An alpha Alfa looks like fun

This Alfa hugs the road with its four-wheel-drive system.

Alfa Romeo's Brera has been described as a successor to the brand's original GT Juniors and GTVs. It's a long, low car on one level, a three-door hatch version of the recently launched 159; on another a hooligan in its own right.

But it's not the car's Giugiaro-penned clothes that are attracting most attention, it's what's under those clothes. It's the first car to carry the new 3.2-litre V6 engine to arrive in New Zealand.

The outgoing version was a powerplant, as famous for its knee-trembling soundtrack as its response. This unit is based on GM's world engine block which is built in Australia - and that very fact has Alfisti weeping into their chianti.

Alfa says the GM component is the least of it, that the finished engine is every inch an Alfa, from its performance to its soundtrack; that the cylinder heads, pistons, induction and exhaust systems are designed and built by Alfa Romeo; that the engine is assembled in Italy.

I'm due to be driving the car at its Australian launch as this issue hits the streets, and putting the $98,990 3.2-litre V6 through its paces.

This is an eagerly awaited Alfa - not only does it get that powerful all-aluminium, direct injection, 3.2-litre V6, it also gets added grip thanks to Alfa Romeo's Q4 permanent four-wheel-drive system. This uses three differentials, with a self-locking Torsen diff at its heart directing torque with up to 57 per cent put to the rear. That's a recipe for fun, especially when you find there's 322Nm of torque on tap at 4500rpm, and some 90 per cent of that is available all the way from 1800rpm to 6250, smack on the 191kW power peak.

Meanwhile, the $76,990 entry-level car gets the fruity 2.2-litre four-cylinder direct-injection JTS petrol unit driving the front wheels. It outputs 136kW for a 64kW per litre figure, with 90 per cent of the 230Nm maximum torque arriving from 2000rpm.

This engine is around 20 per cent lighter than the unit it replaces and is mated to a six-speed manual transmission.

But forget the power. When you're stuck in traffic you won't be using it. What you'll appreciate are this car's striking looks, inside and out. The 159 was handsome enough, but this car has a dangerous visual edge that turns heads when it's standing still.

Perhaps that's due to the proportions - this car is based on a shortened 159 platform. The bigger model handles well - while the Brera's shorter wheelbase and sharp steering are aimed at the nimble handling of a true sports car.

What else? The brakes are designed to suit the Brera's purpose, which means the 3.2 gets 330mm ventilated discs up front, gripped by Brembo four-pot calipers, with 292mm vented discs out back.

Passive and active safety features include seven airbags as standard, including a new bag, plus a full suite of electronic braking, stability and traction aids including ASR to limit wheelspin under acceleration.

Standard features are headed by that SkyView glass roof, the 3.2 adding lashings of leather, a Bose audio and a Bluetooth phone connection to an already generous list.

Good looks may be Brera's strongest asset but they're only part of a sporting armoury that could see it put a cat among the coupe pigeons.