Drop-top gorgeous; the Ferrari Roma Spider unveiled
The Ferrari Roma first arrived on the scene in 2020 and exemplified the term “La Nuova Dolce Vita” which loosely translates to living your best life. However, Ferrari just announced the Roma Spider which could bolster the ownership experience even more.
Ferrari is well-known for developing purpose-built sports-, super- and hypercars with an emphasis on performance. However, when the Roma was first introduced in 2020, it created a somewhat new segment within the brand, one that is more focused on luxury and everyday usability. The new Roma Spider follows this mantra but aims to bolster the recipe with a soft-top roof.
But before you get an Instant Offer on your car to pay a deposit on an allocation or start your search for new or used Ferrari Roma models on AutoTrader, find out a little more about the model here.
Related: Everything you need to know about the Ferrari Roma
Interior
Upon first glance, the interior of the Ferrari Roma Spider looks identical to that of the coupe variant. However, this is not true as Ferrari has spent more time and development on the refinement of the HMI (Human-Machine Interface) touch surfaces on the steering wheel.
Where previously the surfaces were smooth, indents have been incorporated to make it easier and more intuitive for the driver to know which button is which and where to swipe on the touchpad on the right spoke of the steering wheel. Then flanking the central drive selector are two new buttons for controlling the roof functions.
Exterior
The biggest changes to take place are, of course, to the exterior of the car. Where previously one would opt for the Ferrari Portofino if one wanted a drop-top model, the Roma Spider now combines classic styling with open-top driving. While open-top models aren't a foreign concept for the Italian marque, the Roma Spider is the first front-engined model in 54 years to get a soft-top configuration, with the previous being the 1969 Ferrari 365 GTS4.
The roof, which can be deployed in 13.5 seconds and even while still driving at speeds under 60 km/h, can be had in a variety of fabrics and with colourful contrast stitching. One of the benefits of using a soft-top rather than the more common, folding hard-top configuration is that it takes up less boot space, which bolsters the practicality of the model for daily use.
Spider in detail
As Ferrari wanted the Roma Spider to retain the distinctive dynamics of the Roma, it wasn't just a matter of removing the roof. The Italian automaker had to develop the sills specifically for the Roma Spider as it forms part of the fundamental structure. This, in combination with the bodyshell and chassis stiffening, means that the Roma Spider is 84 kg heavier than its coupe sibling.
The Roma Spider also has a new windscreen surround as well as a rear design to retain the spoiler that assists with downforce. This spoiler offers three positions namely Low Drag – LD, Medium Downforce – MD and High Downforce – HD. Ferrari has also incorporated a new and patented wind deflector behind the rear seats which also can be deployed when the roof is down to reduce the wind inside the cabin.
Performance
Although the Ferrari Roma Spider focuses on lifestyle, it is without a doubt still a high-performance vehicle. The Roma Spider retains the 3.9-litre, twin-turbocharge, V8 petrol engine which sends 456 kW and 760 Nm of torque to the rear wheels via an 8-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission. The combination will propel the Roma Spider from 0-100 km/h in 3.4 seconds and on to a top speed of over 320 km/h.
Price
Although the local price for the Ferrari Roma Spider has not yet been confirmed, at the time of writing this article, we don't expect it to have much more of a premium over the coupe, which in 2021 started from R 4 857 600. Clients should also keep in mind that this includes a 7-year maintenance plan that is scheduled at intervals of either 20 000 km, or once a year with no mileage restrictions.
