Alfa Romeo Brera: Giugiaro's Concept, Pininfarina's Coupe and Roadster

The Alfa Romeo Brera is a 2+2 grand tourer that Pininfarina manufactured and Alfa Romeo sold from the 2005 Geneva Motor Show until production ended in late 2010. Its roadster sibling, the Spider, shared the same GM/Fiat Premium platform and the same Pininfarina build.

Both cars replaced older Alfa models. The Brera took the place of the GTV coupe, and the Spider replaced the GTV-based Spider that had launched in 1995. Between them the two models made 12,488 Spiders and 21,786 Breras before the line closed.

Where did the Brera come from?

The Brera started life as a concept car shown at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign Giugiaro. It was powered by a Maserati V8 rated at around 400 PS (294 kW; 395 hp). Alfa Romeo announced production plans for 2005 after the concept drew positive feedback, and Giugiaro later received the Compasso d'Oro for it.

The name is taken from the Brera district of Milan, an artistic quarter sometimes called the Milanese Montmartre. Alfa Romeo itself was established in Milan in 1910, so the name ties the car to the company's home city as well as to its design culture.

The production car arrived at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. It translated the concept's exterior on a much smaller scale and became a grand tourer on the GM/Fiat Premium platform, which it shared with the Alfa Romeo 159. A convertible version was announced at the same time, to launch soon after the coupe.

A Giugiaro concept built on a smaller scale, sold as a coupe and a roadster until late 2010.

Which engines did the Brera and Spider use at launch?

In Europe the Brera launched with two petrol engines, a 185 PS (136 kW) 2.2-litre JTS and a 260 PS (191 kW) 3.2-litre V6, along with a 200 PS (147 kW) 2.4-litre JTD turbodiesel. The 2.2 and the diesel drove the front wheels, while the V6 came with Torsen four-wheel drive similar to the system in the 159's Q4.

The Spider launched with the 2.2-litre straight-four and the 3.2-litre V6 JTS engines. The JTD common-rail turbodiesel arrived at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, which added a diesel option to the convertible.

How did the 2008 and 2009 updates change the range?

At the 2008 Geneva Motor Show Alfa Romeo updated both models. The 3.2-litre V6 became available in front-wheel-drive form with a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), every variant adopted the e-Q2 electronic limited-slip differential, and aluminium parts were used in several places to save weight.

The following year, again at Geneva, an all-new turbocharged petrol engine joined the line-up as the 1750 TBi. Its 1,742 cc unit used direct injection and variable valve timing on both the inlet and exhaust camshafts, and it developed 200 PS (147 kW) and 320 Nm (236 lbf ft) of torque.

How did the Spider differ from the Brera?

The Spider was the convertible version of the Brera, built on the same platform, but it seated two passengers rather than four. It was introduced at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, where it also won the Cabrio of the Year award, and it replaced the GTV Spider that had been on sale since 1995.

Alfa Romeo counted the Spider as the sixth generation of its Spider line, which began in 1966. Production of the Spider ended in November 2010.

What trim levels and special editions were offered?

The Brera launched in Medium and Sky View trims. Sky View took its name from the panoramic glass roof on the top specification. In 2008 a TI, short for Turismo Internazionale, added 19-inch alloy wheels, Brembo brakes, stiffer shocks and springs, and special badges on the front wings and headrests.

The Brera S was a British-only special edition announced in spring 2008. Alfa Romeo and Prodrive developed it over 12 months to address criticism of the standard car's handling. Its Bilstein and Eibach suspension, Prodrive sports exhaust and 19-inch wheels set it apart, and the standard glass roof was blanked off with headlining.

In 2009 Alfa Romeo released a limited edition of both cars with Italia Independent, an Italian design company. Limited to 900 units, it had opaque titanium paintwork, 18-inch turbine alloy wheels and an aluminium fuel-filler cap. Sat-nav came as standard, and the interior used carbon-fibre trim.

Was there a Spider Mille Miglia special?

Yes. Alfa Romeo built just 11 Spider Mille Miglia examples to mark its 11 victories in the Italian race. Each car carried a silver plate for one of the company's wins between 1928 and 1947, and the edition used the 260 PS (191 kW; 256 hp) 3.2 V6 with no performance increase.

The special was finished in a bright red called Rosso 8C, with a Quadrifoglio logo on the front wings and red stitching on the black leather seats. The roll-hoop caps were chrome rather than painted silver, while the body caps behind them were red.

The standard Spider Limited Edition came in Carbonio Black, Alfa Red or Ghiaccio White, with 19-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, heated memory front seats and Blue&Me hands-free with voice recognition. It kept the 185 PS 2.2 JTS engine and could reach 0-62 mph in about 8.8 seconds.

What awards did the Brera and Spider win?

The Brera concept was voted Best of Show by Autoweek at Geneva, and it took the Best of Show prototype prize at the Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza. The production car went on to win European Car of the Year 2007, an award announced in Japan, and the Spider took Cabrio of the Year at its launch.

Design honours followed. The Brera won the European Automotive Design Award in 2006 and Autocar's Best Design Award in the same year. It was also named the Most Beautiful Car in the World at the 21st annual International Automobile Festival in 2006, and it won Best Coupe at the Croatian Car of the Year Awards in 2006.

How many Breras and Spiders were made?

Pininfarina's production records show 21,786 Brera units and 12,488 Spider units. Production of both ended in late 2010, and inventory remained for sale into 2011. The coupe outsold the convertible by a clear margin.

The limited runs were tiny by comparison. The Italia Independent edition was capped at 900 units, the Brera S at 500, and the Spider Mille Miglia at 11.

What are the Alfa Romeo Brera specifications?