The Alfa Brera has picked up yet another award in what is turning into a busy year for the exciting new sportscar, this time being named 'Best Coupé' in the Croatian car of the year awards, HR Auto 2006. This year saw the 12th edition of the awards, which is organised by the Union of Croatian Car Journalists which operates under the guidance of the Croatian Association of Journalists (HND).

The announcement of the awards and the prize presentation took place during a ceremony held last Friday evening, with each winner receiving an engraved gold, silver and bronze steering wheel for first, second and third places respectively. The final vote is taken by a jury of eleven member, consisting of the editors leading Croatian newspapers, magazines and TV stations. Three Fiat Auto models scooped prizes, starting with the new Alfa 159 sedan which took third place in the 'Car of the Year' section, a category was won by the new compact Renault Clio, with the Citroën C1/Peugeot 107/Toyota Aygo trio the runners-up. The 'bronze steering wheel' trophy was accepted by Bozena Kljucaric, Manager of Autocommerce, the Fiat Auto importer for Croatia. The new Fiat Doblò Cargo claimed the 'Croatian Commercial Vehicle of the Year' award. Nenad Varga, representing Autocommerce, accepted the 'gold steering wheel prize' from jury members Edi Prodan and Mato Pavlicevic.

The big winner from Fiat Auto though was the Alfa Brera which claimed the hotly-contested 'Coupe of the Year' award. Agim Scura, Autocommerce's Marketing Manager, accepted the prize. The Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Lancia brands are all very highly regarded in Croatia and with an array of exiting new models there is a huge groundswell of support to see the three Fiat Auto brands increasing their market share in the Balkan nation this year.

It's been a hectic year already for the Giorgetto Giugiaro designed Alfa Brera, one of the most anticipated new sportscars of the last year. First seen in production form at the Geneva Salon last March, it is now on sale in Italy, and spreading its was across Europe through the late winter and early spring. During January it scooped up two major design awards.

Designers (Europe) granted the prestigious European Automotive Design Award 2006 to the Alfa Brera. The new coupé came out on top of the survey that Designers (Europe) held in Europe last year.

Votes collected from an informed mix of voters, including automotive journalists, professional automotive designers and design students. Designers (Europe) is a private and independent organization located in Belgium since 1989.  "This award confirms that Alfa Romeo has chosen the right design direction for its new coupe while co-operating with the famous design house of Turin Ital Design and Giorgietto Giugiaro," said Designers (Europe). Jury member Patrick Le Quément, Senior Vice-President Corporate Design at Renault said: “The Alfa Romeo Brera shows a very sporty design, with a rear end reminding us the excellent design of the Porsche 928 - thanks again Mr. Anatole Lapine - while the front end is absolutely gorgeous. Well done Mr. Giugiaro and well done Alfa Romeo.”

The Brera also picked up the prestigious "Most Beautiful Car in the World" award during a glittering ceremony at the 21st annual International Automobile Festival held in the Grand Palais in Paris month. It fended off competition from the other three contenders on the final shortlist: the Peugeot 407 Coupé, Chrysler 300 C Touring and Lexus IS 250, to pick up the prestigious award for aesthetic beauty, to add to the long list of major design awards the Brera has won since being first presented as a concept in 2002. These numerous important international award include: the ‘Best of Show’, awarded by the magazine Autoweek at the Geneva Motor Show, ‘Best of Show’ in the Prototype category at the Villa d’Este Concours d’Elégance, two prizes for its category at the Bibendum Challenge 2002, one as ‘one of the most elegant in the world’; and also the title of ‘the most fascinating car’ during the Super Car Rally 2002, which runs from Paris to Monte Carlo.

by Mato Pavličević in Zagreb