Ferrari Roma Spider Unveiled as Maranello’s New Soft-Top Convertible
A convertible variant of the sleek Ferrari Roma coupe was inevitable, and yesterday the Italian automaker hosted an exclusive event at El Badi Palace in Marrakesh, Morocco to make it official.
The all-new Roma Spider marks the return of a soft top on a front-engined Ferrari 54 years after the 1969 365 GTS4. It will replace the outgoing Portofino M, which featured a retractable hardtop.
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The Roma Spider’s top offers bespoke fabrics and contrasting stitching. On a functional level, it deploys in just 13.5 seconds at speeds up to 60 km/h. The fact that it is so compact also yields a larger trunk. Cargo space with the top up is listed at 255 litres.
An automatic wind deflector can be deployed by the driver without any need to stop the car. All they have to do is to press a button on the centre console and the backrest of the rear seats (in the absence of rear passengers) will rotate into position behind the front occupants’ heads.
Ferrari designers have re-proportioned the Roma Spider’s long rear overhang, resulting in a low, compact volume which hugs the rear axle. The modifications to the bodywork also required new mobile spoiler geometry. This element is designed to extend and retract in a calibrated way specific to the convertible. Three different spoiler positions are possible, once again specifically calibrated for top-down driving.
The rest of the exterior is pretty similar to the coupe including the 20-inch wheels, rear diffuser and quad exhaust tips, but you must know that the Roma Spider carries an extra 84 kg for a total of 1,556 kg.
The engine nestled under the long hood is the same twin-turbocharged 3.9-litre V8 found in the Roma, except for the new oil pump that reduces time-to-pressure in cold starts by 70 percent and increases the flow rate at medium revs. Output is 612 horsepower at 7,500 rpm, while 80 percent of the 561 lb-ft. of torque are accessible from as low as 1,900 rpm.
With the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, acceleration from 0-100 km/h is achieved in just 3.4 seconds and top speed exceeds 320 km/h, matching the coupe’s numbers.
Inside the Roma Spider, the 2+2 configuration has been retained. Two separate spaces, one each for driver and passenger, were created in an evolution of the dual-cockpit concept. Customers can select 18-way-adjustable heated ergonomic seats that are also available with an optional neck warmer for colder days.
The 8.4-inch touchscreen offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, while the instrument panel is fully digital. For greater convenience and easy of use, Ferrari says the steering wheel’s controls are a further honed and refined version of those seen on the Roma with touch controls on its spokes.
Pricing for the new Ferrari Roma Spider has not been announced, but we need to remind you that the coupe retails for more than $275,000 in Canada.