Review: Alfa Romeo Brera

A whiff of the old magic

After so many decades of poor, patchy and often pathetic product, we should have all long since forgotten that there was a time when Alfa Romeo was the envy of the automotive world. There are many middle-aged car enthusiasts who cannot remember the launch of the last all-new, world-beating Alfa Romeo. I know, I’m one of them.
And yet, somewhat astonishingly, we still care about Alfa Romeo. There is an entire army of enthusiasts still looking for that excuse to opt out of BMW ownership, walk past the Audi showroom and into the arms of a proper Italian thoroughbred. All they need is the right car.

If looks and build quality were the only arbiters, I’d say this new Brera was it. Its aim is to build on the reputation of the new and reasonably impressive 159 saloon by using its raw material but turning it to a more sporting end. It’s shorter than the 159, stiffer and more rakish. It goes on sale with a 2.2 litre four-cylinder petrol engine, a 2.4 litre five-cylinder diesel and a 3.2 litre V6 motor next spring, with prices ranging from about £25,000 for the 185bhp 2.2 to around £30,000 for the 260bhp V6.

Full review here

Matthew1 - 11/8/2005 12:06:44 AM

+1 Boost

You look like a loser who needs to find another hobby.

Just admit it, you know NOTHING about cars.

First, you are overly passionate about Lexus. That in itself is makes any car enthusiast cringe.

For years, Lexus has been making bland, uninspiring Toyota refreshes with sloppy dynamics and with "I wanna be a Merc!" bumper stickers.

For some reason, you have been rooting for them all the way, even though their product could ONLY boast reliability and a cheap price tag.

And I hear you degrading, on a regular basis, the cars from the one continent left that has not lost the art of creating a automobile, Europe.

Remember that the reason automobiles became such a passion for millions of people in the first place, apart from the fact they provided horse-less transportation, was their style. Their character, the sound of the engine, the unique and timeless curves of the bodywork, how every drive was an event to be savoured.

Cars like the Aston Martin DB5, The Jaguar E-Type, down to the more humble cars like the Fiat 500, and original Mini. You see these cars now in museums, in car shows, lovingly restored and enjoyed be car enthusiasts who even after all these years, have not lost the passion for their cars.

Alfa Romeo is one manufacturer with a rich history in motorsport, and cars that depart the factory with some of the most glorious designs ever to grace our planet. They have a cult following be dedicated Alfa nuts, who relish every second with their cars.

This car is no exception. It was penned by one of the most famous Italian design houses, engineered by people with petrol running in their veins, and was instantly loved be the world when the first photos were released.

Now you are comparing it to an unloved pest. Shame on you Will, your ignorant view on the motoring world sickens me, and your clear lapse in automotive taste is enough to make any car nut cringe.

You may be hot stuff with J.D Power survey results, and lexus sales figures, but would self-respecting car enthusiast give a toss about sales figures? NO.

So you sit there and make unjustified remarks on cars that have shaped (and will continue to shape) the automotive landscape.

And I will sit here, laughing at your ignorance.

Figure-bashers are the vein of any car enthusiast. Many on this site just don't get it.