The Roma is arguably the prettiest Ferrari on sale today and we’ve always wondered how good its convertible version would have looked. Now, that tantalising prospect is a reality with the Roma Spider being revealed with a soft top fabric roof. It’s the first time since the ’60s 365GTS/4 that a front-engined Ferrari convertible will feature a fabric roof, and we’d say it looks even better.
Metal hardtops are heavy and add needless bulk to the design while a lighter soft-top sprinkles a bit of old-school charm on an already pretty design. The soft-top also folds back and forth in just 13 seconds while you can also do this on the move with speeds of up to 60 km/h.
Related: The Ferrari Roma Tingles the Automotive Tastebuds.
Design-wise, the Roma remains largely unchanged and we’re glad since the ’60s-infused Italian charm is something to behold with curves being draped at the right places along with a sense of classic beauty about those lines. That said, the Roma Spider has subtly modified rear styling thanks to a new spoiler and an updated bumper design. Elsewhere, there is a new wind deflector that cuts down turbulence.
The Roma Spider is around 84 kgs heavier than its coupe sibling but that’s something owners will hardly notice since the 3.9-litre V8 with its 612 bhp and 0 to 100km/h tome of 3.4 seconds will be heard better with no barrier between the driver and the engine. Ferrari has also taken this opportunity to tweak its dual-clutch gearbox and slip in the latest version of its, er, Side Slip Control system for those interested in exploring the nearest concrete wall with their AUD$600,000 Ferrari.
Inside, there is quite a lot of luxury along with the latest Ferrari HMI system plus the gated gear selector stays to remind you that once upon a time, Ferrari dabbled in manuals. Standard equipment is pretty generous with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and 18-way power-adjustable heated seats while you can spec a neck warmer if you’d like to drive it to cooler climates.
The Roma Spider will replace the Portofino M, a car that injected some much-needed ‘la dolce vita’ in the largely stagnant convertible supercar space. Expect pricing for the Ferrari Roma Spider to well exceed the price of the standard coupe (priced from $409,888 plus on-road costs) and land somewhere around the price of the Portofino (from $455,000 before on-roads).
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