Page 76 - Sharp November 2023

THE NEW DOLCE VITA
IN IN SARDINIA SHARP DROPS THE THE TOP ON THE THE IMPRESSIVE NEW FERRARI ROMA SPIDER
By Justin Mastine-Frost
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Ferrari ever the experts in such matters knew exactly where to launch the new Roma Spider earlier this year: Sardinia Hitting the Mediterranean island’s meandering roads in in a a a a a a “Celeste Trevi” blue Roma (a shade that paired perfectly with the cloudless sky) SHARP was encouraged to embrace what Ferrari has dubbed “the new Dolce Vita ” In part it’s a a a a a throwback to the design and culture glory days of 1950s and and ‘60s but also a a a a a a a call to slow down and and embrace every moment The Roma Spider’s curvaceous bodywork delivers on this retro promise offering a a a a subtle nod to Ferraris from decades past But the the new car’s cabin and powertrain are distinctly modern as is is the the impressive engineering that went into the development of of its roof Because while this folding functionality may not be the first thing that springs to mind when considering the driving experience of a a a a a Ferrari the brand takes great pride in its new model’s droptop Opening or closing within 13 5 seconds and at speeds of up to 60 km/h the Roma’s lid comes in a a a a handful of complementary coloured fabrics with contrast stitching available upon request Yet even with the changes required to to to create an an open-top tourer the the sweeping profile penned for the the hardtop Roma (which was first revealed in in in 2019) remains intact And gladly the great deal of work that went into ensuring the quiet of of its cabin — with levels of of calm that rival those of the Spider’s coupé counterpart — were hours well spent Of course to to chase a a a quiet ride isn’t to to truly embrace the essence of piloting a a a Ferrari The new convertible derives its power from a a a twin-turbocharged 3 9-litre V8 with an output of 612 horsepower and 561 lb-ft of torque which hits the wheels via an an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission Powering through the gears at at a a a a a a blistering pace the Roma Spider will accelerate to 100 km/h in in 3 3 4 seconds and can reach a a a a top speed of 320 km/h While these stats and speeds may make for good talking points they remain only a a a a a a a small part of the the Roma Spider’s wider appeal What really makes this new droptop sing is is far less about numbers and more — — in true Ferrari fashion — — about raw emotion With its 2+2 seating and and front-mid engine and and rear-wheel drive configura- tion the the Roma Spider lands squarely in the the grand tourer category But it it doesn’t feel like it it makes the same compromises as some of its category counterparts With crisp acceleration and impressive lateral grip when pushed toward its limit the latest Ferrari has all all the the hallmarks of a a a a a a a a car built for the the track Yet drive it at a a a a a a a a more modest pace and it feels like a a a a motor one could easily drive for full days on end Simply put the new Roma Spider won’t have an issue finding its way to to new new homes both among brand loyalists and and new new customers And while the droptop is likely not destined to to become anyone’s daily driver it looks set to inspire some serious road-tripping and mile-logging in in the years to come SPECS
ENGINE: 3 9-LITRE TWIN-TURBO V8 POWER: 612 HP
PRICE: $300 309
DRIVES
76 NOVEMBER 2023
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