Alfa Romeo Brera 3.2 JTS V6 Q4 2006 Review

7-day Test

No arguments please. This is the sexiest new car on the market. The sleek styling of the Alfa Romeo Brera is the brainchild of Designer of the Century, Giorgetto Giugiaro, and my sweet Lord it's beautiful!

But there's good news and then there's bad news. The good news is the Brera goes as good as she looks. The bad news? Well, its looks could kill…your bank balance.

Starting at $94,950 for the 3.2-litre V6 the Brera is a packet load to pay when you consider there's a 2.2-litre four-cylinder front-drive version of the same car for $69,990 which makes the V6 engine appear incredibly pricey. Ah, but there's more to the V6 package -- a four-wheel-drive system.

Problem is the Alfa 159 has the same V6 engine and all-paw action for only $74,990 (sedan). Yes sir, Mr Giugiaro's bill must have been a big 'un and any way you look at it the Brera's beauty comes at a hefty premium.

The Brera is comprehensively equipped though, with electrically-operated and heated front seats, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, multi-function steering wheel controls for radio and the like, 10 CD stacker, hands-free phone, bi-xenon headlights, heated/folding mirrors and an army of airbags.

It's very well trimmed with (mostly) quality construction and materials and the front leather seats are gems. The aluminium trim on the centre console and doors is stylish but the same ill-fitting material on the steering wheel looked decidedly tacky.

In fact it is here inside the cabin that we have a couple more gripes. That sleek roof line comes at the expense of head room which is marginal at best and there's no passenger grab handle. The rear three-quarter vision is also compromised. Sometimes it felt like 'close your eyes and hope for the best' when reversing.

The in-set auxiliary dials located on the centre console are also difficult to read. And those rear 'seats' are a complete joke. The usual line to insert here is that the back pews are only appropriate for children on short stints. I wouldn't even bother with that. Simply fling your handbag over your shoulder and leave the kiddies at home, I say.

On the flip side the rear seats fold down creating a decent-sized space for luggage or shopping. The glass roof is groovy but could be a disaster in the Australian sun. Luckily local models all come equipped with a hand-operated 'blind'. In the closed position you'd hardly notice it wasn't a permanent fixture.

The engine in an Alfa is always the car's heart and soul and the Brera's 191kW/322Nm V6 is a ripper. With the loud pedal planted to the floor the four exhaust pipes at the rear emit a terrific howl letting you -- and everyone else -- know that you're driving a performance machine.

But the coupe tips the scales at a portly 1630kg -- a lot for a car of its size -- and of course weight blunts performance. With a 0-100km/k time of 7.0secs the Brera is swift rather than startlingly quick.

The six-speed gearbox (there's an auto arriving next year) is a delight to use -- crisp and precise, you could play with it all day. But you don't have to. The engine is very tractable meaning third gear for putting around town will do you nicely as the car will pull away cleanly and strongly from as low as 1000rpm.

It's pretty good on the fuel too with a 12.8lt/100km average recorded over nearly two weeks with our mainly highway cruising.

The beautiful Italian is an engaging driver. It steers and stops precisely and the harder it's driven the better it responds. But the ride is quite firm and less than billiard table-smooth surfaces result in a choppy ride that can become tiresome over long distances.

The Brera is an indulgent car. On many levels -- including price -- it doesn't stack up. But it could be the coupe is all the more desirable for that fact. If you can live with the car's compromises you will be rewarded every time you press the starter button.

Our trip from Melbourne to Bathurst and back to Melbourne proved that all the major elements are there: good usable power, excellent handling, comfort (for two) and a surprising amount of luggage space. And then there's that body. Oh that body...