Alfa Romeo Brera and Spider

Alfa Romeo Brera and Spider
Alfa Romeo Brera
Overview
Manufacturer	Alfa Romeo
Production	2005–2010 (Brera) 2006–2010 (Spider)
Assembly	San Giorgio Canavese, Turin, Italy (Pininfarina)[1][2]
Designer	Italdesign Giugiaro (Brera) Pininfarina/Centro Stile Alfa Romeo (Spider)
Body and chassis
Class	Sports car
Body style	3-door 2+2 Coupé (Brera) 2-door Roadster (Spider)
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive/four-wheel-drive
Platform	GM/Fiat Premium platform
Related	Alfa Romeo 159
Powertrain
Engine	1.75 L TBi I4 t/c petrol 2.2 L JTS I4 petrol 3.2 L JTS V6 petrol 2.0 L JTDm I4 t/c diesel 2.4 L JTDm I5 t/c diesel
Transmission	6-speed manual 6-speed Selespeed semi-automatic 6-speed Q-Tronic AWTF-80 SC automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,528 mm (99.5 in)
Length	4,410 mm (174 in) (Brera) 4,393 mm (173.0 in) (Spider)
Width	1,830 mm (72 in)
Height	1,341 mm (52.8 in) (Brera) 1,318 mm (51.9 in) (Spider)
Curb weight	1,430–1,625 kg (3,153–3,583 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Alfa Romeo GTV and Spider

Alfa Romeo Brera

The Alfa Romeo Brera and the Alfa Romeo Spider (Type 939) are two sports cars manufactured by Alfa Romeo respectively between 2005-2010 and 2006-2010.^[3] The Brera is a 2+2 coupé, while the Spider is its roadster version. Both models were built by Pininfarina.

12,488 units of the Spider and 21,786 units of the Brera were built.^[4] Production of both models ended in late 2010, although remaining stock continued into 2011.^[5]

Concept

The Brera originally appeared as a concept car at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show. It was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign Giugiaro. The concept version was powered with a Maserati V8 engine producing around 400 PS (290 kW; 390 hp).^[6] The Brera was widely acclaimed, and production plans were subsequently announced for 2005.

The Brera concept car

Production

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 mid-size coupé on the GM/Fiat Premium platform (shared with the Alfa Romeo 159), and designed to replace the outgoing GTV. A convertible Spider version of the Brera was also announced, to be launched shortly after the coupe and to replace the existing GTV-based Spider.

In Europe, the Brera was initially available with two petrol engines, the 185 PS (136 kW; 182 hp) 2.2-litre JTS and 260 PS (190 kW; 260 hp) 3.2-litre V6; and a 210 PS (150 kW; 210 hp) 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 "Model year 2008" Brera and Spider. The 3.2 litre V6 version became available in front wheel drive form, allowing for a top speed of 250 kilometres per hour (160 mph); all model variants adopted the e-Q2 electronic limited slip differential; and finally more aluminium parts gave a weight reduction of several kilos.^[7]

The following year, again at Geneva Motor Show, an all-new turbocharged petrol engine badged as 1750 TBi (Turbo Benzina iniezione) was added to the lineup. This 1742 cc unit featured direct injection and variable valve timing on both inlet and exhaust cams, and developed 200 PS (147 kW; 197 hp) and 320 N·m (240 lb·ft) of torque.^[8]

*stated by Pininfarina production records

Trims

As with its predecessor, the GTV, 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 Brera's top specification. In 2008 a special trim was introduced, TI for Turismo Internationale, featuring 19" alloy wheels, special badges on the front fenders and inside the front headrests. Alongside the bigger rims, there were bigger Brembo brakes and stiffer shocks and springs.

Brera S

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.^[9] Selected suspension and chassis components and settings of the 'S' have been amended from the standard car, altering the handling characteristics. These include Bilstein and Eibach suspension, Prodrive sports exhaust and special 19" wheels and trim.^[10] Alfa Romeo and Prodrive had previously collaborated in motorsport, campaigning an Alfa Romeo 155 in the BTCC during 1994 and 1995.^[11]

Brera Italia Independent

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 also saw a Sat-Nav system as standard and interior trim finished with a Carbon effect.

