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“It drives as well as it looks and it looks as good as it drives”: that’s the simple claim from Alfa Romeo about their new Brera 2+2 coupé, which has just gone on sale in Ireland.

On looks alone, a Brera can stop you in your tracks, which is hardly surprising as Giorgetto Giugiaro designed the car. Since its first appearance four years ago, as a concept car at the Geneva Motor Show, Brera has won an array of international design and styling awards. It is the very epitome of Italian elegance, with sinuous and sensual lines extending back from the traditional shield-shaped front grille to enfold a taut, muscular body. The proportions of the body are perfectly balanced and, as with all great designs, you sense that the Brera will look just as dramatic, just as powerful, just as aggressive and every bit as desirable in twenty years time.

The Brera offers the choice of two very responsive, and extremely powerful petrol engines: a 2.2 16v. JTS that produces 185 bhp, develops peak torque of 230 Nm at 4500 rpm and offers a top speed of 222km/h and a 3.2 V6 JTS unit that produces 260 bhp, develops peak torque of 322 Nm at 4500 rpm and offers a top speed of 240 km/h.

The 3.2 V6 comes with Alfa‘s Q4 four-wheel drive system where torque is mainly distributed to the rear wheels (57% rear, 43% front) to give a more sporty driving experience and offer highest levels of adhesion for greater safety.

Both the 2.2 and 3.2 versions come with a six-speed transmission, automatic climate control, VDC with Hill Holder (ABS + ASR + EBD + Brake Assistant), 17” light alloy rims with 225 / 50 tyres, twin chromed exhausts and 6-speaker radio / CD system with steering-wheel mounted controls. Passive safety for drivers and passengers has been given enormous importance, as witnessed by the inclusion of driver and front passenger controlled-opening airbags, front side-bags for chest / pelvis protection, full size window-bags, knee-bags for driver and front-seat passenger.

Over its 80 years in existence, Alfa Romeo has a recognised tradition for producing memorably beautiful cars that have helped establish Italian styling as the benchmark for the motor industry across the world. The Company even has a permanent museum at Arese near their hometown of Milan where many of their most beautiful cars are on permanent display. Some of those cars came to Dublin for an exhibition a few years ago, an event visited by Michael Schumacher.

The new Giugiaro-designed Brera certainly seems to have the credentials to be another classic car, for both drivers and for those who appreciate what one commentator has called ‘great art in motion’.

Recommended retail prices, excluding dealer and related charges, are €48,000 for the Brera 2.2 and €57,000 for the 3.2 V6. An automatic version of the 3.2 will follow later this year.

14-03-06

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