Alfa Romeo Brera – everything you need to know
The concept version of the Alfa Romeo Brera was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro. Chassis and engine stemmed from the Maserati Spyder. So in its early study phase in 2002, the Brera had a 4.2-liter V8 and 400 horsepower.
Alfa Romeo Brera as a style icon
Above all, the Brera has been portrayed as a style icon. Both the GT Coupe and the open Spider stand out because of the cheeky headlight units with three lights and between them the heart-shaped grille that you also see on the Alfa 156, Alfa 159 and Alfa 147. You’ll also see a three-way layout in the Brera’s taillight units.
Short and stocky
The Alfa Romeo Brera is a short and stocky model. Its length is only 4.39 meters, but it is again quite wide at 1.89 meters. The production version had the same base plate as the Alfa Romeo 159 but with a shorter wheelbase. It ensures that on the two seats separated from each other in the rear of the Alfa Romeo Brera’s coupe and convertible, there is not much legroom, or rather not much. Consequently, you will not make friends with fellow adult travelers.
Alfa Brera and prices
Even now, anno 2022, the Brera is still a handsome presence. The design can definitely be called timeless. This was actually recognized at the time of market introduction in 2005. In January 2006, the design was awarded the European Automotive Design Award.
Cockpit shape, alcantara and leather
The interior of the Alfa Romeo Brera exudes comfort through finishes in partially alcantara. Many a buyer checked the optional fine leather upholstery that makes the bucket seats extra inviting. The dashboard curves around the driver like a cockpit, and the wide center console houses a start button and three round gauges for tank capacity, engine and oil temperature. Options included a fairly large display for the time and things like electric seat heating and adjustment.
Alfa Romeo engine design
Design can also be seen under the hood. That is, at the time Alfa Romeo paid great attention to the appearance of the engine block, with red-accented valve covers. In the case of the V6, the chromed intake tubes are a feast for the eyes for lovers of engine beauty.
No V8, though V6, four-cylinder and five-cylinder
The production version of the Alfa Romeo Brera ultimately did not come with Maserati’s promising V8. As a result, its sporty-lined design was not accompanied by crushing performance. Partly because the car was quite heavy. As a JTS, the Brera came with a 2.2-liter, 185-horsepower four-cylinder engine or a 3.2-liter, 260-horsepower V6. Later a 2.4-liter JTDM five-cylinder diesel engine of 200 hp was added, and another 1,750 cc turbocharged four-cylinder of 200 hp was introduced.
Brera with front and all-wheel drive
For all engine versions, instead of the standard six-speed manual transmission, it was possible to choose an automatic. Only the Alfa Romeo Brera V6 was the only version with all-wheel drive, all others had front-wheel drive.
Alfa Romeo Brera occasion
Not many Alfa Romeo Brera were sold in the Netherlands. As an occasion you won’t find many, but if you spot one it’s usually still in good condition. That certainly applies to appearance. The Brera comes from a model generation for which Alfa Romeo focused more on quality. Perhaps that is why the weight of this GT 2+2 Coupe and of the Spider were higher than competitors of the time.