Expectation can play havoc with objectivity. Had I never clapped eyes on the Alfa Romeo Brera prototype that was wheeled out at various motor shows, I'd probably be lauding the Brera production car as one of the best looking cars on the road today. Put pictures of the two versions of the same theme back to back, however, and it's instantly apparent that something has been lost in the translation to showroom reality.

The undisputed star of the Geneva Motor Show in 2002, the Brera prototype wowed the crowds with a shape that managed to meld classic Alfa Romeo design cues with a bold, futuristic vision of what a post millennial successor to the classic GTV was all about. Nobody really believed the flip-up doors would make production and, for quite some time, Alfa Romeo stonewalled any questions as to whether the Brera would go into series production at all.

Fast forward three years to the 2005 Geneva Show and the car that customers would be able to buy was on display. It still attracted huge crowds and remained a very good-looking car but some of the tension and drama of the original had leaked away, replaced by a finished article that worked better from some angles than others. From dead ahead, the Brera is still something very special with piercing triple circular headlamps that arc down to a simplified version of the show car grille. The bonnet swage lines and underbumper air intakes all serve to give the car a pinched, aggressive look that works superbly.

"Call it what you like, but the Brera is certainly anything but dull"

Likewise from the rear, the Brera looks a million dollars. Softer and more rounded than the frontal treatment, the back end features a pair of wedge-shaped tail lamps that integrate into a curvaceous bumper assembly. The arrowhead rear window and quad tailpipes are very deft styling touches. It's in profile that the changes to the Brera production car can be best appreciated. Sitting on a shorter wheelbase than the 159 saloon, the Brera's overhangs aren't actually any longer than the show car, but appear to be so due to the short wheelbase. The distance between the leading edge of the door and the trailing edge of the front wheelarch is less than half that of the show car, losing the prototype's cartoonishly priapic bonnet length in the process. The roofline is raised as well and a conventional B-pillar has also been quietly inserted. Again, the short doors do little to enhance the elegance of the design. Let's retain some perspective though. This is still one of the best looking cars money can buy.

Better looking than Alfa's rather beautiful GT coupe? That's a tough one. In terms of design cohesiveness, I'd say the GT has the edge, especially when specified with a decently sized set of alloys. It may edge the Brera in terms of beauty but the senior partner blows it into the weeds when it comes to visual drama. Alfa will need to give the Brera some breathing room when it comes to pricing and with prices starting from around £23,920, there's some clearance between the two models. The corollary of this is that it punts the Brera into competition with some very serious machinery. The entry-level 2.2-litre car will cost nearly £3,000 more than an entry-level Mazda RX-8 and comes head to head with the class leader, the Nissan 350Z. Losing 101bhp to the Nissan, there's no way the Alfa will win a competition as the sharper driving tool but as an object of desire, it could carve itself a solid niche. Taking 8.6 seconds to get to 60mph from rest and topping-out at 138mph makes this a brisk rather than concussive performer.

The 2.2-litre petrol engine is likely to be the big seller and it's a very slick powerplant, if not hugely rapid in this installation. Alfa Romeo predicts that it will take 60 per cent of UK sales and it's not hard to see why. The 185bhp engine returns a decent 30.1mpg fuel figure and emissions aren't unreasonable at 221g/km. If you're not all about cornering a car on its door handles, then this makes a very interesting choice. With rear seats that will easily accept smaller children, it's even halfway practical. The next step up the Brera ladder is a 210bhp diesel version which, like the 2.2-litre car, directs power to the front wheels. The range-topping Brera variant is the storming 3.2-litre all-wheel drive Q4. This model will hit 60mph in 6.8 seconds and packs a 260bhp punch. There is also a choice of manual or QTRONIC gearboxes and for buyers seeking a sportier driving experience, the Brera S, which has been developed specifically for UK roads.

The Brera's interior is a good deal better in terms of fit and finish than most rivals and it retains the by now almost obligatory Alfa sense of occasion. With plenty of metallic finishes to lift the fascia and driver-oriented instruments, the design makes a nod or two to tradition. How many other cars still retain an oil temperature gauge? The Brera has and it's a welcome touch. There's a voguish starter button and minor controls on the steering wheel. With plenty of adjustment in both the seat and the steering column, even taller drivers will easily find a comfortable driving position. As touched on before, rear seat space isn't stellar but there is a decently-sized boot which, like almost every car manufactured today, appears to have been designed with the main criterion of being able to carry a golf bag. The day I see a manufacturer proudly trumpet the fact that their product can't carry a golf bag is the day that I walk into the dealership and hand over a deposit cheque.

The Brera is certainly an interesting car. It's a coupe that will have people walking around it, observing its every angle. A head turner, a controversy, a missed opportunity, the last of a line, a work of automotive art, call it what you will, the Brera is anything but dull. A coupe can be many things but the only inexcusable quality is dullness. Judged on that criterion, if nothing else, the Brera deserves success. A rather hefty price tag and some talented rivals may act as significant impediments but there's a charisma to this car that may well steamroller such trifling caveats. Alfa expects.

TOP 3 BRERA DEALS

The results below show the top BRERA deals on buyacar

	Alfa Romeo Brera 2.2 JTS SV 3dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £432	Saving £1,390	Price £22,525
	Alfa Romeo Brera 3.2 V6 JTS Q4 SV 3dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £544	Saving £1,815	Price £27,600
	Alfa Romeo Brera 3.2 V6 JTS Q4 SV 3dr QTRONIC Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £571	Saving £1,931	Price £28,934

typical 11.51% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000