2006 Alfa Romeo Brera

Brera, Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro in collaboration with Alfa Romeo, and built by Pininfarina, the road-going Alfa Brera remains remarkably true to the stunning, multi award winning coupe concept first shown to global acclaim at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show. It combines superlative engineering with outstanding performance, and handling characteristics and sexy styling appropriate to the pedigree of one of the world's most famous sporting marques.

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 sports 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 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 AlfaRomeo model range, the legendary Villa d'Este style Alfa shield with horizontal chrome bars dominates the front of the Brera. 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.

As with all Alfa-Romeo cars, the interior of the 2+2 Brera 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 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.