Press Release
Page 1: Overview
Page 2: Design
Page 3: Model Range
Page 4: Engines & Transmissions
Page 5: Ride & Handling
Page 6: Safety
Page 7: Technical Specifications
ENGINES AND TRANSMISSIONS
The new Alfa Brera goes on sale in the UK with a choice of three powerplants: two spirited JTS direct injection petrol engines ??????????????????????????????????????? a 2.2 litre, 185 bhp 4-cylinder unit, and (available some four weeks after the initial launch date) a new, 260 bhp 3.2 litre V6. They combine JTS (Jet Thrust Stoichiometric) direct injection technology with Alfa??????????????????????????????????????s ?????????????????????????????????Twin Phaser?????????????????????????????????????? continuously variable valve timing operating on both intake and exhaust camshafts. With specific power outputs in excess of 80 bhp/litre, and almost 90% of maximum torque available at just 2000 rpm, both these new JTS units boast outstanding performance yet offer significant fuel savings and readily comply with the stringent Euro Stage 4 exhaust emission limits.
The latest example of Alfa Romeo??????????????????????????????????????s renowned JTD MultiJet, (JTDM), common rail direct injection diesel engine technology completes the range; a 2.4 litre 20 valve
200 bhp 5-cylinder powerplant featuring variable geometry turbocharging and incorporating a ?????????????????????????????????for life??????????????????????????????????????, maintenance-free particulate trap (DPF) in anticipation of Euro 5 emissions regulations.
2.2 JTS versions of the new Alfa Brera are mated to an M32.6 6-speed manual gearbox, whilst 3.2 JTS and 2.4 JTD models are equipped with the F40 6-speed manual transmission. The ratios of both transmissions have been chosen to emphasise performance, and gear change smoothness and accuracy has been enhanced by the use of multiple cone synchronisers.
3.2 JTS versions of the new Brera are fitted, as standard, with Alfa Romeo??????????????????????????????????????s Q4 permanent four-wheel drive system.
2.4 JTDM 20v
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2387 cc
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5-cylinders, 20 valves
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Power: 200 bhp @ 4000 rpm
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Torque: 295 lb.ft @ 2000 rpm
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Timing gear: DOHC
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Transmission: 6-speed manual
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Top speed: 142 mph
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Acceleration 0-62 mph: 8.1 seconds
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Fuel consumption:
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in town: 30.7 mpg
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out of town: 52.3 mpg
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combined: 41.5 mpg
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CO2: 179 g/km
Alfa Romeo was first to the market with a JTD Common Rail direct injection diesel engine when the Alfa 156 was launched in 1997. This crucial lead in diesel technology has not been squandered and, in its latest 20 valve MultiJet guise, the new 5-cylinder 2.4 litre unit is the most powerful engine in the Alfa Romeo JTD family, with a specific power output of 84 bhp/litre.
MultiJet technology
Within a UniJet engine, a pilot injection raises temperature and pressure inside the cylinder to improve combustion at the time of the main stroke. However, by dividing the main injection into a number of smaller injections, a MultiJet engine affords a fuller, more gradual combustion whilst the amount of diesel burnt at each stroke remains the same ??????????????????????????????????????? thus abetting smoother, quieter combustion, reduced emissions and increased performance.
However, a MultiJet engine differs from its UniJet counterpart in two essential areas; the injectors and the electronic control unit.
To facilitate multi-injection, the new injectors both reduce the time lag between injections from 1500 to just 150 microseconds, and reduce the minimum quantity of fuel injected from 2 to less than 1 cu mm. In tandem, the new control unit modulates injection strategy continually to adjust to changes within three parameters; engine rpm, torque required at any given time by the driver and coolant temperatures.
Thus, when coolant temperature is less than 60 degrees and torque requirement low, two small and one large injections are performed. As torque demand increases, the number of injections drops to two; one small and one large. Under conditions of high rpm and high torque demand, only one injection is required whilst, with coolant temperature at over 60 degrees, emissions are minimised with one small, one large, then one small injection in the sequence.
