Alfa Romeo Brera 3.2 JTS V6 Q4
Although it cant promise you dilithium crystals or a warp drive, theres still something redolent of Star Trek about the specification sheet of the Alfa Romeo Brera 3.2 V6. Twin Phaser variable valve timing sounds intriguing as does the Jet Thrust Stoichiometric combustion system. Although its top speed of 149mph may be a little shy of the Enterprises warp factor eight, its still pretty respectable for terrestrial transport.
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Like Gene Roddenberrys finest, theres something of the Seventies about the Brera, but in the best possible way, the shape harking back to some of the most modern Alfas in living memory such as the GTV and the Alfasud Sprint. The long nose, tapered rear and rising belt line are all classic Alfa coupe cues and the Brera shoulders its historical burden easily. Part of the reason why is a V6 engine whose bloodline can be traced right back to the classic GTV but which has been thoroughly modernised to cope with ever more stringent emissions and noise regulations. Its probably the most charismatic powerplant this side of a BMW M Roadster and one glance under the bonnet will alert you to the fact that not all cars are created equal.
Enthusiasts may well be thinking that 260bhp is an awful lot to direct through the front wheels of the car and theyd be right. Cars like the old GTV 3.2 had a real problem putting their power down to the tarmac, the result being either an overwrought traction control system or, if you switched it off, more blue smoke than a Blazin Squad aftershow party. Factor in a bit of wet weather and youd easily find yourself being outstripped by something like a Land Rover Freelander away from the lights, all of which is highly frustrating when you have a thoroughbred engine to play with.
This version of the Brera answers that criticism really rather neatly. Rather than rely on just the front wheels, the Brera 3.2 V6 spreads the burden amongst all four. Yes, you did read that right, this car features Alfas Q4 all-wheel drive system, giving it some genuine all weather capability.
"I cant recall an Alfa Coupe having quite the appeal of the Brera V6"
Its properly quick too, getting to 60mph in a fraction over 6 seconds and running on to a top speed of 149mph. Based on a Holden unit from Australia, this is not the 3.2-litre many will have been expecting but its not a direct transplant, Alfa Romeo having done a whole raft of tuning and fettling in order to give it that characteristic Alfa sound. You wont buy this engine for its economy or emissions.
Youll buy it for its ability to put a number on rivals from BMW, Audi and Mercedes in virtually any weather condition and at a price that undercuts these Germanic alternatives when equipment counts are taken into consideration. Thankfully, Alfa have managed to perform a cosmetic job on the powerplant such that when you pop the bonnet there are still gorgeous crackle red finishes and gleaming polished header pipes on display. Youll need to pay for the privilege though. One consequence of already having a very attractive coupe model in the line up the pretty GT is that Alfa have priced the Brera in such a way to ensure a little breathing room between the two models.
This makes the entry-level Brera derivatives look quite spendy and elevates this V6 version up towards £30,000. This is serious money and brings the car into direct competition with some serious hard hitters like the Nissan 350Z, the Mercedes C350 Evo Sports Coupe and the Audi TT V6. While each of these cars has a serious claim on your cash, none have quite the tug on the heart strings of this rather special Alfa. The undisputed star of the Geneva Motor Show in 2002, the Brera prototype wowed the crowds with a shape that managed to meld classic Alfa Romeo design cues with a bold, futuristic vision of what a post millennial successor to the classic GTV was all about.
Nobody really believed the flip-up doors would make production and, for quite some time, Alfa Romeo stonewalled any questions as to whether the Brera would go into series production at all. Fast forward three years to the 2005 Geneva Show and the car that customers would be able to buy was on display. It still attracted huge crowds and remained a very good-looking car but some of the tension and drama of the original had leaked away, replaced by a finished article that worked better from some angles than others. From dead ahead, the Brera is still something very special with piercing triple circular headlamps that arc down to a simplified version of the show car grille.
The bonnet swage lines and underbumper air intakes all serve to give the car a pinched, aggressive look that works superbly. Likewise from the rear, the Brera looks a million dollars. Softer and more rounded than the frontal treatment, the back end features a pair of wedge-shaped tail lamps that integrate into a curvaceous bumper assembly. The arrowhead rear window and quad tailpipes are very deft styling touches.
Its in profile that the changes to the Brera production car can be best appreciated. Sitting on a shorter wheelbase than the 159 saloon, the Breras overhangs arent actually any longer than the show car, but appear to be so due to the short wheelbase. The distance between the leading edge of the door and the trailing edge of the front wheelarch is less than half that of the show car, losing the prototypes cartoonishly priapic bonnet length in the process. The roofline is raised as well and a conventional B-pillar has also been quietly inserted.
Again, the short doors do little to enhance the elegance of the design. Lets retain some perspective though. This is still one of the best looking cars money can buy. The Brera V6 is a car that many enthusiasts had long urged Alfa to build.
Fed up with over-wrought front wheel drive chassis, tired styling and patchy build quality, customers deserted the marque in droves. One drive in the Brera V6 should be enough to convince them to return. Lets just say the company is boldly going where its never gone before.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Alfa Romeo Brera 3.2 V6 Q4
PRICES: £29,250 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 18
CO2 EMISSIONS: 273g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 6.8s Max Speed 152 mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 26.5 mpg [est]
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and knee airbags, ABS, traction and stability control, ABS with brake assist
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4413,1830,1372mm
