The event took place on January 8 at Detroit, at the 'Autoweek Design Forum' held at the COBO Center (site of the 2003 North America Auto Show) in front of 700 international representatives from the best known automotive manufacturers and the most respected specialised press publications. 

The stunning Alfa Romeo Brera was awarded these honours by a jury consisting of industry experts, including: Gordon Murray of McLaren Cars Ltd, Akira Fujimoto of Car Styling, Rick Ceppos from the magazine Autoweek, Ken Greenley from the Royal College of Arts, Chuck Jordan, former GM Chief of Design and Chris Wright from the magazine Automotive News Europe. 

This prestigious award is yet another accolade following up the remarkable success and recognition that this car has earned in less than a year of life. Presented for the first time at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show, the Alfa Romeo Brera was awarded: 'Best of Show', by the magazine Autoweek at Geneva; 'Best of Show' in the Prototypes category at Concours d'élegance at Villa d'Este; two category prizes at the 2002 Bibendum Challenge, one of them as 'one of the most elegant in the world'; and the title of 'the most fascinating car' awarded at the 2002 Super Car Rally from Paris to Monte Carlo. The car is also a candidate for the Automobilia prize for 'The most beautiful car in the world'. 

Born on the prestigious drawing board of Giorgio Guigiaro, who was elected 'Designer of the Century' in 1999 at Las Vegas, the prototype is a perfect fusion of sport and elegance and of performance and proportion. "These very elements", stated Daniele Bandiera, head of the Alfa Romeo Business Unit at the recent Bologna Motor Show, "together with distinctive style, are among the core values of Alfa Romeo. This is why we decided to ask Giorgetto Giugiaro to take on the difficult task of designing the car which will replace the Alfa 156 in 2005. Actually, Giugiaro had already contributed to the current car in the initial stages of the project. Furthermore, the car which will replace the Alfa 156 will be the central model around which a family of cars will be based including, among others, a coupé and a spider, as well as the saloon and the sport wagon". Daniele Bandiera also revealed that the styling of the Brera will clothe the new coupe.