Alfa Romeo Brera S 2.2 Car review

It isn’t. At all. Although Prodrive has added bespoke Eibach springs and Bilstein gas-filled monotube dampers, all the work it’s done has been fully signed off by Italy – complete durability testing included (ahem). The Brera S even has its own stability control settings. Alfa UK and Prodrive have been working on this project for a year. Which seems a lot of effort for a run of only 500 cars. Each one will be numbered – with certificate! – and they are exclusively available in the UK.

The Brera S is a properly engineered chassis development of the regular car, already upgraded for 2008 with hollow anti-roll bars and aluminium suspension components. Petrol only, the S is available as 185bhp 2.2 four-pot or 260bhp 3.2 V6. There are no engine enhancements but both versions weigh less. A 35kg reduction for the 2.2 is fine, but 100kg off the V6 (it's missing Q4, don't forget) is far more impressive – resulting in stronger in-gear acceleration.

The Brera S also gets some very tasty 19-inch alloys. Modeled after those on the 8C Competizione supercar, these are 2kg a corner lighter than the regular 17-inch alloys.

Ok, it sounds good – but how does the revised Brera drive?

Starting with the 2.2, it’s immediately apparent that there is a massive improvement in body control. Alfa helpfully had some standard 2.2 Breras on hand, and the S feels like a completely different car. It stays far flatter through every kind of corner, keeps its composure far better over broken surfaces, and while the steering remains a little numb, it is far more consistent. The dead area at the straight-ahead position has all but vanished.

Alfa Romeo Brera


Alfa Romeo Brera


Alfa Romeo Brera


Alfa Romeo Brera





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