Alfa clearly has faith in its new Brera coupe. The base model is more expensive than both versions of Mazda’s RX-8 and the lowliest Audi TT.
On UK sale from April 8th, the range runs from £22,800 to £29,850 on the road. Nissan’s 350Z offers V6 pace for £2,000 less than that V6 Alfa and the ageing BMW 3-series coupé’s six-cylinder range starts at £27555 – £1,000 cheaper than the Alfa. But Mercedes’ CLK starts at a lofty £29475.
If a front-wheel drive Italian coupé appeals, the Brera certainly has talent. There will be three engines available in six specifications. Cheapest will be the 185bhp 2.2-litre four-cylinder JTS petrol, followed by the 200bhp and 295lb ft 2.4-litre five-cylinder JTDM diesel, which starts at £26,400; with the 260bhp 3.2-litre V6 topping the range from £28,750.
All the engines return reasonable mpg figures according to Alfa, with the diesel quoted at 41mpg on the combined cycle, with a 0-60mph time of 8.1 seconds. The junior petrol records 30mpg and 8.6 seconds for the same criteria; the V6 24mpg and 6.8 seconds. The diesel has a notably low CO2 figure of 179 g/km.
All these powerplants come either in a standard Brera or a Brera SV. Over the standard car’s climate control, seven airbags, cruise control, 16-inch alloys and fog lights, the SV adds a leather interior, aluminium console inserts and 17-inch wheels.
All Breras will come with ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution, traction and stability control and a hill start system and a six-speed manual gearbox.
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