Italian tuning firm, Romeo Ferraris, has a new tuning program in their catalog, one that features a significant performance modification for the soon-to-be defunct Alfa Romeo Brera. The package is called the RF-Brera, and as the name suggests, it’s got Romeo Ferraris’ imprint all over it.
Already powered by an impressive 3.2-liter V6 engine that produces 260 horsepower and 237 lb/ft of torque, Romeo Ferraris decided that it just wasn’t good enough. So they went out and built a program for the car, adding a host of enhancements that include a Rotrex centrifugal compressor, a new intercooler, a sport air filter, a remapped ECU, and a brand new complete exhaust collector and metal catalyst. On top of that, the Italian tuning company also installed kit sports springs and dampers adjustable in height and calibration to give the car better handling and split-second response, especially in tight corners.
With all these additions, the Brera’s RF-supercharged engine can now produce an output of 358 horsepower and 324 lb/ft of torque, numbers that allow it to hit 0-62 mph in just 5.0 seconds - 1.5 seconds faster than the 6.5-second time of the standard Brera - and reach a top speed of 161 mph, up from the standard model’s 149-mph top speed.
Considering that the Brera is on its last legs as a production model, this feels like an appropriate farewell tuning program from Romeo Ferraris.
There’s some bad news for both the Alfa Romeo Brera and theSpider: starting this fall the two models will be going out of production after only a five year stint in the real world. That’s not all; neither of the two models will get a successor. Bad news all around.
The Brera was designed by Pininfarina and was considered one of the most beautiful cars in the world, at least according to Jeremy Clarkson. However, despite this, the car has never really been a financial success for the company. Many feel that both the Brera and the Spider have never received a challenging enough engine.
The Alfa Romeo Brera was offered with a range of outstanding high-tech power units that offered generous performances: a 185 bhp 2.2 unit and a 260 bhp 3.2 V6 unit, both JTS direct injection petrol units. For the Spider, a 1.8 16V and 2.0 16v Twin Spark engines were available along with a 2.0 V6 turbo that produced 200bhp or a 3.0 V6 in either 12 (192 bhp) or 24 valves (220 bhp).
Now it’s time for both models to swim with the fishes.
The large car craze in the United States is at the end of its life cycle, at least we hope. Gas prices are still a bit high, but they will need to rise just a bit more in order to really bring the small car back into our thoughts again.
That being said, some of the most popular cars on the market today were once considered way too small to be safe. Take the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris for example. The three-door Yaris is a pretty popular car, but many still find it to be the size of a shoebox rather than the size of a proper car. The Fit is a little bigger, but Americans still find it a bit too small for their tastes. Maybe the seats just aren’t wide enough.
Modern safety laws and design have helped these small cars earn five-star safety ratings, but size still matters in some people’s minds. It’s going to take a few very special small cars, and even a few minivans and wagons, to shake America’s love with large, oversized vehicles. Here are the top ten cars that aren’t available in the United States.
Hit the jump to see the list.
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Who knew that when a certain italdesign giugiaro concept car from Alfa Romeo appeared at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show that it would turn out to be so widely accepted in the marketplace? Designed to replace the GTV, the Alfa Romeo Brera started production in 2005 and was then followed by a cabrio version, the Alfa Romeo Spider, in 2006. Both of these models have had continued success in the marketplace and, now, they will continue to do so with a couple of new engines.
The British market has just received the 1750 TBi engine and the 2.0 JTDM powerplant for the Brera and Spider models. The first engine, a 1750 TBi engine develops a total of 200 HP and 320 NM of torque. Powered by the new engine, the two models make the 0 to 60 mph sprint in 7.7 and 7.8 seconds respectively and can hit a top speed of 146 mph. The second engine, a 2.0 JTDM powerplant develops 170 HP at 4,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 360 Nm between just 1750 rpm and 2500 rpm. Powered by the new 2.0 JTDM engine the Alfa Brera and Alfa Spider make the 0 to 62 mph sprint in just 8.8 and 9.0 seconds respectively, and possess a top speed of 135 mph.
Both models will also get a new Italia Independent trim that includes a matte black titanium exterior finish, 18" black opaque turbine design alloy wheels, carbon fiber effect trim inserts, and a radio/sat-nav system. Consumers may recognize this trim as the previous special edition package provided by Alfa Romeo last year. This package was limited to 900 units then, but will be a free-for-all in their newest models.
Press release after the jump.
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The British tuner Autodelta will reveal this week at the MPH09 Prestige & Performance Car Show the limited edition Brera S 3.2 Compressore.
Thanks to a supercharging package with intercooler, the 3.2 V6 engine delivers a total output of 352 bhp (by comparison the Brera S delivers 260 bhp) and a peak torque of 435 Nm. The car is equipped with a bespoke mechanical limited slip differential (LSD), which operates in combination with the car’s standard electronic Q2 system.
At the customers request Autodelta is also offering a height-adjustable Autodelta Sportline coilover suspension that features specific new spring rates and 40 different firmness adjustment settings that can be quickly and conveniently adjusted by the driver.
Press release after the jump.
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