APPEALING STYLE AND SOPHISTICATED INTERIORS
 

'I designed the Brera because Alfa Romeo will never go out of fashion', stated Giorgetto Giugiaro, the car designer who dreamed up the model that now represents the state-of-the-art in the coupé field: a strong, compact car with mastery of the road and a strong personality. 'When we premièred the car I referred to as a 'very sexy' Alfa Romeo sports model in 2002 in Geneva, I didn't know it would ever go beyond the prototype stage: all I knew was that the concept could definitely go into production with only a few minor changes. I took care of the exterior personally, for example, and no great changes were necessary'.

First and foremost, this appealing 2+2 model boasts generous dimensions: it is 1830 millimetres wide, 4413 mm long and 1372 mm high with a wheelbase of 2525 mm, although the sharply tapered front and rear make the model look very compact. This does not detract in any way from the elegance of the lines that run smoothly from front to back, to the integral bumpers and light clusters shaped like a converging wedge. 'Despite its large dimensions', specified Giugiaro, 'this coupé is not massive. It conveys a sense of power and solidity, but combined with an overall harmonious whole. We worked a lot on the balance and overhang volume to ensure it was not over-heavy'.

The exterior styling is full of classical references, an ideal opportunity for a modern interpretation of traditional Alfa styling cues. A quick glance tells you everything. The rear window, for example, is reminiscent of the historical Giulietta Sprint window. The rear end also retains the distinctive traits of the latest Alfa Romeo models. Similar retro touches are also present at the front: the bonnet is reminiscent of a Fifties bonnet, i.e. dominated by a shield set into the centre. The broad tail-lights and four exhaust pipes contribute to the impression of a powerful sports car, as do the generous tyres and sporty-looking alloys (standard over the entire range).

The Alfa Brera marks continuity with the past but offers extra interior space and in-car living. In a car of this character, the driver's cockpit is the pivot about which the interior is designed: the Alfa Brera is no exception, as is natural for a car bred to offer outstanding performance coupled with a design of great visual impact.

The Alfa Brera is available with two specifications, both with a wealth of electronic and telematic equipment. It also offers a welcoming, highly sophisticated interior due to the use of original shapes, appealing colours and top-quality material for panels, dashboard and seats. This impression is reinforced by the adoption of innovative products, such as a generous fixed glass roof that allows more light into the car and gives passengers a sensation of space while also setting off the car's slender shape. The styling philosophy behind these results of great emotional impact took into account three guidelines: character, sportiness and quality. The distinctive nature of this new Alfa Romeo therefore emerges from a passenger compartment that features truly unique traits such as a wraparound console, shell-shaped panels and a through console that runs between the back seats.
 

The designers made these aesthetic features sportier through the use of light, dynamic lines: hardly any of the parts feature parallel lines but instead adopt smooth curves that suggest speed and slenderness.

The third feature of the vehicle interior is its quality: the thoroughness apparent in all aspects of quality assures the driver and passengers a great sense of attention to detail, great practicality and comfort. The use of top-quality materials and the treatment of certain areas, such as seat manufacture, give the entire passenger compartment a very Italian look. As is natural for a sports coupé created for thrilling performance, the whole interior of the Alfa Brera hinges around the driver's cockpit. The aim: to ensure the person behind the wheel a position that guarantees the best possible control of the car under all circumstances. Examples of out-and-out sporty details are as follows: round dials and outlets with a smooth aluminium trim that delimits the entire passenger compartment and makes the interior more compact and wraparound. The seats also feature smooth lines and a flocked stitching pattern that emphasises their shape. Not to mention the fact that the rear seats can be folded down to extend the luggage compartment from 300 to 610 litres, a value that makes the most of the generous load platform; when a Bose® Hi-Fi system is fitted, the volume increases from 236 (plus 20 litres in the cargo box under the load platform) to 546 litres. As soon as you sit behind the wheel of the Alfa Brera, you become aware of the outstanding instrument arrangement, the ease and convenience of the controls all aligned toward the driver and grouped logically by function. The driver's position is built around the 'cockpit', where all the various driving controls are concentrated. The controls for the climate system, radio and navigator, the gear lever and the ignition button are all on the centre console. The latter feature takes the form of an innovative ignition system comprising an electronic key with three buttons, an electronic key reader on the facia, a starter button next to the electronic key reader, and an electric steering wheel lock on the steering column, where it cannot harm anyone in a collision.

The circular analogue speedometer and rev counter are linked by a high resolution reconfigurable digital display, and perfect illumination guarantees clear, easy reading of all the instrumentation, particularly at night. And finally, hand position and grip are perfect on the three-spoke steering wheel, even when negotiating difficult manoeuvres. The seats on the new Alfa Romeo coupé are comfortable, guaranteeing superb comfort and safety. To enhance comfort even more, and in particular to absorb vibration. According to the specification, the front seats can also come with a host of important settings that allow anyone to set the best possible personal driving position: height, lumbar, reach, squab rake (electrical) and folding and seat cushion tilt in a horizontal plane. A convenient central armrest between the front seats contains a climate controlled storage compartment, while the head-restraints are built-in and enhance the car's sporty look. As an option, the front seats can be electrically controlled with a memory. The rear seats also offer the following as standard: squab split 40/60 (with fold-down cushion) and Isofix attachment for child seats. 'I am proud to note that the Alfa Brera is so obviously an Italian product', concluded Giugiaro.