Elegance Meets Open-Air Freedom
The Ferrari Roma Spider is a stunning return to form, marking the first time in over 50 years that a front-engined Ferrari has featured a fabric soft top. This is a deliberate nod to the chic Italian lifestyle of the 1950s and 60s, a concept Ferrari calls
“La Nuova Dolce Vita”. Yet, this is no mere retro exercise. The design, led by Flavio Manzoni, is modern and minimalist, with a sculpted “shark nose” front and flowing lines that are preserved whether the roof is up or down. The sophisticated, five-layer fabric top itself is an engineering feat, retracting in just 13.5 seconds at speeds up to 60 km/h. It ensures the car remains as aerodynamically efficient and visually stunning with the wind in your hair as it is with the roof closed.
The Heart of the Beast: An Award-Winning V8
At the core of the Roma Spider's performance-first ethos is its engine: the F154 family's 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8. This isn't just any engine; it's a multiple-award winner, having secured the prestigious International Engine of the Year title for four consecutive years. In the Roma Spider, it produces a formidable 612 horsepower (620 cv) and 760 Nm of torque. This V8 family marked Ferrari's return to turbocharging for its road cars, and the engineers in Maranello worked tirelessly to eliminate turbo lag and deliver the sharp, responsive feel of a naturally aspirated engine. With features like a flat-plane crankshaft for that signature high-revving wail and advanced Variable Boost Management, the engine delivers relentless power across the entire rev range, ensuring that 80% of its torque is available from just 1900 rpm.
Performance Without Compromise
The numbers speak for themselves. The Roma Spider demolishes the 0-100 km/h sprint in a breathtaking 3.4 seconds and can reach 200 km/h in just 9.7 seconds. Its top speed is rated at over 320 km/h (199 mph). These figures are nearly identical to its hardtop coupe sibling, proving that the addition of a convertible roof has done nothing to blunt its performance edge. Ferrari achieved this by keeping the weight gain to a minimum—just 84 kg over the coupe—and by implementing sophisticated aerodynamic solutions. These include an active rear spoiler and a patented, automatically deploying wind deflector integrated into the rear seat backrests, which significantly reduces turbulence in the cabin for a more comfortable open-top experience at speed.
The Driving Experience: Soul and Precision
Beyond the raw numbers, the Roma Spider is engineered for an unparalleled driving experience. The eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, first seen on the more extreme SF90 Stradale, provides lightning-fast and smooth shifts. The car's dynamics are managed by version 6.0 of Ferrari's Side Slip Control (SSC) system, an advanced software that integrates all of the car's stability and traction systems to make its immense performance accessible and controllable. In Race mode, the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer subtly uses the brakes on individual wheels to help the driver manage slides and exit corners with more speed and confidence. Reviewers praise the steering for being wonderfully linear and precise, making the car feel both agile and stable whether on a twisting mountain road or a long-distance tour.
