Brits turn up the heat on Brera

It’s a match that could have been made in heaven! Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo has joined forces with British motorsport specialist Prodrive to produce a thrilling new version of the Brera, badged simply Brera S.

Touted as a performance flagship, the model will be targeted at the likes of the Porsche Cayman S, and aims to answer criticism of the coupé’s nose-heavy handling and choppy ride.

Consequently, the biggest changes have been made to the suspension, which has undergone a year-long dev­elopment programme at Prodrive HQ in Banbury, Oxon. Project leader Peter Cambridge says the collaboration has built on the car’s abilities to deliver outstanding feedback and handling.

Despite these improvements, the two petrol engines offered with the new S remain untouched. That means drivers will be able to take their pick from a 182bhp 2.2-litre four-cylinder unit and a 256bhp 3.2 V6. Both cars will be fitted with Alfa Romeo’s Q2 front-wheel-drive transmission.

To help distinguish the flagship Brera S from lesser editions – and to ensure exclusivity – Alfa has limited production to 500 examples, each of which will bear their number in the series on a plate inside the car. The Italian company has also promised further enhancements, including a bodykit and 20-inch alloy wheels, as well as a new exhaust system.

Prices for the new car have yet to be announced, but are expected to start from around £25,000 for the 2.0-litre variant and rise to £30,500 for the V6. Further details will be available after the model has been launched officially on 19 May.

Prodrive is best known for its long-standing collaboration with the Sub­aru World Rally team. More recently, engineers at the company have also been involved in the design and construction of road and race cars for the likes of Ferrari and Aston Martin.