The Ferrari Roma Spider has been revealed making it the latest entry-level drop top in Ferrari's current line-up. The Roma Spider is the first Ferrari with a soft top since the Ferrari F430 Spider was retired in 2010.
- Roma Spider gets more rigid construction
- Replaces the Portofino M
- Weights 84kg more than the Roma Coupe
Ferrari Roma Spider: what's new?
The Roma Spider, which replaces the Portofino M, has an extensively reworked rear, just like the Portofino M that it takes inspiration from. It uses the same carbon-fibre tub as the Roma coupe, but with added rigidity measures due to the lack of a roof. Overall, the Roma Spider weighs 84kg more than the 1,570kg coupe, which is due to the addition of the roof-retraction mechanism, wind deflector and integrated headrests for the rear seats.
Ferrari Roma Spider: first soft top Ferrari after F430 Spider
The major addition is the soft top itself as Ferrari has broken a decade-long trend of hard-top convertibles. The Roma Spider is Ferrari's first front-engined soft top Spider since the 365 GTS4 of 1969. The roof is made from a five-layered bespoke fabric, boasts of similar sound insulation as the coupe's tin top while saving on weight. It can be opened in 13.5sec at vehicle speeds of up to 59kph.
The 255-litre boot space isn’t heavily affected when the roof is stowed, although Ferrari didn’t confirm by how much. Buffeting while the top is lowered is negated by a new, patented wind deflector that's integrated into the rear bench. This can be raised at speeds of up to 170kph.
Inside, you will find an identical interior to the standard Roma, with an 8.4-inch central display set between two cockpit-style areas.
Ferrari Roma: powertrain and performance
Grunt is provided by the same 620hp 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine as in the coupe. It drives the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
Despite the lack of a roof and, therefore, added drag, extensive aerodynamic tweaks – such as an active spoiler and a curved roofline – enable the Spider to match the coupe’s 0-100kph time of 3.4sec and top speed of 320kph.
While there is no official confirmation of the Roma Spider making it to India, it will hold a premium over its coupe sibling when it comes here. Extensive personalisation options, including bespoke colours and fabrics for the soft top, will evidently push the Spider’s price even further north.
Do you think the Ferrari Roma coupe will find buyers in India? Let us know in the comments below.
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