Alfa Romeo Brera
Mention Alfa Romeo and a lot of guys think of Dustin Hoffman’s ride in The Graduate. In the latter years of their North American presence, Alfa even named their base convertible accordingly (one of our ex-girlfriends thought the “Graduate” trunk badge was an encouragement to stay in school, but that’s another story).
Enthusiasts like us still bemoan Alfa’s 1995 withdrawal from North America. Time and time again, we’re told the Italian automaker will officially return (the latest prediction is 2007), but until then, we’re relegated to lusting from afar. We were tempted to include the entire model lineup as an entry on our list, but the new Brera Coupe has an especially Pavlovian effect on us.
As the replacement for the legendary but aged GTV coupe, the Brera has created a huge stir in Europe ahead of its scheduled 2006 debut. The Giugiaro design is crisp and purposeful, carrying enough of Alfa’s trademark visual elements without looking contrived. Inside, there’s enough room to get comfortable (in the front seats, anyway) and the ergonomics are far better than the GTV. The glass roof panel cuts your headroom a bit, but it’s a small price to pay to be envied by those around you.
If Alfa Romeo really does return to North America and the Brera comes along for the ride, we can’t wait to compare it with the BMW 3-Series and Infiniti G35 coupes.