That sum buys you a car powered by a direct injection, quad-cam 24-valve motor developing 256bhp at 6300rpm and 237lb ft of torque at 4500rpm. Arguably even more important than the figures, however, is the fact that this engine is not to be mistaken for the all-Alfa V6s that have been part of the line-up going back to the Alfa 6 of 1979.
It’s actually one of a family of engines based on a General Motors design and modified for individual applications. In this case, its cylinder heads, pistons, induction and exhaust systems are unique to Alfa Romeo.
Like all Breras, it runs through a six-speed manual gearbox, but unlike its stablemates the V6 puts its power down through all four wheels.
Interestingly, given that other Breras are front-wheel drive, the Q4 system actually allocates the majority of its torque in normal driving – some 57 per cent – to the rear wheels. Indeed, this can increase to 78 per cent under certain slip conditions, while the front wheels can be allocated up to 72 per cent of the torque. The premise is to provide rear-drive thrills, with front-drive security.
We have thrown quite a few numbers at you in the last few paragraphs, but if you are truly to understand the Brera and why, sadly, it is not the car we’d hoped for, there is one more you must focus upon, for it informs and explains almost all of what follows.
According to Alfa Romeo’s figures, this Brera weighs 1630kg, making it substantially heavier not only than any of the rivals mentioned but also than the likes of the hardly slimline Mercedes 350SE Sport Coupé.
But that’s not the number we got when we put it on our own scales. We were so stunned by the 1765kg it registered on our equipment that our first instinct was that our scales were wrong – so we recalibrated, did the test again and the same number appeared. There are Jaguar XJ and Audi A8 limousines that weigh less than that.