FACTfile - The new Alfa Brera - Page 2

Design

Styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro in collaboration with Alfa Romeo Centro Stile at Arese, Milan, the design of the new Brera remains faithful to the stunning coupe concept first shown at the 2002 Geneva Motorshow.

The prototype has won numerous, prestigious international design awards including First Prize – ‘Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2002’; Most Fascinating Car and Most Innovative Design of the Year – Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2002; Best Concept of the Year – Automotive News 2003; The Most Beautiful Car in the World – Automobilia, Milan 2003; and the XX ADI ‘Compaso d’Oro award for Design – 2004.

More recently, the Brera itself won The 2005 Design Award in Autocar magazine’s Annual Awards, the new Alfa Romeo being described as ‘an imposing coupe with rare grace.’

“When we premiered the car I referred to as ‘very sexy’, I didn’t know if it would ever go beyond the prototype stage," Giugiaro recalls. "All I knew was that the concept could definitely go into production with only a few minor changes. I took care of the exterior personally, for example, and no great changes were necessary.”

“Despite its large dimensions, this coupe is not massive," continues Giugiaro. "It conveys a sense of power and solidity, but combined with an overall harmonious unity. We worked extensively on the balance and overhang volume to ensure it was not over-heavy. I’m proud to note that the Brera is so obviously an Italian product," he adds. "Alfa Romeo will never go out of fashion."

Styling
With dimensions of 4410 mm length, 1830 mm width, 1341 mm height and with a 2528 mm wheelbase, 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. 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, colour 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 colours 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 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.

Specifically built for Brera, the stereo features a power output of 4x30 watts and employs six speakers, offering outstanding sound quality.

Divided by a through console for optimum comfort and lateral support, the rear seats feature a 60:40 split/folding squab with integral armrest and ski hatch fitted as standard. This allows for the rapid expansion of the 300 litre luggage compartment into a robust, practical load platform offering an impressive 610 litres of stowage.

With great attention being paid to build quality and cabin ambience, superior comfort levels are assured aboard the new Alfa Brera. Major contributions are made by a new state-of-the-art platform, a notably rigid bodyshell, a high quality fascia, extensive carpet soundproofing, and thicker, 5 mm front side window glazing designed to reduce cabin noise and vibration to a minimum.

The new Alfa Brera range features a choice of three two-tone interior trim options – Black/Grey, Blue/Tobacco and Red/Beige – with complementary dashboard
finishes. All Brera versions offer leather upholstery fitted as standard, and the 3.2 is trimmed in the finest Frau Pieno Fiore leather upholstery, which also includes electrically adjustable, heated front seats with driver’s side memory.

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