Alfa Brera gets a boost
Tuner supercharges power up to useful 348bhp
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Alfa tuner Autodelta has uprated the Brera in a way that sounds like it could all but eliminate some of the good-looking car's dynamic shortcomings. The Brera J5 3.2 C is Autodelta's first model based on the new breed of Alfa Romeos -- with the C standing for Compressore, or supercharger.
Naturally, it's faster and has oodles more power and torque. The London-based firm said it's been working on the project for over a year, and has boosted the standard 3.2-litre JTS V6's 260bhp to 348bhp. Torque is up from 238lb-ft to 317lb-ft.
The stunning Giugiaro-styled Alfa Romeo Brera arrived in the showrooms in January, almost four years after it first appeared as a concept at the Geneva Motor Show in 2002. It heralded a bright new dawn for the Milanese marque as – along with its sister Alfa 159 saloon – it represented the debut of a new breed of captivating sporty models.
Sadly, reviews suggested that the car was underwhelming dynamically, despite its good looks. But Autodelta reckons it's developed a high-performance sports car: practical and user-friendly as well as being blisteringly quick and boasting agile handling.
It's strapped on a Rotrex C30-94 supercharger, and reckons it's the most compact available, along with being durable, light and compact; Koenigsegg uses Rotrex superchargers for the CCX. The C30-94's dedicated oil cooler is optimally positioned to allow maximum air flow via the new Autodelta-designed front bumper.
The additional 88bhp over the standard model turns this into a powerful four wheel drive 2+2 sportscar easily capable of fulfilling its driver’s innermost demands and desires. 0-62mph is achieved in 5.3 seconds -- the standard car takes 6.8 seconds -- while top speed is 162mph, up from 142mph.
The Brera’s engine electronics have been re-mapped to ensure smooth power delivery. A new stainless-steel exhaust system, created in conjunction with Autodelta’s exhaust development partner Ragazzon, offers optimum gasflow properties as well as a distinct Alfa Romeo exhaust note, and is recognisable by its quad-oval tail pipes, engraved with the Autodelta legend.
The suspension has been re-worked with new Autodelta Sport Line dampers with coil-over springs being specially developed for the car. The brakes have been upgraded too.
There's a new front bumper that's been optimised to provide maximum delivery of air to the new supercharger oil cooler via the introduction of extra cooling slots on the bumper’s flanks. At the rear, the splitter enhances the curving rump of the Brera, and it gets 19-inch OZ Racing Ultraleggera wheels and Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tyres; OZ Racing and Dunlop tyres are also development partners in the Brera J5 3.2 C project.
How they did it
Autodelta’s head of Research & Development Sergio Truzzi said: "The introduction of the new engine with its four camshaft variators which have continuous control, offers optimum performance in conjunctions with superb driving and well being," said Truzzi. "The direct injection system with these new cutting-edge features returns significantly improved fuel economy and emissions that make the new V6 a step forward both in terms of technological strides and environmental protection.
"Our initial bench-testing of the new Alfa Romeo V6 unit showed that the manufacturer-quoted horsepower figures at the flywheel were very accurate, but in a road-use scenario the car doesn’t feel as if it hasn’t quite the power one would expect. The rolling road tests showed that the V6 engine (in the Brera) is draining 35 percent of that power through the new Torsen C-System four-wheel-drive arrangement.
"There is little we can do to channel any of this into extra power at the road wheels, and it is something we have to take into account and work around. With an extra 80-100bhp, channelled through all four wheels, we can turn the 3.2 Brera into a very potent sportscar. The new engine certainly has the ability to deliver, and the benchmark chassis has been designed to be able to push performance significantly forward."
Autodelta’s founder and owner Jano Djelalian said: "Putting the Autodelta stamp on these new cars is the biggest challenge to ever face our company. Starting from a blank sheet of paper is exciting and we relish the new challenge.
"In light of our recent company restructuring, we have split the workload, with our new Italian centre of operations managing the implementation of the styling proposals in conjunction with our designers, who have created a new look.
"One of the first stages of the development process was to fully understand the new models inside out. Basically we push the cars to the dynamic edge in every area: engine, brakes, transmission, and so on, so we can see where Alfa Romeo has set their own limits."
The first step was to test the standard Brera on the track, and the Silverstone circuit, home of the British Grand Prix, was the chosen venue. "Silverstone offers excellent characteristics to test a new car – it is fast, very demanding and technical," said Djelalian. With their data-logging equipment hooked up, Autodelta’s team can measure many variables, and with the laps being against the clock, different scenarios can be undertaken with direct feedback.
"We learnt a lot from this testing," said Djelalian. "The Premium platform is very well-developed and responsive, and we are confident we will be able to improve its all-round performance characteristics in the way that Alfisti will expect."
While at Silverstone, Autodelta also ran the Brera on a rolling road, with a firm whose machines are used to measure the detailed performance of the cars used by the many motor racing companies that cluster around the Northamptonshire race track.
"We need an exact benchmark of ‘showroom’ performance that we can work from, so measuring the power, torque, and braking capability of the car is important. We are also evaluating new tyres from our project development partner Dunlop and new wheels from another technical partner OZ Racing for our bespoke model range. Along with the track time on the circuit, we have therefore been able to work on a detailed programme using differing grades of tyres and wheels.
"There has certainly been a lot of concern – and apprehension – with regard to the new Alfa V6 engine," said Djelalian. "Alfisti know and certainly love the long-running ‘Arese’ V6, one of the finest mass-production engines to have been built, and everybody instinctively tends to be wary of change. However, the new EU regulations regarding emissions and the changing demands of the market meant that an all-new unit was required to take the brand forward."
The price, including supercharger, styling, wheels and exhaust, will be about £10,000 plus VAT -- Djelalian told PistonHeads that while the final price hadn't yet been determined, it would be very close.
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