Sponsors of Diesel Car of the Year Awards 2006

Has there ever been a more beautifuldiesel? Stand wherever you like aroundit: the Giugiaro-designed, Pininfarina-

built Alfa Romeo Brera looks absolutelystunning from every angle. Remarkably true, infact, to the multi-award-winning coupe conceptshown to universal acclaim at the 2002 GenevaMotor Show. It looks as if it’s been carvedrather than built.Sharing an all-new platform with the Alfa 159,albeit with a 175mm shorter wheelbase, thechassis of the new Brera features high doublewishbone front suspension with a new,sophisticated, multilink rear configuration.Alfa Romeo was first to market a common railinjection diesel engine with the launch of the156 in 1997. Continuing the company’spre-eminence in diesel technology is the 2.4-litre, 5-cylinder, 20-valve powerplant. Maybe a word or two on Alfa MultiJettechnology is in order at this juncture – forthose of you with a technical bent. With a UniJetengine, a ‘pilot’ injection raises the temperatureand pressure inside the cylinder to improvecombustion for the main stroke. However, bydividing the main injection into a number ofsmaller injections, a MultiJet engine affords afuller, more gradual combustion without

altering the amount of fuel used. So, the engineis smoother and quieter, performance isincreased, and emissions reduced.MultiJet differs from UniJet in two fundamentalareas: the injectors; and the electronic controlunit. To facilitate multi-injection, the injectors onthe Alfa engine achieve two things. They reducethe time lag between injections from 1500 to just150 microseconds, and they reduce theminimum quantity of fuel injected from two toless than one cubic mm. At the same time, thecontrol unit modulates injection ‘strategy’continually to adjust changes within threeparameters: engine rpm; torque required at anygiven time by the driver; and the ambientcoolant temperatures.Thus, when coolant temperature is less than 60degrees and torque requirement low, two smalland one large injectiona are delivered. As torquedemand increases, the number of injectionsdrops, and one small and one large aredelivered. When the revs and demand for torqueare high, only one injection is required, but withcoolant temperature at over 60 degrees,emissions are minimised with one small, one

large, then another small injection in sequence. On the emissions control front, this unitincorporates a ‘for life’, maintenance-freeparticulate trap, in anticipation of Euro Vemissions regulations.Boost is provided by a KKK 2080 turbochargerwith a variable geometry turbine that improvespower delivery and also generates very hightorque at low engine speeds.For non-techies, this translates into 200bhp and295lb ft at 2,000rpm, according to Alfa’spublished figures.These proved to be pretty much spot on (notalways the case with manufacturers’ figures, asregular readers will know), though torque wasfound to peak at 3150rpm. That said, the curve isvery steep, so there’s still plenty of grunt lowerdown: 90 per cent of the 295lb ft of torque isavailable from just over 1,750rpm.Helping the power on its way to the17-inch alloysand low-profile rubber is an F40 6-speed manualgearbox, and the Brera 2.4 JTDm will hit 62mphin 8.1 seconds, yet still return a combined figureof 41.5mpg. But Andy Edwards of Sedgley in the West

ALFAROMEO BRERA2.4

by Tunit

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highly favourable. He’d already said how happyhe was with the original Tunit-enhancedperformance, and he could hardly believe theadditional gains. A couple of days later, aclearly delighted Mr Edwards had this to say inan email, (quoted verbatim):

“I could accelerateup hills through allgears and feelpushed back intomy seat – the extrapower is fantastic. It isa total different car. Now it goes as well as itlooks. I can’t wait to get the K&N filter.Theunit is one of the best investments I haveever made, the rolling road and laptop tuneshould really be part of the package, sopeople can see that they are getting the bestfrom the Tunit. It was a great experience atthe headquarters and the guys were reallyfriendly and knowledgeable. In a word, BRILLIANT.’’

Owner Andy Edwards doesthe ‘hands on’

The Brera Tunit conversion, like similar upgradesfor a wide range of diesels, costs £400 plus VAT.Full details of the Tunit range and Tunit’snationwide network of distributors are availablefrom them on 0845 8381405 or atwww.tunit.com

There’s an awfullot in there!

“THE TUNIT TECHNICIANS SETTLED ON 358LB FTAT 2,900RPM WHICH, INCIDENTALLY, IS MORE

THAN A FERRARI F430!”

Tunit is among the foremost of Britain’s diesel electronic tuning specialists. Full details of the Tunitrange are at www.tunit.co.uk, or you can call and speak to one of their specialist technical advisers on01257 274100. This conversion, like most others, costs £400 plus VAT and is available direct from Tunitfor DIY fitting, or can be fitted for you at one of Tunit’s experienced nationwide network of distributors.

Midlands wasn’t entirely happy with this. Hebought his Brera last September. Satisfied withthe performance, he reckoned he should begetting more than the low 40s mpg. (He’dalways exceeded the published figures in hisprevious car, an Alfa 147 JTD, and was expectingthe same of the Brera.) So he took his Brera toTunit. Tunit make no claims in respect ofeconomy – they’re in the business of boostingperformance, and any improvement in mpg is abonus, a by-product of a more efficient engine.Still, his average rose to 44-45mpg.On the strength of that, he took the car to Tunitheadquarters in Chorley for the full treatment: alaptop tune, and analysis on the dynamometer.For comparison purposes, the first job was todisconnect the Tunit and look at the ‘factory’figures. These proved to be accurate: 198.8bhpand 295.6lb ft of torque at 3,150rpm. With Tunit re-connected, readings of 213.3bhpand 325.6lb ft at 2,600rpm were recorded. Thencame the laptop tune. The bhp climbed again, to240.1, and torque to a remarkable 351lb ft at3,250rpm. After a little more tweaking, the Tunittechnicians settled on 358lb ft at 2,900rpmwhich, incidentally, is more than a Ferrari F430.When we took the Brera out on our usual testroute, Mr Edwards’ reactions were immediately

Tunit technicians were able to tweakthe Alfa above Ferrari F430 figures!

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