Best-looking new car of 2023? It may only be March, but we already have a winner.
The Roma Spider is Ferrari’s new ‘entry-level’ convertible, replacing the far less photogenic Portofino M. Powered by a 620hp 3.9-litre V8, it can sprint to 62mph in 3.4 seconds and dry your puff at 199mph.
Prices have yet to be announced, but expect a premium of at least £20,000 over the £170,000 Maranello demands for the Roma coupe. Or over £200,000 when you add a few must-have options.
softer option
compared to recent outdoor Ferrari, the Roma Spider has a fabric roof instead of a flip-and-fold metal affair. As the press release notes, this makes it the first front-engined Ferrari drop-top since the 1969 365 GTS4.
The five-ply hood retracts in 13.5 seconds at speeds of up to 37mph. Together with the extra body braces and pop-up fairing, it adds 84kg to the Roma’s curb weight of 1,570kg.
An optional technical fabric gives the roof an “extremely striking iridescent red finish” (not shown here). It hides behind a carbon-fiber active spoiler that generates up to 95kg of downforce at 155mph. Boot space is a supermini-sized 255 liters with a raised roof.
Riviera to race mode
Inside, the Roma Spider retains the coupe’s child-sized “+2” rear seats. You’ll also find a five-position manettino on the steering wheel (with a choice of Wet, Comfort, Sport, Race or ESC-Off modes) and a drive selector that mimics Ferrari’s classic open-door manual.
The twin-turbocharged V8 – winner of multiple international Engine of the Year awards – is also unchanged, and drives the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The arsenal of driver-assist technologies includes Side Slip Control version 6.0 and Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer, all of which have been known to make the average driver feel like a hero, based on past experience. Take it easy on the Riviera…
we have winners
We drove the coupe at its 2021 launch and concluded: ‘Aside from some misgivings about the cabin, the Roma is really as good as it looks. It’s both a glamorous GT and a scintillating supercar. If you’re after a Ferrari that ticks all the boxes, all roads lead to Rome.
For a lucky few, the Roma Spider adds even more style and potential thrills. Proof will come in the drives, but this Ferrari already looks like a winner on multiple fronts.
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Ferrari Roma Spider: first look at glamorous open-air supercar