SHARP Drives: Ferrari Roma Spider Skirts Through Sardinia
A special car deserves a special bit of road. So Ferrari, ever the experts in such matters, knew exactly where to launch the new Roma Spider earlier this year: Sardinia. Hitting the Mediterranean island’s meandering roads in a “Celeste Trevi” blue Roma (a shade that paired perfectly with the cloudless sky), SHARP was encouraged to embrace what Ferrari has dubbed “the new Dolce Vita.” In part, it’s a throwback to the design and culture glory days of 1950s and ‘60s, but also a call to slow down and embrace every moment.
Ferrari Roma Spider
Ferrari Roma Spider
Ferrari Roma Spider
Ferrari Roma Spider
Ferrari Roma Spider
Ferrari Roma Spider
Ferrari Roma Spider
Ferrari Roma Spider
The Roma Spider’s curvaceous bodywork delivers on this retro promise, offering a subtle nod to Ferraris from decades past. But the new car’s cabin and powertrain are distinctly modern, as is the impressive engineering that went into the development of its roof. Because, while this folding functionality may not be the first thing that springs to mind when considering the driving experience of a Ferrari, the brand takes great pride in its new model’s droptop.
Opening or closing within 13.5 seconds, and at speeds of up to 60 km/h, the Roma’s lid comes in a handful of complementary coloured fabrics, with contrast stitching available upon request. Yet, even with the changes required to create an open-top tourer, the sweeping profile penned for the hardtop Roma (which was first revealed in 2019) remains intact. And, gladly, the great deal of work that went into ensuring the quiet of its cabin — with levels of calm that rival those of the Spider’s coupé counterpart — were hours well spent.
Of course, to chase a quiet ride isn’t to truly embrace the essence of piloting a Ferrari. The new convertible derives its power from a twin-turbocharged 3.9-litre V8, with an output of 612 horsepower and 561 lb-ft of torque, which hits the wheels via an eight-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission. Powering through the gears at a blistering pace, the Roma Spider will accelerate to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds, and can reach a top speed of 320 km/h.
While these stats and speeds may make for good talking points, they remain only a small part of the Roma Spider’s wider appeal. What really makes this new droptop sing is far less about numbers, and more — in true Ferrari fashion — about raw emotion. With its 2+2 seating, and front-mid engine and rear-wheel drive configuration, the Roma Spider lands squarely in the grand tourer category. But it doesn’t feel like it makes the same compromises as some of its category counterparts. With crisp acceleration and impressive lateral grip when pushed toward its limit, the latest Ferrari has all the hallmarks of a car built for the track. Yet drive it at a more modest pace, and it feels like a motor one could easily drive for full days on end.
Ferrari Roma Spider
Ferrari Roma Spider
Ferrari Roma Spider
Ferrari Roma Spider
Ferrari Roma Spider
Ferrari Roma Spider
Simply put, the new Roma Spider won’t have an issue finding its way to new homes, both among brand loyalists and new customers. And, while the droptop is likely not destined to become anyone’s daily driver, it looks set to inspire some serious road-tripping and mile-logging in the years to come.
