Ferrari has always had a way with convertibles, but it has been a long time since it last produced a front-engined Spider.
Not since the legendary 365 GTS4 (better known as the Daytona) back in 1969 has Maranello given us a proper soft-top grand tourer with its engine up front.
The Roma Spider, then, has some mighty shoes to fill.
Of course, Ferrari’s naming conventions are as cryptic as ever. What exactly makes this a Spider, while the front-engined Portofino was simply… the Portofino?
And where do the 812 GTS or 575 Superamerica fit into all this? The semantics do not really matter. What is important is that Ferrari has returned to the soft-top format, ditching the retractable hardtop of its predecessor. And the result is something rather special.
A market of the finest Grand Tourers
The Roma Spider enters an arena populated by some of the most desirable drop-tops money can buy. The Aston Martin DB12 Volante, Bentley Continental GTC, Mercedes-AMG SL, and Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet are all formidable contenders.
The Roma Spider, however, brings an unmistakable dose of Ferrari magic to the mix, and that alone makes it a fascinating proposition.
So what’s new?
Ferrari’s decision to axe the Portofino—politely described as “no longer available to order”—has left a gap that the Roma Spider now fills. Retractable hardtops were once all the rage, but like low-rise jeans and MP3 players, they have fallen out of fashion.
The Roma Spider takes a more traditional route, featuring a beautifully crafted fabric roof with five layers for enhanced refinement and a special weave for added visual appeal.
Buyers can even customise the colour scheme of the roof, opting for a Riviera-inspired classic look or something more technical and performance-oriented. Ferrari even offers an iridescent red finish, designed to give the fabric a 3D effect.
More importantly, the roof folds away in just 13.5 seconds at speeds of up to 80km/h, adding only 84kg to the Roma’s overall weight.
The rear of the car has been reinforced, and the Roma Spider also comes with an integrated but rather brutish wind deflector that pops up from the rear seats to reduce turbulence.
Is it as beautiful in person as it looks in pictures?
Absolutely. If anything, the Roma Spider might even be prettier than the coupe. Ferrari has openly drawn inspiration from the golden era of La Dolce Vita, and it shows.
The long bonnet, sculpted fenders, and minimalistic detailing all contribute to an effortlessly glamorous presence.
The front end, with its body-coloured grille and chiselled nose, remains a love-it-or-hate-it affair. And while most of the design is delightfully restrained, Ferrari’s decision to slap an awkwardly placed camera sensor on the nose is questionable at best.
Surely, the designers at Centro Stile could have found a more elegant way to integrate it?
From the rear three-quarter angle, the Roma Spider is simply stunning. It carries a hint of barchetta-like purity, reminiscent of Ferrari’s first true roadster, the 1948 166 MM. The coupe’s glass rear screen has been swapped for a tonneau cover, under which the roof folds away seamlessly.
The lighting elements give the Spider a fresh, modern identity, though the prominence of the roll hoops slightly detracts from the otherwise flawless silhouette.
How about the inside?
Ferrari’s relentless push towards a digital-first interface continues in the Roma Spider. The centrepiece is a 16-inch curved HD digital display, offering crisp graphics and multiple layout options, though you will inevitably end up keeping the rev counter front and centre.
A capacitive touchpad on the steering wheel handles audio, navigation, and other functions, while another pad on the left side lets you adjust climate settings and monitor vital information like oil temperature.
Ferrari has been steadily refining its human-machine interface (HMI) since the Roma coupe debuted in 2020, adding a bit of haptic feedback to make interactions more intuitive.
However, some things like adjusting the air-conditioning or skipping a song are simply easier with real buttons. Fortunately, Ferrari has kept the iconic manettino dial around.
ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) makes its debut in the Roma Spider, bringing lane-keeping assist and various safety features that European regulations now mandate.
If you find the incessant beeping intolerable, Ferrari has thoughtfully provided shortcuts to switch everything off. And believe me, you will want to.
As with most modern Ferraris, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration come as standard. The gear selector panel, styled to mimic the gated manuals of old, is a lovely touch.
It is details like these that keep Ferrari’s interior feeling special, despite the increasing digitalisation of the cockpit.
Effortless performance with soul
Like its coupe counterpart, the Ferrari Roma Spider is powered by a 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8. Ferrari has continuously refined this engine, with updated camshafts, a revised catalytic converter, and a new exhaust system that ditches traditional silencers in favour of an oval-shaped flap. The result is improved thermal efficiency and a richer, more resonant soundtrack.
While turbocharged Ferraris will never sound quite as evocative as their naturally aspirated predecessors, the Roma Spider makes a valiant effort. Ferrari has also worked to minimise cabin boominess, a common issue in convertibles.
Acceleration is as savage as you would expect from a 612bhp rear-wheel-drive Ferrari. The Roma Spider rockets from 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds and can hit 200km/h in just 9.7 seconds. With the wind in your face at 320km/h, it is unlikely to ever feel underpowered.
The gearbox, borrowed from the SF90 Stradale, is an 8-speed dual-clutch unit that shifts with even greater precision than before. Longer gear ratios in seventh and eighth improve efficiency while giving the Roma Spider a more relaxed grand touring character.
But can it handle corners?
Ferrari has taken a more measured approach with the Roma Spider’s handling. While still incredibly responsive, it is not as sharp-edged as some of Maranello’s mid-engined offerings. The steering is linear and slightly less frenetic, making it easier to settle into a rhythm on long drives.
The chassis remains composed, thanks to subtle tweaks to the suspension geometry. Ferrari’s Dynamic Enhancer system, which subtly adjusts brake pressure at individual wheels, works exclusively in Race mode. Variable Boost Management ensures that torque delivery is optimised for each gear, making the Spider feel effortlessly quick in any situation.
The Roma Spider’s brakes (390mm discs up front) are as powerful as you would expect, though initial pedal feel could be improved.
A Ferrari for every occasion
The Ferrari Roma Spider is proof that removing the roof does not necessarily compromise a car’s character. If anything, it enhances the Roma’s best attributes. The return to a fabric roof plays to Ferrari’s stylistic strengths, and the Spider may well be the prettiest car the brand has made in recent years.
While still blisteringly fast, the Roma Spider feels less high-strung than the coupe. The improved aerodynamics suppress excessive wind turbulence, making open-top cruising a genuinely enjoyable experience.
You are less likely to drive it flat out, but that is not a bad thing. Some Ferraris demand to be pushed to the limit, this one is happiest when savoured.
Technical Specifications
Ferrari Roma Spider
Engine: 3.9-Litre V8
Drivetrain: Rear-Wheel Drive
Power: 612 bhp
Torque: 760 Nm
Gearbox: 8-speed (A) F1 DCT
0-100km/h: 3.4 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 320 km/h
Fuel Economy: 8.8 km/litre (claimed)
Price: S$1,237,715 without COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)
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