2009 Autodelta Brera S 3.2 Compressor

2009 Autodelta Brera S 3.2 Compressor

A recent project between Alfa Romeo UK and long-established motorsport preparation firm Prodrive saw the Brera coupe realised into the limited-edition Brera S 3.2, with the most productive aspect of the project being a weight loss of 100 kg thanks to the use of front-wheel drive rather than the standard Brera V6's Q4 all-wheel drive system. With cosmetic and trim upgrades in addition to suspension changes, the Brera S has become a distinctive new version of this striking car. However, Prodrive didn't tackle the area of the car's performance, and this has led to a flurry of requests from buyers for us to take the "bull by the horns" and complete the overall package.

Reworking the Brera S 3.2 with our supercharging system, the finely-honed result of almost a quarter-century of developing and applying forced induction principles to Alfa Romeos, completely transforms it and turns the Brera S into a high-performance sportscar perfectly in sync with the driver. The Brera S 3.2 ‘Compressore' remains true to our principles - as well as living up to the values of the historic Autodelta brand name - remains a sportscar that is always ready for everyday use in any scenario.We have great experience taming high-powered front-wheel drive Alfa Romeo models, such as the 425 bhp Alfa 147 GTA which we produce (and which has had excellent reviews), so we knew exactly what would be the parameters and objectives of the Brera S 3.2 project. The resulting car uses our tried-and-tested supercharging package with intercooler, drawn from the successful Autodelta J5 3.2 C with a maximum power output of 352 bhp (compared to the Brera S, which retains the standard model's 260 bhp) and a significant hike in peak torque to 435 Nm (compared to 322 Nm for the standard Brera S model). The front-wheel drive nature of the Brera S means that with our performance upgrade, in-gear acceleration is greatly improved, as the Brera S no longer has the power drain of the four-wheel drive system. Traction is further improved by fitting our bespoke mechanical limited slip differential (LSD), which operates in combination with the car's standard electronic Q2 system. The mechanical LSD works in a more natural way (as the Q2 only operates in more extreme driving scenarios by applying the brakes to transfer power to the required corner), and offers the driver much greater feedback, which helps to optimise the ‘fun' experience that is a prerequisite of any Autodelta-refined sportscar. Drivers will appreciate the way our LSD integrates into the Brera to enhance the all-round experience.

The result has been transformational, turning the Brera S into an ultimate product in the finest of Autodelta traditions, a sportscar with dynamic capabilities to match its award-winning looks. While this version remains outside of our comprehensive range, in order to cater for the demand of owners, we have made this upgrade available from our factory and we will present the Brera S 3.2 ‘Compressore' at the MPH09 Motor Show.

To complete the all-round dynamic package of the Brera S, at the request of a number of customers, we have fitted the renowned Autodelta Sportline suspension kit which was developed for the Brera chassis through our exhaustive R&D programme, and has been now optimised for this latest application. The Prodrive suspension promotes excellent performance on smoother surfaces, such as racetracks, but it misses out on providing comfort for everyday use; the Autodelta Sportline suspension kit resolves this issue to offer the owner the best of both worlds. The height-adjustable Autodelta Sportline coilover suspension features specific new spring rates and 40 different firmness adjustment settings that can be quickly and conveniently adjusted by the driver. This means the ride height of the Brera S can now be altered for greater road convenience or to optimise the car in very different driving scenarios, from the requirements of a long-distance family tour, to the daily commute, or the more extreme demands of a trackday.