The Alfa Romeo Brera and the Alfa Romeo Spider (Type 939) are sports cars/grand tourers using the GM/Fiat Premium platform, manufactured by Pininfarina and marketed by Alfa Romeo as a 2+2 coupé and roadster respectively.
12,488 units of the Spider and 21,786 units of the Brera were made with production ending in late 2010 and inventory remaining into 2011.
The name 'Brera' appears to come from the Brera district of Milan, which is known for being an artistic area and is sometimes referred to as the 'Milanese Montmartre'. Alfa Romeo was established in Milan in 1910.
Concept
The Brera was originally unveiled as a concept car at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign Giugiaro. The concept was powered by a Maserati V8 engine rated at around . The Brera received positive feedback, and Alfa Romeo subsequently announced production plans for 2005. In 2004, Giorgetto Giugiaro was awarded the Compasso d'Oro industrial design award for his Brera Concept.
<gallery widths="200" heights="130">
File:Alfa Romeo Brera Concept AMI.JPG|The Brera concept car
File:Alfa Romeo Brera dash.JPG|Interior
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Production
thumb|left|Rear view (Brera coupe)
The Alfa Romeo Brera was introduced in production form at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. It translated the original's exterior appearance on a much smaller scale, becoming a grand tourer on the GM/Fiat Premium platform (shared with the Alfa Romeo 159), and designed to replace the outgoing GTV. A convertible version of the Brera called the Spider was also announced, to be launched shortly after the coupe to replace the existing GTV-based Spider.
thumb|left|Alfa Romeo Brera (side view)
In Europe, the Brera was initially available with two petrol engines, the 2.2-litre JTS and 3.2-litre V6; and a 2.4-litre JTD turbodiesel. Cars with the diesel or 2.2 petrol were front-wheel drive, whilst the V6 came with a Torsen four-wheel drive system similar to the 159's Q4.
At the 2008 Geneva Motor Show Alfa Romeo introduced updated versions of the Brera and Spider respectively. The 3.2 liter V6 version became available in front-wheel-drive form, allowing for a top speed of ; all model variants adopted the e-Q2 electronic limited slip differential; the use of aluminium for various parts of the car helped reduce weight.
The following year, again at the Geneva Motor Show, an all-new turbocharged petrol engine model badged as 1750 TBi (Turbo Benzina iniezione) was added to the lineup. This 1,742 cc unit featured direct injection and variable valve timing on both inlet and exhaust cams, and developed and of torque.
Production totals
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;"
|-
! colspan=15| Brera/Spider production figures*
|-
! Model
! 2005
! 2006
! 2007
! 2008
! 2009
! 2010
! Totals
|-
|Brera||1,630||8,248||4,795||3,770||1,629||1,589||21,661
|-
|Spider||0||2,838||4,535||2,559||999||1,432||12,363
|-
|}
*stated by Pininfarina production records
Trims
As with its predecessor, the Brera was initially available with two trim levels: 'Medium' and 'Sky View', the latter's name being derived from the panoramic glass roof available for the Brera's top specification. In 2008 a special trim was introduced; called the TI (Turismo Internazionale), featuring 19" alloy wheels, special badges on the front fenders and inside the front headrests. Alongside the bigger wheels, there were bigger Brembo brakes and stiffer shocks and springs.
Brera S
thumb|Brera S
In Spring 2008 the Brera 'S' Special Edition was announced. This Alfa Romeo-approved British-only limited-run version was developed by British engineering specialists Prodrive and was intended to address criticism regarding the handling of the standard car. 500 units of the Brera S were made. The Brera S was developed in 12 months and suspension and chassis components and settings of the 'S' were amended from the standard car, altering the handling characteristics. These include Bilstein and Eibach suspension, Prodrive sports exhaust and special 19" wheels and trim. Alfa Romeo and Prodrive had previously collaborated in motorsport, campaigning an Alfa Romeo 155 in the BTCC during 1995. Curiously, the standard glass roof was blanked off with headlining on this version.
Brera Italia Independent
thumb|Brera Italia Independent
In 2009, Alfa Romeo released a limited edition of the Brera and Spider in association with Italia Independent, an Italian design company owned and run by Lapo Elkann, grandson of Gianni Agnelli of the Fiat empire. Limited to 900 units and named after Alfa Romeo's partner in the venture, the Italia Independent edition of the Brera was offered with opaque-finish titanium paintwork, 18" "turbine" style alloy wheels, and an aluminium fuel-filler cap. The interior had a Sat-Nav system as standard and the interior had a carbon-fiber trim.
The Italia Independent was offered with 125 kW (170 PS) 2.0 JTDM, 154 kW (210 PS) 2.4 JTDM diesel,157 kW (214 PS) 2.4 JTDM diesel (2009–10) or 147 kW (200 PS) 1.8 TBi, 136 kW (185 PS) 2.2 JTS, 191 kW (260 PS) 3.2 V6 petrol engines and six-speed transmission. A conventional 6-speed manual, the "Selespeed" automated manual, and the Q-Tronic automatic transmission options were offered, and the V6 engine was also available with Alfa Romeo's Q4 all-wheel drive system.
Spider
thumb|Alfa Romeo Spider
thumb|right|Rear view (roof in place)
thumb|right|Interior
thumb|right|The 1,750 cc turbocharged straight-4 engine in the Spider
The New Spider version (Type 939) was introduced at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, where it also received the "Cabrio of the Year" award. The Spider is based on the Brera coupe, seating two passengers rather than four passengers as in the coupe. Originally Alfa Romeo offered two engines: the 2.2 L straight-4 and 3.2 L V6 JTS engines — the JTD common rail turbodiesel was introduced at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show. This car replaced the GTV Spider, which was introduced in 1995.
