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Together, Alfa Romeo and Prodrive
engineers collaborated to create the Alfa Brera S. It was a
process that took just under a year of intensive
development, including full durability testing and sign-off
from the engineering department of Alfa Romeo in Italy. The
result is a sports coupé that subtly enhances all that is
good about the original Alfa Brera, with outstanding driver
feedback and handling at the limit, and unique design
features inside and out.
The Alfa Brera S is available with the
2.2-litre JTS petrol engine, which produces 185bhp, and the
3.2-litre V6 with 260bhp, the latter's frontwheel- drive
transmission saving almost 100kg in comparison to the
all-wheel-drive Alfa Brera Q4. Both employ direct injection
technology and variable valve timing on both inlet and
exhaust camshafts. The Prodrive-engineered chassis
enhancements bring out the full character and sporting
potential of both powertrains.
Alloy wheel:
light, strong and stunning.
The alloy wheel for the Alfa Brera S was
inspired by the wheel design of the Alfa 8C Competizione,
the new supercar flagship for the Alfa Romeo range. It is,
however, a unique design, commissioned by Prodrive on behalf
of Alfa Romeo. Although the finished article looks
eye-catching, the all new wheel design was created with
performance in mind, not just cosmetic appeal. Unsprung
weight – the weight carried by the car on the ‘road side’ of
the spring and shock absorber – plays a significant role in
the way a car steers, handles and sends feedback to the
driver.
The lighter a wheel, the better it tracks
undulations in the road surface without requiring heavy
damping to control it. The Alfa Brera S wheels are 19" in
diameter, running Pirelli P-Zero Nero 235/40 tyres, yet save
almost 2kg a wheel compared to the standard 17" wheel and
tyre. 2kg may not sound a lot – but when it’s spinning at a
road speed of 70mph the effect is significant, and the
weight saving helps the Brera S to steer and track more
precisely, faithfully transmitting each nuance of feedback
to the driver’s fingertips.
Exhaust:
sounding the right note.
Modern exhaust systems are an integral
part of a car’s powertrain, affecting power outputs, torque,
fuel economy and emissions. At an early stage of the Brera S
development programme it was decided to create a pleasing
exhaust note and to fine-tune the design of the exhaust
silencer. Both aims have been achieved: the ‘truncated
circle’ of the tailpipes echoes both the design of the Brera
S wheels and the tail lights, while in both 2.2 and
3.2-litre versions there’s a pleasing, deep burble to the
exhaust note.
According to Prodrive Senior Powertrain
Development Engineer Dave Rollett, getting the note right
for the 2.2-litre version required a Helmholtz resonator –
an additional sound chamber on the side of the silencer. No
need for a resonator on the 3.2 version –
“the Alfa
V6 has a fabulous burble. We just aimed to bring it out
without making the note
Chassis: tuned
for British roads.
“…as you drive
along you can feel the Alfa-ness of this car, the little
tingles and the droplets of feedback that you don’t really
get from anything else in this class. If you truly like
cars, you will truly love the Brera.”
So wrote the
UK’s most famous automotive journalist, Jeremy Clarkson, in
the Sunday Times. In that case, why did Alfa Romeo UK
commission Prodrive to develop the Alfa Brera S chassis? The
answer lies in the unique nature of British roads and
British drivers – especially the drivers who buy cars like
the Alfa Brera. British roads tend to be more poorly
surfaced than their mainland European counterparts, with
dips, bumps and rougher textures. So the Prodrive chassis
team, led by Peter Cambridge, tested dozens of combinations
of springs, shock absorbers and ride heights to develop the
optimum solution for the British enthusiast.
The chosen specification features
slightly increased spring rates, making the Brera S feel
more nimble and reducing the amount of roll and pitch under
hard cornering. At rest, the Brera S sits 10mm lower than
the standard model, accentuating its sporting stance.
Complementing the new springs, which are
made to Prodrive specifications by specialists Eibach,
Bilstein gas-filled mono-tube shock absorbers give increased
body control and greater fade resistance than standard. The
final set-up, which also imparts more steering feel, was
fine-tuned during thousands of miles on all kinds of roads,
including test tracks, challenging ‘B’ roads and motorways.
Meanwhile, Alfa Romeo’s own engineers also revised the
specification of the 2008 model Brera, introducing hollow
anti-roll bars and aluminium suspension components in order
to trim unsprung weight.
While the Brera S laps the Prodrive test
circuit appreciably faster than its standard counterpart,
Prodrive’s Peter Cambridge is adamant the chassis tune is
not aimed at outright track performance.
“We’ve achieved
the dual benefit of sharper handling and steering with a
more silken, supple ride,”
he explains.
