the Italy-based firm and French producer PSA merged to kind the Stellantis Group at the beginning of the yr. Moreover the appointment of Francois Leboine to move the Fiat-Abarth manufacturers and the welcome announcement of the revival of the Lancia model (which is able to now be led by Stellantis Chief Design Officer Jean-Pierre Ploué), it has now been confirmed that Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos would be the new Head of Design for Alfa Romeo.

Mesonero-Romanos will be part of the Stellantis Group on July 1, 2021, and take over management of the Alfa Romeo marque, reporting to Ploué. Whereas it might appear unusual to nominate a Spaniard to steer the design route of the enduring Italian model, Mesonero-Romanos’ historical past and expertise seems completely in tune with the brand new alternative, regardless of his passport.

Previous to his short-lived appointment as design director for the Dacia model, Mesonero-Romanos lead the renaissance of VW Group’s Spanish subsidiary Seat and spearheaded the Cupra efficiency sub-brand offshoot. His work on the Cupra Tavascan and Formentor fashions aptly demonstrates his understanding of the sporting premium class, whereas his capacity to steer the staff that designed the fourth-generation Seat Leon and fifth-generation Ibiza and Arona demonstrates how his forward-thinking design can present stimulus to and improve a model’s attraction.

“Alejandro’s arrival represents an amazing alternative for Alfa Romeo,” Jean-Pierre Ploué mentioned in a press release. “Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos is a automobile fanatic and did a beautiful job at Cupra. The design staff and I sit up for working with him.”

Mesonero-Romano’s mission will probably be to refresh Alfa Romeo, modernizing the model and its processes from an inside, structural perspective, whereas concentrating on the event of future merchandise worthy of the heralded Trefoil face. He will even want to steer the event of electrified autos for Alfa Romeo, which has seen legendary racing victories over its 110-year historical past. Attributing new values to a model so steeped in heritage won’t be a straightforward feat, however given Mesonero-Romanos’ background, we’re sure he’ll be as much as the problem.

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Amidst this wrath of adjustments, earlier Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Fiat, Abarth and Maserati Head of Design Klaus Busse has been assigned to steer the Maserati model’s design effort completely, which is able to allow him to concentrate on the crown jewel of Stellantis’ European model portfolio. Alongside Ploué, Leboine and now Mesonero-Romanos, the Stellantis design management staff has been fully reborn.

Mesonero-Romanos, an alumnus of the Royal School of Artwork, started his design profession at SEAT in 1994. In 2001 he went to work for Renault Group earlier than returning to SEAT as design director a decade later. His relationship with Luca de Meo, now CEO at Renault, flourished whereas at SEAT and he joined Renault Group in summer time 2020. He resigned from Renault Group in April 2021.