One of the biggest stand-outs during our week-long press loan was the brakes. However, not for a particularly good reason. Our tester came fitted with the standard Brembo brakes rather than the optional carbon ceramics. These big Brembos feature 14.2-inch front and 13.8-inch rear rotors. Both are clamped with four-piston aluminum monoblock calipers. Cross-drilled holes help keep the high-performance pads in contact with the rotor, while helping dissipate heat.
When it comes to stopping hard from speed, the Brembos work amazingly. The Quadrifoglio holds straight as an arrow with almost no nosedive. The Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires, measuring 245/35ZR19 up front and 285/30ZR19 in back, are extremely sticky and prevent squirming or skidding. The ABS only activates should there be any loose pebbles or dirt on the road surface. The possibility of experiencing fade on public roads is a joke. And with a confirmed lap time around the Nürburgring of 7:32, it’s a sure bet even the Green **** couldn’t induce the debilitating reduction in braking power. (Though admittedly, Alfa surely used the optional carbon ceramic bakes for the ‘Ring.)
However, there’s a price to pay. The Brembos are rather touchy around town. The brake pedal has a surprisingly short range of motion. A quick check with a measuring tape showed only 1.5 inches through the travel. This leads to a sensitive pedal that is hard to smoothly modulate at low speeds, especially when stuck in traffic. Despite the most careful of tries, the car produces a head-bobbing stop nearly every time. Brake feel and the ability to modulate the pedal is perfectly fine at highway speeds, however.