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)l 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. Manual, "Selespeed" or automatic Q-Tronic transmission options were offered, and the V6 engined-car was also available with Alfa Romeo's Q4 all-wheel drive system.^[12]

Engines

Specifications

Performance

Awards

• Before it was released, the Alfa Brera concept car was voted "Best of Show" by Autoweek magazine at the Geneva Motor Show,^[13] "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 form Paris to Monte Carlo.
• Most Beautiful Car in the World award at the 21st annual International Automobile Festival 2006
• Brera was elected to European Car of the Year 2007 in Japan.^[13]
• Best Sports/Coupe - What Diesel Car?^[14]
• European Automotive Design Award 2006^[13]
• Best Design Award 2006 by Autocar Magazine (UK)^[13]
• Best Coupe – Croatian Car of the Year Awards 2006^[13]

Spider

Spider with roof retracted

Spider with roof unretracted

Interior

The 1,742 cc Turbo engine used 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.^[15] The Spider is based on the Brera coupe but is a pure 2-seater convertible. At the beginning there were two engine options available: the 2.2 L straight-4 and 3.2 L V6 JTS engines, and the JTD common rail turbodiesel was introduced at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show. This car replaced the Spider 916 model, introduced in 1995. This Spider version can be seen as the 6th generation of Alfa Spiders, the first version of which was released in 1966. Production ceased in November 2010.

Italia Independent

In 2009, Alfa Romeo released a limited edition of the Brera and Spider in association with Italia Independent, an Italian design company. 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. Manual, "Selespeed" or automatic Q-Tronic transmission options were offered, and the V6 engined-car was also available with Alfa Romeo's Q4 all-wheel drive system.^[12]

Spider 'Mille Miglia'

Alfa Romeo has created a special edition of its Spider convertible in order to commemorate the historic Mille Miglia 1,000 mile race that takes place in Italy annually. The carmaker built just 11 examples of the 'Spider Mille Miglia' to mark the 11 victories it's had in the famous Italian race, which heralded the rise of the original sports grand tourer.

While there are no performance increases, the Spider Mille Miglia is based on the standard 3.2 V6 powerplant that outputs 260 PS (191 kW; 256 hp). Rather than performance upgrades, each special edition features a silver plate that outlines one of Alfa Romeo's victories between 1928 and 1947. The special edition Alfa also gets an exclusive, bright red paintjob called 'Rosso 8C' and a 'Quadrifoglio' logo (a four-leaf clover) on its front wings, as well as red stitching for the black leather seats. Additionally the anti-roll bars are painted in red rather than usual silver.^[16]

Spider Limited Edition

The Alfa 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 colours 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 colour scheme comes with a choice of either black or natural leather upholstery.^[17]

Under the hood sits the familiar 185 hp 2.2 L JTS petrol engine, which sees the car accelerate from 0-62 mph in about 8.8 seconds and reach a top speed of more than 139 mph (224 km/h). The new limited edition diesel was only on sale in UK from 2009, with prices starting at £29,500 ($54,000) with a top speed of more that 150 mph and 0-62 in 7.1 sec, less than 500 were produced worldwide. The 214 bhp diesels were exclusive to the limited edition spider.

Other models include a 3.2 L V6 JTS with 260 PS (191 kW; 256 hp) JTDM, 157 kW (214 PS) 2.4 JTDM diesel (2009–10) and a 2.4 L JTD turbodiesel with 200 PS (147 kW; 197 hp) on tap.^[18] and a 2.4 L JTDM turbodiesel with 210 PS (154 kW; 207 hp) from 2009-

Engines

Specifications

^[19]

Performance

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alfa Romeo Brera / Spider.

Alfa Romeo
Brands	Marques Active Alfa Romeo Defunct Alfasud FNM
Divisions, joint-ventures and subsidiaries	Former and defunct Fábrica Nacional de Motores (FNM) Alfa Romeo Avio Società Pompe Iniezione Cassani & Affini (SPICA) Società Franco Italiana Motori (Sofim)
Predecessors and old names	Società Italiana Automobili Darracq (S.I.A.D.) (predecessor) Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili (A.L.F.A.) (old name)
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