‘I see cars as a window to the world’

Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, pictured above, doesn’t just design cars – he tells stories through metal and high-tech composites. As head of design at Alfa Romeo, he’s responsible for shaping the future of one of Italy’s most iconic marques – all while honouring its past. With a career spanning three decades and a CV that includes some of Europe’s biggest carmakers, he brings a rare blend of technical precision and emotional intuition. His work is about more than performance – it’s about what a car means to the person driving it.

Here, he shares seven guiding inspirations – from science fiction to sustainability – that shape how he thinks, designs and pushes the conversation forward.

Balancing tradition with innovation is a normal challenge for designers, says Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos. “Design is about making things better, innovating and moving forward,” he notes. “But it’s also about keeping the brand’s heritage in mind. Sometimes a smooth evolution is right, other times the brand perception needs to make a big jump.”

It’s a tension at the heart of automotive design – particularly for a legacy brand like Alfa Romeo, steeped in Italian craftsmanship and cultural cachet. For Mesonero-Romanos, who brings three decades of experience to the table, it’s also what keeps him passionate. “I’ve been designing cars for 30 years, and I still have fun every day,” he says. “Even when some days are not easy. I came to Alfa Romeo because I love the brand, Italian cars and Italy; simple.”

The comparison between designing a car and directing a film feels fitting. “Both answer the need for creation – making something that didn’t exist before. The first thing you need in both fields is a purpose, an idea, a message to convey. And they must both please.”

Naturally, there are practical differences. “A car has functionality; you’ll live with it every day for several years. It serves a practical purpose.” But emotionally, both need to resonate, “Sometimes, I see cars as a window to the world,” says Mesonero-Romanos. “When you drive for long hours, the scenery passes by like a movie, with people and things parading in front of you. There’s real communication there, pure entertainment. At least when I travel for pleasure, that’s how I feel.”

For Mesonero-Romanos, staying ahead of the curve is also about curiosity. “We try to see trends coming by being curious. By looking to things and people around us, and, of course, to what is happening in terms of technology,” he explains. “Each step in tech means a step in design. Our designers have their eyes wide open to every advancement that could help us create better design. Our limits usually come from the finance department…”

Mesonero-Romanos is clear: sustainability isn’t a buzzword – it’s at the core of his design. “It involves low weight, aerodynamics, recycled materials and efficient manufacturing processes. These elements are interconnected, and sometimes we need to balance them with customer demands.”

These demands for more space, extra features and safety often translates to heavier designs. “Our job as designers and engineers is to find the best solutions to match customer wants with the sustainability we need. We are always working towards that.” What some might not know is that: “Modern cars, made up of around 30,000 separate pieces, are on average 80–90 per cent recyclable.”

Film plays a key role in shaping public imagination – and car design is no exception. “Science fiction is especially inspiring for designers because it imagines things that don’t yet exist,” he explains. “For example, Star Trek featured portable phones decades before they hit the market. And do you remember K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider? That didn’t just show autonomous driving – it also introduced a version of Alexa or Siri.”

As for his personal favourites? “Blade Runner with its flying cars, or Tron, evoke new ideas and unmet features – things some people hope will happen one day. They’re both fun and inspiring. I also love Mad Max; it depicts a decadent world in a very entertaining way with great, provocative designs.”

Can a car be as iconic as the actor driving it? “I think so,” says Mesonero-Romanos. “As long as they are acclaimed or recognised universally. I think again of those scenes in The Graduate or an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider.”

From The Graduate to Quantum of Solace, Alfa Romeo has long had a cinematic role that mirrors its real-life character – glamorous, with a side of rebellion. “Italian cars in movies are often related to the dolce vita, showcasing Italy and its amazing beauty,” says Mesonero-Romanos. “This is true also for Alfa Romeo; think of To Rome with Love, for example. Many Italian cars, including Alfa Romeo, have been featured in crime-related movies, often playing the role of the ‘bad guy with style’… such as Quantum of Solace in 2008…”

If the brand had a genre, he’d pick two: “Romance because Alfa Romeo is emotional… people who fall in love with people and objects. Cultivated people, in my opinion. And noir because, especially in Italy, Alfa Romeos were frequently used by criminals or police. Banditi a Milano [Bandits in Milan] or Napoli Violenta [Violent Naples], for example, are great Italian movies where you see those Alfas gliding around Naples or Rome in hands of the bad guys or the police.”

For this designer, cars don’t just move people physically – they move them emotionally. That’s the point. Whether it’s a 1960s roadster or the cutting-edge Junior Elettrica, “Alfa Romeo is emotional. It pleases people that are in search of emotions.”

The new Alfa Romeo Junior is available as Hybrid or fully-electric. Book your test drive