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This is part of the ItalianCar.net archive - go to ItalianCar.net now NEWS ARCHIVE Alfa Brera destined for Sydney Motor Show
The Alfa Brera - current International Concept Car of the Year - is scheduled to make an appearance at the Sydney Motor Show next month. It will be the shining star of the Alfa stable which is due to be almost completely overhauled over the next few months with all existing models brought into line with the new 147-type styling. Alfa are planning to show the new 156 (and Sportwagon) and the new GTV and Spider alongside the 147 GTA and the Brera. "Our display at the Sydney Motor Show is a clear indication of just how far Alfa Romeo has come in the last five years, as well as, with the display of the Brera, a demonstration of the importance of the Sydney Show in the world arena," says Kevin Wall, General Manager of Alfa Romeo in Australia. "With just about an all new model range for 2004 making its debut at the Sydney Show, it's clear that we don't plan to rest on our laurels. The range will grow and it will further intensify Alfa Romeo's unique passion for performance and beauty, from the 147 to the Brera." Alfa Romeo have released more details on the Brera - the concept car will in production sport a mid-front mounted 300kW V8 90° and we can assume a performance to rival any self-respecting supercar. Designed by Giorgetto Giugaro's design house ItalDesign the Brera is a 'two-seater plus room for two children' sports car incorporating a number of tech developments that Alfa insist is current technology derived from motorsport - including a carbon fibre bodyshell, Transax mechanics and an all-new latest generation gearbox. The Brera is not a small car either - 4388mm length, 1894mm width and 1289mm tall. The Brera incorporates a large number of design innovations - for example the windows are 'fixed' and 'open' by moving the door not the window; there is no conventional boot - luggage is loaded through the hinged rear window and for major servicing the front of the car can be completely removed. Inside the car benefits from increased space thanks to the new window design - interior lighting is regulated by an innovative system of sensors that regulates the darkness of the large upper window and Alfa have helpfully provided 2 grab handles for each passenger to hang on to at high speed!
Last but not least Alfa have installed a completely new sound system in the Brera - a PICASOUND system designed by Pierre Piccaluga. Utilising new audio-signal coding technology for true surround-sound and drawing on studies of solid-borne noise Alfa promise an unrivalled system boosting sound quality by a claimed 60% over any existing system. The Brera is a beautiful looking car with many innovative features. Some of these ItalianCar will have to wait until the car show to understand - not least the description by Alfa of the new window mechanism: 'The one and only hedonistic concession is represented
by the door aperture fitted with fixed windows and operated by a patented
rotary and push knob. When rotated outward, the door is projected upward.
The lower center of rotation (aligned to the lower part of the door) works
towards pruning the high-opening door, which protrudes 360 mm only from
the unitary body, a somewhat impossible space for unrestricted passenger
egress from a conventional door. In truth, this represents an unrelated
concession to the mission posed by creative thinking so that the production
of vehicle becomes immediately feasible. This may be easily overcome without
detriment to the lines of the door by employing a normal hinged door.'
© italiancar.com.au 07/09/03
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