The 939 Spider can be viewed as the 6th generation of Alfa Romeo Spiders, the first version of which was released in 1966. Production ended in November 2010.
Italia Independent
In 2009, Alfa Romeo unveiled a limited edition of the Brera and Spider in association with Italia Independent. Limited to 900 units and named after Alfa Romeo's partner in the venture, the Italia Independent edition of the Brera was offered with opaque-finish titanium paintwork, 18" "turbine" style alloy wheels, and an aluminium fuel-filler cap.
The Italia Independent was offered with 125 kW (170 PS) 2.0 JTDM, 154 kW (210 PS) 2.4 JTDM diesel, JTDM, 157 kW (214 PS) 2.4 JTDM diesel or 147 kW (200 PS) 1.8 TBi, 136 kW (185 PS) 2.2 JTS or 191 kW (260 PS) 3.2 V6 petrol engines and six-speed transmission. A conventional 6-speed manual, the "Selespeed" automated manual, and the Q-Tronic automatic transmission options were offered, and the V6 engined-car was also available with Alfa Romeo's Q4 all-wheel drive system.
Spider Limited Edition
The Alfa Romeo Spider Limited Edition features a choice of three color combinations (Carbonio Black, Alfa Red, Ghiaccio White) plus 19-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, electrically adjustable and heated memory front seats, and door mirrors. The car is also now available with Fiat Group's Blue&Me hands-free system with voice recognition and media player. Bespoke colors for the Alfa Spider Limited Edition include a Carbonio Black version with a natural leather upholstery while the Alfa Red exterior paintwork is matched to a black leather interior. The Ghiaccio White color scheme comes with a choice of either black or natural leather upholstery.
Under the hood sits the familiar 185 PS 2.2 L JTS petrol engine. The car can accelerate from 0-62 mph in about 8.8 seconds and reach a top speed of more than .
Engines
Specifications
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;"
|-
! Model
! Engine
! Displacement
! Power
! Torque
! Comp. ratio
! Years
|-
!colspan="7"| Petrol engines
|-
|1.75 TBi||I4||1,742 cc|| at 5,000 rpm|| at 1,400 rpm||9.5:1||2009–2010
|-
|2.2 JTS||I4||2,198 cc|| at 6,500 rpm|| at 4,500 rpm||11.3:1||2005–2010
|-
|3.2 V6 JTS||V6||3,195 cc|| at 6,300 rpm|| at 4,500 rpm||11.25:1||2005–2010
|-
!colspan="7"| Diesel engines
|-
|2.0 JTDm||I4||1,956 cc|| at 4,000 rpm|| at 1,750 rpm||17:1||2009–2010
|-
|2.4 JTDm||I5||2,387 cc|| at 4,000 rpm|| at 2,000 rpm||17:1||2005–2006
|-
|2.4 JTDm||I5||2,387 cc|| at 4,000 rpm|| at 1,500 rpm||17:1||2007–2008
|-
|2.4 JTDm||I5||2,387 cc|| at 4,000 rpm|| at 1,500 rpm||17:1||2009–2010
|}
Performance
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Engine
! colspan="2"|Top speed<br />km/h (mph)
! colspan="2"|0–100 km/h,s<br />0–62 mph,s
! colspan="2"|Combined consumption
! rowspan="2"|Years
|-
!manual||automatic||manual||automatic||manual||automatic
|-
|1.75 TBi||235 (146)|| ||7.7|| |||| || 2009–
|-
|2.2 JTS||222 (138) || ||8.6|| |||| || 2005–2007
|-
|2.2 JTS||224 (139) || ||8.6|| |||| || 2008–
|-
|2.2 JTS Selespeed||222 (138) || ||8.6|| |||| || 2008–
|-
|2.0 JTDM||218 (135)|| ||8.8|| |||| || 2009–
|-
|2.4 JTDM||228 (142)|| ||8.1|| |||| || 2005–2006
|-
|2.4 JTDM (210 PS)||230 (143)|| ||7.9|| |||| || 2007
|-
|2.4 JTDM (210 PS)||250 (155)|| ||7.2|| |||| || 2009-
|-
|2.4 JTDM (200 PS) Q-Tronic|| ||225 (138)|| ||8.3|| |||| 2008–
|-
|3.2 V6 Q4||240 (149)||240 (149)||6.8||7.0|||||| 2005–2007
|-
|3.2 V6 Q4||244 (151)||244 (151)||6.8||7.0|||||| 2008–
|-
|3.2 V6 FWD||250 (155)|| ||7.0|| |||| || 2008–
|-
|colspan="8"| Note: Consumption figures according to European Commission Directive 1999/100/EC.
|}
Awards
- Before it was released, the Brera concept car was voted "Best of Show" by Autoweek magazine at the Geneva Motor Show, "Best of Show" in the prototype category at the Villa d’Este Concorso D’Eleganze, it picked up two prizes at Challenge Bibendum 2002, and "the Most Fascinating Car" award at the Super Car Rally 2002 from Paris to Monte Carlo.
- Most Beautiful Car in the World award at the 21st annual International Automobile Festival 2006
- European Car of the Year 2007 in Japan.
- European Automotive Design Award 2006