Monday, March 18, 2024

Ferrari unveils Roma Spider with an innovative soft top

Ferrari, an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer, has unveiled Roma Spider, a soft-top convertible in Marrakesh, Morocco. Combining timeless elegance with high performance, the Ferrari Roma Spider is a contemporary take on the pleasure-seeking Italian lifestyle of the 1950s and 60s.

What makes the Spider so striking is the adoption of a soft top, a solution making a welcome return to the Prancing Horse range on a front-engined car 54 years after the launch of the 1969 365 GTS4.

Although the Ferrari Roma Spider follows the same design cues as the Roma coupe that debuted in 2020, it has several innovations of its own. The two-seater Spider combines the subtly retro styling from the hardtop with a special multi-layer fabric soft top that folds in a mere 13.5 seconds while driving at speeds up to 60 km/h (37.28 mph).

The soft top deploys in just 13.5 seconds and can be actioned at up to 60 km/h.
The soft top deploys in just 13.5 seconds and can be actioned at up to 60 km/h. Credit: Ferrari

When stowed, the roof occupies a height of just 220mm, which is the lowest in the category. This, in turn, provides more storage space than a folding hard top, with a capacity of 255 liters.

Designed by the Ferrari Styling Centre under the leadership of Flavio Manzoni, the Ferrari Roma Spider aims to move the “La Nuova Dolce Vita” concept for open-air driving outside of the city.

The company has modified the rear screen to incorporate it into the soft top so that it can fold below the tonneau cover when open. On the Ferrari Roma Spider, the original styling theme has become a body-color band running across the base of the roof that divides the carbon-fiber active spoiler from the roof and rear screen, creating a seamlessly integrated tonneau cover. When the soft top is lowered, the active spoiler visually connects with the rear bench and headrests.

A new, patented wind deflector integrated into the backrest of the rear bench can be deployed by a button on the central tunnel, guaranteeing exceptional in-car occupant comfort without taking up any space in the car.

Inside, the Ferrari Roma Spider’s cabin has two separate spaces, one each for the driver and passenger. There is also a digital instrument cluster protected by an anti-glare binnacle which extends out naturally from the dash. The passenger also has an optional display that allows them to share driving information and an 8.4-inch vertical infotainment system that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Roma Spider’s cabin has two seats for driver and passenger.
Roma Spider’s cabin has two seats for the driver and passenger. Credit: Ferrari

The Ferrari Roma Spider is powered by the twin-turbo 3.9-liter V8 that pumps out a massive 612 horsepower and 561 pound-feet of torque. The only gearbox option is a dual-clutch, eight-speed automatic. Its 8-speed DCT gearbox also ensures excellent levels of comfort, mechanical efficiency, and sporty gear-shifting fun.

The wheels of the car take 3.4 seconds to accelerate from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) and reach a top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph). The Roma Spider weighs 185.2 pounds (84 kg) more than the hardtop model. The increase primarily comes from the roof-opening system and power wind deflector.

The manufacturer also states that the car comes with Variable Boost Management, a control software developed by Ferrari that adjusts torque delivery to suit the gear selected. It also has a best-in-class weight-to-horsepower ratio of 2.5 kg/hp, thanks to the car’s aluminum chassis.

The Ferrari Roma Spider is easy to push to the limit, dynamic, and highly responsive, making it the perfect companion for weekend getaways or even longer journeys. Details on the price and sale of the car via Ferrari have yet to be made available.