Hence, start-up times and exhaust smoke are reduced, noise levels and vibration are lowered to ensure a quieter drive and improved passenger comfort, fuel consumption is reduced by a further 10% and emission control reduction amounts to 50%; enough to bring the unit within EURO 4 emissions limits.
Derived from the familiar, 2.4 JTD 10 valve common rail powerplant, several changes have been made to the latest version of this 20 valve turbodiesel to boost performance and engine torque at low speeds whilst returning excellent fuel consumption figures. The common rail system includes two new control strategies for automatically calibrating and balancing the diesel injection, to both lower noise and reduce vibration, whilst the direct injection pressure has increased from 1400 to 1600 bar.
The engine also includes a number of new components; a cylinder head with small stem valves to boost inlet air quantity, fractured steel con rods of a new, stress resistant design, a new inlet manifold fitted with a throttle valve at one of the two inlet ports to control air turbulence, a new, high efficiency intercooler, and a throttle valve to prevent shaking if the engine is stalled.
The electronic EGR cooling system has also been modified; the lubricating circuit has a new oil pump and an external air/oil heat exchanger to cool the oil, whilst the water pump on the cooling circuit is also new.
Turboboost is provided by a KKK 2080 turbocharger with a variable geometry turbine that improves power delivery and also generates very high torque at low engine speeds; 90% of the impressive 295 lb.ft peak torque is available from between just 1750 and 3500 rpm. Mated to an F40 6-speed manual gearbox, this allows the Alfa Brera 2.4 JTDM to accelerate from 0-62 mph in only 8.1 seconds, whilst returning a remarkable fuel consumption of over 41 mpg in the combined cycle.
3.2 JTS V6
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3195 cc
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60 degree V, 6-cylinders, 24 valves
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Power: 260 bhp @ 6300 rpm
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Torque: 237 lb.ft @ 4500 rpm
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Timing gear: 4 OHC, continuous dual VVT
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Transmission: 6-speed manual, 4-wheel drive
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Top speed: 149 mph
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Acceleration 0-62 mph: 6.8 seconds
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Fuel consumption: in town: 16.7 mpg
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out of town: 33.6 mpg
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combined: 24.6 mpg
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CO2: 273 g/km
Having made its debut in the new Alfa 159, the spirited new quadruple overhead camshaft all-aluminium 24-valve V6 powerplant features both the company??????????????????????????????????????s JTS direct petrol injection system and twin phase continuously variable valve timing.
Developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies, a new industrial enterprise created to integrate all the Fiat Group??????????????????????????????????????s innovation capabilities and expertise in engines and transmissions, the new all-alloy engine features cylinder heads, pistons, induction and exhaust systems designed and built by Alfa Romeo. Final assembly of this engine is carried out in Italy, at the Pomigliano D??????????????????????????????????????Arco Alfa Romeo plant.
JTS direct fuel injection and ?????????????????????????????????Twin Phaser?????????????????????????????????????? continuously variable valve timing combine to generate an 8% increase in power and an 11% increase in torque over the previous 3.2 litre unit.
This outstanding new 3195 cc engine takes its name ??????????????????????????????????????? Jet Thrust Stoichiometric ??????????????????????????????????????? from its specific combustion system, an original Alfa Romeo concept that involves the high pressure injection of fuel, at 120 bar, directly into the combustion chamber with a stoichiometric mixture optimised to increase engine power and torque first and foremost ??????????????????????????????????????? thus adapting this technology to the requirements of a sporting car ??????????????????????????????????????? whilst adopting the stratified charge method to reduce fuel consumption in a limited speed band close to idling.
Hence, via an electronically activated 72 mm throttle valve and an aluminium inlet port casing designed to both maximise air delivery and optimise the air/fuel mixture, the 3.2 JTS engine in the new Brera operates with a lean burn system up to about 1500 rpm, making significant fuel savings. Above this engine speed, however, it burns a stoichiometric fuel-air mixture ??????????????????????????????????????? i.e. with a conventional 14.7:1 ratio between the two components ??????????????????????????????????????? thus guaranteeing performance superior to that achievable by a conventional, indirect injection unit.
