2006 Alfa Romeo Brera Preview

Though photos have yet to be released of the Brera's cockpit, Alfa boasts, "the interior has an ambience that is both cozy and

Though photos have yet to be released of the Brera's cockpit, Alfa boasts, "The interior has an ambience that is both cozy and sophisticated". (Photo: Alfa Romeo)

sophisticated," through the use of high quality materials and novel designs. If current Alfa products and the Brera concept are any indication, the production version should rank amongst the best for build, as well as delivering a rich, luxurious feel that nothing this side of a Maserati could match.

The Brera will be built with three different engines, including powerplants from the company's own engine bank, as well as drawing from the extensive GM-Fiat engine range. Unfortunately, the concept's Ferrari/Maserati-derived V8 powerplant won't be on the list, and neither will the Selespeed sequential manual gearbox.

Entry-level vehicles will feature a GM-derived 2.2-litre, 185-horsepower inline-four with JTS (Alfa-speak for direct-injection). Buyers can also select a more powerful 260- horsepower, 3.2-litre V6 developed

Unfortunately, the concept's Ferrari/Maserati-derived V8 powerplant won't be offered in the production version. (Photo: Alfa Romeo)

by Fiat and General Motors. This motor is a part of GM's modular V6 family, and shares some of its components with the larger 3.6-litre unit found in the Cadillac CTS and the Saturn Aura concept.

As with the GT Coupe, Alfa also intends to offer a turbo diesel powerplant for the Brera. As a general rule of thumb, it's been thought that sports cars and diesels aren't to be mixed, but many automobile manufacturers including Mercedes-Benz and BMW have utilized diesels in their sports cars. The concept itself is very logical; with mountain-moving amounts of torque and 240 horsepower on tap, the 2.4-litre JTD turbodiesel motor could very well make this the fastest Alfa currently in production without the devastating fuel bill.