2006 Alfa Romeo Brera

Due to go on sale by year's end, the new Alfa Romeo Brera incapsulates those characteristics most synonymous with the brand - sportiness and elegance - in a unique and exclusive style. The harmony of Brera's shape and size, allied to the outstanding engineering and driveability of an Alfa Romeo, makes for a car which is beautiful, strong and sturdy, a car which sets the standards for all coupés

Specifications
Engine		V6
HP		260 HP@ 6300 rpm
Displacement		3195cc (195 cu. in.)
Torque		237 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm
Weight lb (kg)		3593 (1630)
Acceleration 0-62 mph		6.8 sec.
Top speed		149 mph
Driveline		All Wheel Drive
Price (approx)

Engine
Three engines are available: a 2.2L 4-cyl, a 2.4L 4-cyl diesel, and a 3.2L V6 that makes 260 horsepower. Having made its debut in the new Alfa 159, the spirited new quadruple overhead camshaft all-aluminum 24-valve V6 powerplant features both the company’s JTS direct petrol injection system and twin phase continuously variable valve timing.

This outstanding new 3195cc engine takes its name – Jet Thrust Stoichiometric – from its specific combustion system, an original Alfa Romeo concept that involves the high pressure injection of fuel, at 120 bar, directly into the combustion chamber with a stoichiometric mixture optimized to increase engine power and torque first and foremost – thus adapting this technology to the requirements of a sporting car – whilst adopting the stratified charge method to reduce fuel consumption in a limited speed band close to idling. Mated to an F40 6-speed manual transmission and Alfa Romeo’s Q4 permanent four-wheel drive system, the 3.2 liter JTS V6 engine will accelerate the new Alfa Brera from 0-62 mph in 6.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 149 mph. The V6 exhaust system features a first group of catalyzing elements mounted close to the cylinder heads, ensuring optimum operational temperature is achieved as soon as possible after engine start-up.

Styling

The generous dimensions of the new Brera are elegantly compacted through sharp front and rear bodywork tapering, and the exterior is rich in styling cues from Alfa Romeo’s peerless tradition of sporting coupes, from the 1900 SS to the Giulietta Sprint, Alfetta and Giulia Sprint GT. Continuing a design trend prevalent in the recent Alfa Romeo model range, the legendary Villa d’Este style Alfa shield with horizontal chrome bars dominates the front of the Brera. Extending almost full height, the grille bisects an upper air intake housing purposeful, three-lamp headlight clusters, before punctuating a deep front air dam featuring an expansive lower air intake with integral fog lamps. The top of the shield generates powerful bonnet coachwork lines which flow seamlessly into steeply raked A pillars.The 173.8-inch-long car is underpinned by a multilink rear and control arm front suspension and uses three powertrains. Once again, the number plate is offset to the left; a style signature echoing past classics, and unique to Alfa Romeo.

In profile, the new Alfa’s taut, rising waistline flows from the pronounced flare of the front wheel arches to give the Brera an assertive purposeful stance. The cockpit ‘sits’ on a powerful ‘shoulder’, which reaches its broadest point above the rear wheel arch to reinforce the new Brera’s wide track. From the steeply raked windscreen, the ‘A’ pillar flows seamlessly into a low, sweeping roofline, the elegance of which is enhanced by the internal placement of the slender ‘B’ pillar, giving the full-length side glazing a pillarless appearance in classic coupe style.

Unique to this class, the Brera may also be equipped with a fixed, full-length, laminated and tinted glass sunroof incorporating an electrically controlled, three-section interior blind. At the rear, the Brera’s broad ‘shoulders’ taper to the focal point of the Alfa Romeo badge, beneath a steeply raked rear window – reminiscent of the Giulietta Sprint. Integral, color coded bumpers and four chromed, flush mounted exhausts further reinforce the new Brera’s broad, muscular rear end stance. Brera will become available in a choice of 10 colors at launch, including one solid, one special and eight metallic finishes.

Interior

As with all Alfa Romeos, the interior of the new 2+2 Brera coupe is focused on the driver’s immediate surroundings, which have been designed with an emphasis on ergonomic functionality. A height adjustable driver’s seat allied to a rake and reach adjustable, leather clad steering wheel help to guarantee a perfect driving position for the widest possible cross-section of customers.

The driver’s instrument binnacle houses large, deeply hooded speedometer and rev counter dials with subsidiary fuel and temperature gauges in the centre console. A multi-lingual, multi-function display gives access to a wide range of functions as well as the trip computer. The Alfa Brera’s titanium effect or brushed aluminum faced centre console houses a new, electronic key-activated engine start button, the sophisticated, Dual Zone climate controls and a stereo radio/CD player – all within easy operational reach of the driver.

Optional Bose Sound System

The Bose sound system, developed for Alfa Romeo by America’s leading acoustic Hi-Fi company, offers peerless acoustic sophistication, boasting exceptional listening quality for each passenger under all conditions. The 570 watt system comprises a radio/CD player with MP3 compatibility and eight loudspeakers, including a subwoofer built into the luggage compartment with its own 6-channel, 200 watt, digital amplifier for the reproduction of the lowest frequencies. An integrated signal processor automatically adjusts base tones so that they remain natural at any system volume.