| Marketing director at Alfa Romeo UK, Nicholas | | | | wheels have been fitted. Although the wheels are |
| Bernard, says: “Significantly, the Alfa Romeo | | | | eye-catching, the all-new design was commissioned |
| Brera S isn’t simply about brute force, it’s | | | | by Prodrive primarily for performance, rather than |
| about how the available power is transferred to the | | | | just cosmetic appeal. The reason is unsprung weight - |
| road and how the road surface is communicated | | | | the weight carried by the car on the ‘road |
| back to the driver to bring new levels of sports | | | | side’ of the spring and shock absorber. This plays |
| handling and driver-focused confidence and | | | | a significant role in the way the car steers, handles |
| involvement.” | | | | and transmits feedback to the driver. |
| According to Prodrive Project Leader, Peter | | | | The lighter the wheel, the better it tracks undulations |
| Cambridge, the result is “a car that | | | | in the road surface without requiring heavy damping |
| ’shrinks’ around the driver and delivers all | | | | to control it. The unsprung weight has been further |
| the fun and engagement of a sports car driving | | | | reduced by the adoption of hollow anti-roll bars and |
| experience on A and B-roads. Yet, on motorways, | | | | aluminium suspension components from the Factory. |
| offers a compliant and composed ride.” | | | | As a result, the weight of both Alfa Romeo Brera S |
| The sports car driving experience is achieved by | | | | models is lower than the rest of the range. The |
| reducing roll and pitch, flattening the cornering | | | | front-wheel drive 3.2 V6 JTS is almost 100 kg lighter |
| attitude, and subsequently instilling confidence-inspiring | | | | than the Q4 version and the 2.2 JTS version weighs |
| steering. | | | | 35 kg less. |
| Peter Cambridge comments: “Our painstaking | | | | The Alfa Romeo Brera S also sounds different from |
| work with the spring set-up controls exactly how | | | | the standard range. The original characteristic growl |
| much the car pitches and rolls with every lump, | | | | of the V6 has been enhanced by careful redesign of |
| bump, camber and pothole on our roads. Then we | | | | the rear silencers. Thanks to a Holmholtz resonator |
| developed the dampers to control the rate at which | | | | connected in tandem with each silencer, the 2.2 JTS |
| the springs respond. Once we were satisfied with | | | | model now emits a sportier yet refined burble. |
| that, we set about really affecting the feel and | | | | The car parts exhaust has been altered to mirror the |
| response of the steering to inspire confidence.” | | | | shape of the rear lights. Finished with chrome |
| To reduce roll and pitch and achieve an even flatter | | | | embellishers, they feature a Prodrive logo on the |
| cornering attitude, Prodrive commissioned bespoke | | | | tailpipe exterior. This is just one of several subtle |
| Eibach coil springs and Bilstein dampers. | | | | exterior enhancements to the award-winning Alfa |
| Spring rates are increased by over 50 per cent | | | | Brera, including Prodrive branded front stone |
| compared to the standard Alfa Brera, giving the car a | | | | deflectors, and a bespoke red ‘S’ or |
| more nimble and agile feel, while the specially tuned | | | | ‘SV6? on the C-pillar. |
| gas-filled mono-tube dampers give tighter body | | | | Inside the 3.2 V6 JTS Alfa Romeo Brera S, changes |
| control. A careful balance has been created to | | | | are more obvious. Not only are the supportive sports |
| maintain good compliance over ridges and bumps in | | | | seats upholstered in soft black Frau® leather with |
| the road. | | | | red stitching, so are the dashboard fascia, door |
| At the same time, the suspension static geometry | | | | panels, steering wheel and gearlever. The centre |
| has also been revised to optimise steering and | | | | console and instruments are faced in a dark finish. |
| handling. These changes, together with new 19? alloy | | | | This interior can also be specified on the 2.2 JTS |
| wheels and Pirelli PZero Nero tyres, have created a | | | | version. |
| more responsive turn-in to corners, with increased | | | | Foot pedals are fashioned from drilled aluminium and |
| driver feedback, allowing the driver to explore the | | | | the headrest recess houses a limited edition Brera S |
| dynamic limits of the car. | | | | aluminium plate, featuring the flags of Italy and Britain. |
| To further enhance suspension geometry, the car | | | | For the record, the 2.2 JTS and 3.2 V6 JTS Alfa |
| parts have been lowered by 10 mm front and rear. | | | | Romeo Brera S can reach 62 mph from rest in 8.6 |
| This lower centre of gravity helps reduce roll and | | | | and 7.0 seconds respectively, on the way to |
| improve cornering and braking performance. In | | | | maximum speeds of 139 and 155 mph. |
| addition, the lowered suspension gives the Alfa | | | | The transition from Alfa Brera to Brera S takes place |
| Romeo Brera S a more purposeful stance. | | | | at Alfa Romeo UK’s dedicated import centre, |
| At each corner of the Alfa Romeo Brera S, unique | | | | near Bristol, and is overseen by Prodrive. |
| Alfa 8C Competizione-inspired, lightweight 19? alloy | | | | |