Not keen on convertibles but still want the style, sporting sensations and a panoramic view? Choose this gorgeous Italian sports coupe to hire that's very special in so many ways. It's such a rarity, a true exclusive, with dramatic concept car looks and a host of real life luxuries.  Three/four seats, loads of luggage space, and two tone leather mean you can tour in comfort and to top it all, a fixed glass panoramic roof means your passengers can still gaze skyward. Everyone else will be looking at your stunning car and listening to its sonorous 3.2 litre V6 engine that only the Italians could make, coupled with all wheel drive bringing assured and grippy handling.

Bellissimo....that's all you need to know. 

OK, because it's a fairly heavy car and an auto, you're not going to be able to dance it delicately through a set of tight bends. However, it's ideal for the long flowing and often uneven roads of New Zealand as it's very well planted and pretty responsive. And when you plant your right foot, especially using the tiptronic manual shift option, that V6 emits a burbling growl that you'll want to replay when the opportunity next arises.

It might take you longer to get going each day just because you'll want to stand outside looking at it, and then you'll likely get into conversations with others doing the same. When you do finally climb in you'll be wrapped in a wonderfully expensive two tone leather interior, with plenty of space to move. And then you'll find this sports coupe has plenty of pace to move you as well.

Drivers over 6'2" will get annoyed by the side of the roof lining intruding and will find yourself with a crooked neck leaning sideways into the roof space. And the rear seats are suitable only for the very short in limb or very long in tolerance - it's a 2+2 configuration, so it's 3 seater at best.

However apart from the stunning colour, there are two 'wow' factors. First, pressing the electric sunblind button to reveal the panoramic roof and those big sky views. And second when you stop at night, you'll just want to leave the doors open so you can gaze at the illuminated Alfa logo projected down onto the ground....nice.

Yes it is an Alfa Romeo and this one is regularly serviced and has to pass the Certificate of Fitness (CoF) test required for all rental cars every 6 months. You have ABS brakes, driver and passenger airbags, high level brake light and side impact bars, along with very predictable and sure footed all wheel drive handling.

Really good. Everything works as it should and it's seriously smartly presented, with a stunning designer interior as well with two tone blue and orange leather throughout.

The boot can swallow a lot, including a full size solid suitcase and lots of bags. Plus if you're only two up there's a lot of extra space on the back seats. For exact dimensions, refer to the Seating & Luggage tab above.

The boot can swallow a lot, including a full size solid suitcase and lots of bags. Plus if you're only two up there's a lot of extra space on the back seats. For exact dimensions, refer to the Seating & Luggage tab above.

If the Brera had sold as many times as its design was praised and drooled over, Alfa would have been rolling in it. Sadly it generated nowhere near sales of its German coupe rivals and only lasted 5 years. Widely regarded as a hugely under-rated designer classic cruiser, I'm not sure it ever appeared in a Bond movie, (although its 159 'cousin' was in the opening car chase of Quantum of Solace), but what would that would have done for sales if it had of been....

Although they’re not the best driving songs, this selection is the best from a semi-interesting year:

Now we acknowledge driving music is a very subjective thing, but clearly here, we’re right. So download, hire our Portable Bluetooth Speaker & enjoy!

Check out the rest of our classic best road trip driving tracks here and put RentAClassic on your play list… 

Quite fast enough.

" ...the Angelina Jolie of cars.."

" Bella..." even more so after an expert valet from The Detailing Specialists in Christchurch