Sharpest in this segment. The Ferrari Roma Spider is the open version of the classically styled Roma.
The Ferrari Roma Spider is intended to evoke the feeling of the open Ferraris from the 1950s and 1960s. Just like with the dense Roma, Ferrari also talks about ‘la dolce vita’. The Roma Spider is not retro, but it does exude something retro-like. Being beautiful may seem like the highest goal, but this open version turns out to be extremely sharp and even a little light-hearted. In short, a fantastic thoroughbred, with which you can ride the open just as pure as the closed.
Why only now an open version of the Ferrari Roma?
The Roma has been around for four years and the Spider has only just arrived. However, there was another open Ferrari that is in the same waters: the Portofino M. However, it has a steel folding roof and can now be retired, putting an end to fifteen years of Ferraris with such a roof construction, an era that was at the time started with the California.
The Roma Spider therefore has a soft top. Is that better?
A soft top is elegant and stylish, you can fold it more compactly than a folding hard top. You see this in the Roma Spider, where the roof can be folded into a Z under the tonneau. The lines of the dense Roma can also be better approximated, but the best thing is that the Roma Spider can therefore have the same beautiful, elegant butt as the dense Roma. With the Roma Spider you can choose from five colors for the hood. The multi-layered hood has something that looks a lot like denim as an outer fabric, but it is not. There is an acoustic layer, which, as we have experienced, succeeds well in keeping outside driving noises out of the interior. The hood can be opened in 13.5 seconds and can be done at a speed of up to 60 km/h. To prevent swirling behind the front passengers at higher speeds, there is a kind of flap that can be raised above the tiny rear seats. Then of course there should be no children there. In fact, the wind catcher consists of the backrests of the ‘seats.’ Ferrari calls the Roma Spider a 2+ and not a 2+2. It’s a bit like the back of a Porsche 911 Cabriolet.
Does the Spider drive differently from the closed Roma?
The car has been reinforced in certain places, such as the sills, but the extra weight compared to the closed Roma is only 84 kilos. So no, the Spider doesn’t drive very differently from the closed one. The car is a model in Ferrari’s GT division, which for the Italian brand should represent a less hardcore sports car character and especially for the front engine. The car is very sharp, with one of the best feeling and operating controls in all of automotive land. The curves of the wheel arches help you perfectly position the Roma during fast cornering. The grip on the nose is good, which is of course due to the V8 biturbo pressing on the front wheels. You can get on the gas very early. The electronics work so well in Race mode that the car tilts slightly without you noticing any interventions. Three years ago we drove a closed Roma on wet Dutch roads and the system made such an impression then. For an open model in this class, the Spider simply feels playful and light-footed, but it weighs less than 1,600 kilos ‘dry’.
So what are the competitors for the Roma Spider?
In terms of speed and sensation, you immediately arrive at the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet or the 911 Turbo S Cabriolet. Other options include the Mercedes-AMG SL 63 and the Bentley Continental GT. However, those two models are softer and more distant than the purer Ferrari. The mid-engine, open-top sports cars are a different division. Ferrari has a representative in all sub-segments with the 296 GTS, F8 Spider and SF90 Spider. And then of course there is the 812 GTS, with the V12 in the front.
Do you notice a lot of open driving?
Ferrari has devised a construction in which the backrests of the two rear seats behind the front passengers rise like a panel, causing wind swirls to disappear. This makes open-top driving very pleasant at speeds well over 100 km/h. You are then well sheltered, especially with the side windows up. And if you find it too chilly, you can also opt for the optional ‘air scarf’, where warm air is blown around your neck under the headrests.
Is the drivetrain the same on the Spider?
The biturbo V8 also produces 620 hp and is linked to the same eight-speed DCT automatic transmission. The double clutch gearbox always shifts gears at the right times. In Race mode or even further, ESC Off, you don’t have to pinball yourself to downshift in time, even when driving fast on bends. The gearbox seems to sense perfectly when you want to downshift to slow down and attack the corner as best as possible. Put the ‘manettino’ in Comfort mode and you will be amazed at how quickly the gearbox selects the highest possible gear to stroll comfortably over beautiful coastal roads, so that people can enjoy the beautiful appearance as best as possible through the slow pace. .
Are there any further adjustments?
The arrival of the Roma Spider is linked to an interim update of the Roma line. There are new touch pads on the steering wheel, the same as those in Purosangue, and a new heat pump provides sufficient oil pressure more quickly when the engine is cold. Of course, in addition to the weight, the price is also different. The Dutch Ferrari dealer asks at least €304,375 for the Roma Spider.