“You’ll feel the difference whether or not you are driving
on the limit."
Exclusive
design. Impeccable craftsmanship.
Settle into the driving seat of the Brera
S, and the Alfa Romeo sporting DNA is unmistakable. And yet
even by Alfa Romeo’s high standards, the Brera S promises an
exclusive and exceptional driving experience. For the
specification of the Brera S interior, Alfa Romeo’s Centro
Stile studios aimed to create a cockpit with a bespoke
ambience, emphasising traditional Alfa Romeo interior design
cues such as cowled instruments and three-spoke sports
steering wheel through the subtle use of materials, notably
black leather and contrast red stitching. Not only are the
supportive sports seats upholstered in soft black Italian
Frau® leather with contrast red stitching, the same material
is also tailored to cover the fascia, door panels, steering
wheel and gearlever. (The Italian Frau® black leather fascia
and door waist rail with red contrast stitching is standard
on the Alfa Brera S 3.2, and a cost-option for the 2.2-litre
version.)
As a reminder that you’re driving an
exclusive sports car, each seat headrest recess houses a
limited edition Brera S etched aluminium plate, featuring
the flags of Italy and Britain as a reminder of the ‘Best of
Britain, best of Italy’ inspiration for the car. Meanwhile
the centre console and instruments are faced in a dark
aluminium finish. Drilled aluminium sports pedals provide
the finishing touch.
Exterior: sporting appeal.
The Brera caused a sensation when
Giorgetto Giugiaro unveiled his design concept at the 2002
Geneva Motor Show, and by staying true to the design concept
Alfa Romeo turned a one-off showcar into a stunning
production coupé. The changes to the Alfa Brera S therefore
focused on enhancing, not reinventing, Alfa’s coupé
flagship. The Brera S is offered in three distinctively Alfa
exterior finishes: Alfa Red, Carbonio Black and Touring
Grey. Alloy wheels are unique to this model and are inspired
by the design of the Alfa 8C Competizione wheels. Discreet
Prodrive logos can be found on the front stone deflector and
the unique design tailpipes.
Interior:
exclusivity with distinction.
From the Italian Frau® black leather
sports seats, steering wheel and dashboard, with their red
contrast stitching, to the drilled aluminium sports pedals
with their Alfa Romeo etched logos, the interior of the Alfa
Brera S is packed with beautifully crafted details. In true
Alfa Romeo tradition, the dials and driving instruments are
angled towards the driver to create a monoposto sporting
ambience. Engraved headrest plaques in brushed aluminium are
a subtle reminder that Brera S ownership is a rare pleasure.
Colour variants.
The Alfa Brera S is offered in three
exterior colours: Alfa Red, Carbonio Black and Touring Grey.
In each case, the interior is finished in Italian Frau®
black leather, with red contrast stitching. The Brera S can
also be ordered in the Alfa 8C Competizione Red as a bespoke
finish; prices for this option are available on application
via an Alfa Romeo dealer.
Equipment.
Alfa Brera S 2.2 JTS and 3.2 JTS
VDC with Hill Holder (ABS + ASR + EBD +
Brake Assistant)
Fire Prevention System (FPS)
Power assisted steering
Driver, passenger, front side, window & driver knee airbags
Front seatbelts with pretentioners and load limiters
Alfa code immobiliser and alarm system
Electronic key with remote central locking and boot release
“Follow-Me Home” headlamps
Electronic start / stop button
Electric front windows with one touch function and
anti-intrusion sensor
Dual-zone automatic climate control with split temperature
and distribution function (air nozzles at rear, pollen
filter with active carbon filter and AQS)
Stainless steel kick plates
On-board instrumentation with multifunctional display and
trip computer
Car radio with audio CD player (6 speakers)
Rear parking sensor
Front fog lights
Cruise control
Front armrest with temperature controlled storage
compartment
Brushed aluminium centre console
Front seats manually adjustable (height, distance, tilting &
lumbar adjustment)
Electrically folding, adjustable, heated wing mirrors
Exclusive Content 2.2 JTS and 3.2 JTS
Italian Frau® leather upholstery with red
stitching
19" alloy wheels with 235/40 tyres
Prodrive engineering dampers and springs for more direct
handling
Revised exhaust silencer for more sportive sound
Front stone deflector
New design chromed exhaust pipe
Aluminium sports pedals
Sports leather steering wheel and gear knob with red
stitching and steering-wheel mounted radio controls
Sportive dials instrumentation
Exclusive seat aluminium badge plate
Exclusive Content 3.2 JTS
Italian Frau® leather dashboard with red
stitching
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