Wednesday 7th May 2008

Alfa Brera S For May

Alfa launches teaser site and launch date of May 19 for Brera S

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Teaser website launched

Alfa has confirmed it will launch its Prodrive-fettled Brera S on May 19^th and has set up a teaser website to countdown the launch.

According to the firm it has taken a year of ‘intensive suspension development’ to sort out the chassis and the car has now been signed off the engineering department in Italy.

What Alfa is promising is a ‘bespoke, British-honed’ Brera S.

Prodrive Project Leader, Peter Cambridge, said the collaboration has ‘built on the existing model’s capabilities to deliver outstanding driver feedback and handling.’

Production of the Alfa Brera S will be limited to 500 numbered cars that will include further enhancements to the exterior and interior of the car.

Two existing petrol engines in standard spec will power the special edition Alfa Brera S from launch next month. 

Prices and specifications will be revealed at launch on 19 May 2008.

See the teaser site at www.breras.co.uk, although there’s not much to see…

[Fetchez la vache]

"although there's not much to see" That's a understatement.

See this instead.. http://www.italiaspeed.com/2008/cars/alfa_romeo/04...

[cirvy]

So long as it's had a lengthy spell at 'Fat-Fighters', it might be worth a look!

Does anyone know???

[bradmitchell]

Cirvy hit the nail on the head, unless they have shed at least 300 kilos its hard to see how this car will be competitive with standard engines.. still, it will be interesting to see if prodrive have managed to polish a turd.

[craggers]

The math is not quite right - on PH the launch date is 19th May but on that web site say 24 days left with today being 7th May.

[E36GUY]

Front wheel drive.

And therein lies the problem

[funwithrevs]

E36GUY said:

Front wheel drive.

And therein lies the problem

lol, funny man!!

Given the 3.2 engine I presume this is 4wd. That is the Alfa way.

FWD if you want it cheap, 4WD if you want to go fast.

[jamesgrrr]

E36GUY said:

Front wheel drive.

And therein lies the problem

Four wheel drive.

And therein lies the mistake.

[JR]

bradmitchell said:

Cirvy hit the nail on the head, unless they have shed at least 300 kilos its hard to see how this car will be competitive with standard engines..

The way I read it Prodrive have taken the strong points of the engines and suspension and made them even better but have not addressed the weak point: the weight.

[Fetchez la vache]

funwithrevs said:

E36GUY said:

Front wheel drive.

And therein lies the problem

lol, funny man!!

Given the 3.2 engine I presume this is 4wd. That is the Alfa way.

FWD if you want it cheap, 4WD if you want to go fast.

Just like the 3.2v6 in the FWD 156 GTA you mean

[V6Alfisti]

Fetchez la vache said:

funwithrevs said:

E36GUY said:

Front wheel drive.

And therein lies the problem

lol, funny man!!

Given the 3.2 engine I presume this is 4wd. That is the Alfa way.

FWD if you want it cheap, 4WD if you want to go fast.

Just like the 3.2v6 in the FWD 156 GTA you mean

Have you driven a 156 GTA?

[Beefmeister]

I'm assuming this will be based on the 2009 model year Brera, which has undergone a weight-saving programme.

Apparently the Brera/Spider and 159 have all shed around 150kgs for the next model year, also getting different wheels, better satnav screen etc.

It'll be interesting to see how this works out. Okay, its not 300kgs but its a start...

Edited by Beefmeister on Wednesday 7th May 12:48

[JR]

Beefmeister said:

I'm assuming this will be based on the 2009 model year Brera, which has gone a weight-saving programme.

I hope that you are correct but given that this is a limited edition (which tend to be based on older models) and that the launch date is very close I doubt that you are, sadly.

[funwithrevs]

Fetchez la vache said:

funwithrevs said:

E36GUY said:

Front wheel drive.

And therein lies the problem

lol, funny man!!

Given the 3.2 engine I presume this is 4wd. That is the Alfa way.

FWD if you want it cheap, 4WD if you want to go fast.

Just like the 3.2v6 in the FWD 156 GTA you mean

Just as irrelevant as the RWD V6 75. Old design, old engine, old rules.

[E36GUY]

jamesgrrr said:

E36GUY said:

Front wheel drive.

And therein lies the problem

Four wheel drive.

And therein lies the mistake.

neither of the above articles mentions 4wd

[Beefmeister]

The 3.2 V6 Brera is only available with 4wd.

I seriously doubt they would have created a bespoke drivetrain for it...



And in the Italspeed article it mentions they've done the same weight saving measures, so maybe its not the new model, but the old one with the 2009 weight reducing bits done to it?

edit: this from the Worldcarfans.com article

"Italian Alfa Romeo and British Prodrive have together developed a UK only special edition for the Alfa Romeo Brera Coupe, called the Alfa Brera S. Prodrive is of course best known for their WRC successes and their recent close involvement with the Aston Martin sale to Prodrive owner David Richards, and has developed a new suspension for the recently facelifted Brera coupe."

So i would take it from that, that is is using the '09 car... promising to say the least...

Edited by Beefmeister on Wednesday 7th May 13:02

[JR]

JR said:

E36GUY said:

jamesgrrr said:

E36GUY said:

Front wheel drive.

And therein lies the problem

Four wheel drive.

And therein lies the mistake.

neither of the above articles mentions 4wd

Surprising to my mind but ( www.alfaromeo.co.uk follow showroom, Brera, technical specs ) 4wd it is. Alfa have done this since the Integrale in a DJ 155 at least.

[JR]

The weight saving statements appear to be ambiguous to me but lets hope that Beefy is correct.

[GaryDVO]

The GM engine is the problem, heavy, lovely car though.

[RichB]

Beefmeister said:

I'm assuming this will be based on the 2009 model year Brera, which has undergone a weight-saving programme. Apparently the Brera/Spider and 159 have all shed around 150kgs for the next model year, also getting different wheels, better satnav screen etc.

It'll be interesting to see how this works out. Okay, its not 300kgs but its a start...

As you say 150kg is significant - it's still one and half "big blokes" !

[flattotheboards]

Are they using the same wheels as the 8C has? It does look good though in black with the dark wheels on.