Primarily, this is because fuel injected directly into the combustion chamber ??????????????????????????????????????? instead of the intake ports ??????????????????????????????????????? cools intake air, thus increasing the engine??????????????????????????????????????s volumetric efficiency. As the temperature drops the gases increase in density and the volume therefore decreases, allowing more air into the combustion chamber. Cooling the chamber also reduces the risk of engine knock, allowing for an increase in compression ratio ??????????????????????????????????????? in this case to 11.25:1 ??????????????????????????????????????? and a commensurate improvement in engine efficiency.
Allied to JTS technology, the light aluminium alloy cylinder heads of the new 3.2 litre V6 also feature ?????????????????????????????????Twin Phaser?????????????????????????????????????? continuously variable valve timing ??????????????????????????????????????? for both intake and exhaust camshafts ??????????????????????????????????????? already adopted on 4-cylinder JTS Alfa Romeo engines. Via two camshafts per cylinder bank, variable valve timing allows the phase angle of both inlet and exhaust cams to be varied by up to 50 degrees, optimising the volumetric efficiency of the engine at all engine speeds whilst reducing fuel consumption and emissions under lighter throttle settings.
The new camshaft drive system features a maintenance-free chain drive with automatic hydraulic tensioners, whilst the valves themselves ??????????????????????????????????????? 33.4 mm inlet and 28.4 mm exhaust diameter ??????????????????????????????????????? are controlled by a low friction roller finger system with automatic uptake of hydraulic tappet play.
The new Alfa Romeo 3.2 litre JTS V6 combines power and torque peaks of 260 bhp at 6300 rpm and 237 lb.ft at 4500 rpm respectively, with smooth, linear power delivery from low speeds. Some 90% of peak torque is available from just 1800 rpm and maintained up to 6250 rpm. Hence, the 3.2 litre V6 24v unit delivers sensational performance, but is also very docile, and the Brera can cruise effortlessly in sixth gear at less than 2000 rpm, yet accelerate rapidly and smoothly away without the need for changing gear.
Mated to an F40 6-speed manual transmission and Alfa Romeo??????????????????????????????????????s Q4 permanent four-wheel drive system, the 3.2 litre JTS V6 engine will accelerate the new Alfa Brera from 0-62 mph in 6.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 149 mph.
The V6 exhaust system features a first group of catalysing elements mounted close to the cylinder heads, ensuring optimum operational temperature is achieved as soon as possible after engine start-up. Two underfloor catalysts and four lambda sensors complete the system, which easily meets stringent Euro Stage 4 exhaust emission limits.
2.2 JTS
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2198 cc
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4-cylinders, 16 valves
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Power: 185 bhp @ 6500 rpm
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Torque: 170 lb.ft @ 4500 rpm
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Timing gear: DOHC, continuous dual VVT
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Transmission: 6-speed manual
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Top speed: 138 mph
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Acceleration 0-62 mph: 8.6 seconds
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Fuel consumption: in town: 21.7 mpg
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out of town: 38.7 mpg
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combined: 30.1 mpg
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CO2: 221 g/km
The all-aluminium 2.2 litre Alfa Romeo 4-cylinder JTS powerplant offers a weight reduction of some 20% over the unit it replaces.
The 16v 2198 cc powerplant also uses ?????????????????????????????????Twin Phaser?????????????????????????????????????? continuously variable valve timing, as previously described, with large, 35.3 mm (inlet) and 30.3 mm (exhaust) diameter valves. In addition, it features a maintenance-free chain drive to the twin counter-rotating balance shafts, water pump and low friction camshaft drive system, and is further equipped with a dual detonation sensor to improve sensitivity to engine knock, enhancing maximum performance.
Mated to an M32.6 6-speed manual transmission, the Euro 4-compliant 2.2 litre unit develops 185 bhp at 6500 rpm, and 170 lb.ft of torque at 4500 rpm ??????????????????????????????????????? this high power output requiring the use of sodium cooled exhaust valves. The Brera 2.2 JTS will accelerate from 0-62 mph in just 8.6 seconds, and still return over 30 mpg.
