Alfa Romeo
Brera - is a mid-size coupe, a direct competitor to the BMW 3-series Coupe,
Mercedes CLK and Audi A5. At first glance, it is clear - the car is unified
with the family 159, and this is true - you can find here the same technical stuffing, the same interior and
even the design of the front end. "Brera" is, in fact, the “159 coupe”
- it's not extreme "hot hatch", but luxurious and prestigious car
with a sporty character.
Exterior
Like any
Alfa, Brera is damn beautiful. She has her own character, and it’s especially
pleasant that this time it’s a character of a severe man. Appearance is very agressive,
especially when painted in black Alfa Nero. The design is a sense of latent
power, aggression, bordering on rage.
From front
, Brera - the spitting image of sedan 159, and at first glance there are no
differences between them. And yet, on closer inspection you notice a slightly different
bumper and a more modest-sized grille.
Another difference – side mirrors on Brera
have a different structure and a rough design. Rear end looks massive and
heavy, it is promoted and wide rear pillars and narrow lights. Last predatory
narrowed, and four pipe exhaust system clearly hint at sporty - as it should.
Inside
Brera’s
interior almost fully repeats those of 159, with the exception of a new sports
seats and door panels, which are reissued. Front panel, a gift that carried
over from the normal sedan, and looks great in a sports coupe. In front of the
driver - a speedometer and tachometer, between which sat a large display of
board computer. All additional pointers in best Alfa’s tradition were moved to
the center console and deployed to the driver. The very same central panel
lavishly trimmed with aluminum, which, coupled with three circular vents
ventilation creates a true Alfa’s “cuore sportivo”.
Tactile
sensation in Brera – on the highest level. In addition to a pleasant
"metallic" chill central panel you will find here expensive leather seats and
high-quality plastic. The quality of the interior is on the high level, bourgeois elegance and polish
"Brera" does not hold. Alfa Romeo offers a whole bunch of possible
color combinations of Brera’s interior, including both the skin of different
colors and different finishes the front. Also you can also order a glass roof
Sky View - this is a real find for fans to travel by car.
Practicality?
This word is unknown for Brera. The rear seats - only nominal, they will fit only
children. Trunk? Yes, it is. But it’s small (253 liters) and complicated for
access by the narrow aperture and high loading height.
Driving is
solid, reliable and moderately spotry. Steering wheel is very sharp - from stop
to stop it makes only 2.2 turns. Stiffer suspension reduces your rolls in
corners. It’s a big pleasure to take turns driving Brera - the steering wheel is very informative. But
no more. Little lacking discipline, and most annoying - there is nothing that
can be identified as unambiguously “alfish”! We can only be satisfied rumbling
engine - the sound is still very "Italian" and melodiou, regardless
of the number of cylinders.
Versions and pricing
The base
model is equipped with a four-cylinder engine with capacity of 2.2 liters and
185 hp which works in pair with the 6-speed "mechanics". Power is
quite solid, but that the dynamics is not impressive - according to the manufacture’s
data 0-100 km/h takes 8.6 s, and the max speed - 222 km/h. Not too much, but this is the most
cheapest version. With this engine new Brera
will cost € 29,990, which is comparable with the main competitor (the most
affordable BMW 3-series Coupe E92 is estimated at € 27 300). Basic equipment of
Brera partially justifies the high cost - all cars are equipped with seven
airbags and the latest electronic systems (ABS, EBD, ESP with Hill Holder),
bi-xenon headlights, separate climate control, full power accessories
(including the electric driver's seat) leather interior, BOSE acoustics with
subwoofer and alloy wheels, measuring 18 inches.
Go up a
notch in the Italian ranking table - Brera 2.2 Selespeed, priced from € 31,490.
Selespeed – Alfa’s robotic gearbox without a clutch pedal, which is well known
from other models of Alfa Romeo. Its distinctive features - the ability to work
in automatic or manual mode, the presence of City mode and steering wheel
"petals" for quick switching. Italians say that there is no loss in
power during the shift, and it seems this is true - the dynamic characteristics
do not differ from the normal version wih the mechanical gearbox. But switching
sometimes are hard and sometimes are not logical.
Alfa Brera 3.2 Review
At the top
of range - Brera 3.2 JTS Q4. Engine - the six-cylinder (260 hp), the drive –
complete AWD. There are no front-wheel "Brera" with V6 - this engine
comes exclusively paired with AWD transmission Q4, which implies a self-locking
front differential and center differential Torsen. Characteristically, under
normal conditions up to 53% of torque is
transmitted to the rear axle - the designers sought to give Brera rear wheel
drive habits.
Nevertheless,
the dynamics of the top Brera 3.2 JTS V6 with a manual transmission is not
quite the one that you expect from a top-coupé of Alfa Romeo - to disperse
hundreds of 6.8 seconds and a top speed - 240 km/h.
There is also
a Brera diesel, with a magnificent
five-cylinder 2,4 JTDm and two hundred horses.
Summary
Brera is
great! Not a "sporty", but rather luxuriously comfortable. It looks
and drives excellent, but without spark. Stylish and eye-catching looks in
couple with a chic and stylish interior will surely be a major attraction for
buyers, and technical issues will recede into the background.
Technical
stuffing, unfortunately, is not as gorgeous as its shell. Looking at this
awesome sight six round headlights, frown and dynamic silhouette, you expect to
find under the hood not less than 8 cylinders and three hundred of horses. But
even the top-end version of the car is equipped with not impressive 3.2 V6.
Yes, we
love Alfa Romeo not only for dynamics and numbers. Yes, multiple cylinder
petrol engines today are not held in high esteem in Europe. And yet, there must
be some more compelling argument for buying, in addition to bright appearance
and unique style.
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