Ferrari creates soft-top after 54 years with new Roma Spider

MANILA: At a special event held at the El Badi Palace in Marrakesh, customers were introduced to the Ferrari Roma Spider, the most recent model from the Maranello manufacturer. This high-performance, ageless automobile is a modern interpretation of the stylish, pleasurable Italian way of life of the 1950s and 1960s.

This spider retains the proportions, volumes, and specs of the wildly popular V8 2+ concept from the Ferrari Roma, but what makes it so stunning is the addition of a soft top, which, 54 years after the 365 GTS4, marks a welcome return to the Prancing Horse lineup on a front-engined vehicle.

Ferrari Roma Spider Exterior

Created by the Ferrari Styling Studio headed by Flavio Manzoni, the Ferrari Roma Spider aspires to move the "La Nuova Dolce Vita" concept outside city borders for elegant, carefree driving 'en plein air'. The exquisite cloth soft top on this 2+2 spider is made to not only maintain, but also improve the coupé on which it is based, perfect proportions without changing the shape of the car's gracefully flowing form.

Unlike the more usual basic fabrics seen on most convertibles, a new material has been used for the Ferrari Roma Spider’s soft-top, giving it a sophisticated air. Special fabric weaves were selected and developed in color combinations that highlight the car’s twin souls, one more elegant and the other sportier. The bespoke finish with two-tone weave draws on a palette of four colors highlighting the refined, haute couture nature of the fabric. The optional technical fabric developed specifically for this car gives it a sporty yet very sophisticated allure with an innovative weave creating an extremely striking iridescent red finish that further enhances the roof’s 3D surface.

Compact and set back, the fastback's cabin volume ends in a delicate nolder beneath which the designers have reinterpreted the iconic Ferrari tail. The large rear overhang of the Ferrari Roma Spider, a feature of the Ferraris of the 1950s and 1960s, has been resized in this design, creating a low, compact volume that hugs the back axle. The car's wraparound tail is distinguished by the transom styling's simplicity and modernism. The tail light assembly's proportions could be shrunk thanks to technological advancements, creating a sleek and recognizable look.

Ferrari Roma Spider Interior

The Ferrari Styling Centre designers used the same methodology for the Ferrari Roma Spider's interior volumes and forms. The dual cockpit design evolved to include two distinct areas, one for the driver and one for the passenger. The dual cockpit design has a long history with the marque dating back to the 1970s. By extending the idea used on the dash across the entire interior, the revolutionary appearance of this dual cockpit was made possible. Therefore, the idea of two modules that stretch and combine with the two back seats, wrapping around the driver and passenger.

The digital instrument cluster is merged with the volumes around it and shielded by an anti-glare binnacle that stretches out organically from the dash. This technology was adopted from the Ferrari Roma. The driver's information can be shared with the passenger via an optional display. The other infotainment and climate control features are integrated into an 8.4" central display that is situated between the two cockpits and partially floats between the dashboard and tunnel.

The F1 gearbox controls are embedded in a contemporary metal plate that pays homage to the recognizable gear lever gate. This is positioned in the tunnel's center and is angled to make it simpler for the driver to reach and see in the Ferrari Roma Spider.

Ferrari Roma Spider Performance

The V8 turbo engine that powers the Ferrari Roma Spider has been selected "Best Engine of the Last 20 Years" in 2018 and "International Engine of the Year" for four years in a row. Due to 80% of the torque being accessible at just 1,900 rpm, the 3,855 cc power unit combines with the versatility of low-end pick-up to produce 611hp at 7,500 rpm.

Variable Boost Management, a Ferrari-developed management system, is a feature of the Ferrari Roma Spider. It optimizes fuel economy while delivering torque according to the gear that is selected. The engine's output of torque rises through the gears as the car moves up, reaching a maximum of 760 Nm in seventh and eighth gear. This made it possible to adopt a steeper torque curve throughout the rev range in the lower gears for a feeling of smooth, continuous pick-up while still using longer gear ratios in the higher speeds, which helps reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

As for the gearbox, it is derived from the 8-speed gearbox that was first used on the SF90 Stradale and is based on a dual-clutch oil bath architecture. Longer gear ratios and the addition of a reverse gear are the key changes introduced in comparison to the later. So, the size of the gearbox and its installation in the car were optimized by the new layout and component integration.

Ferrari Roma Spider Aerodynamics

The modifications to the Ferrari Roma Spider’s bodywork also required new mobile spoiler geometry. In fact, the design of the latter has been meticulously honed to reflect the car’s styling and new roof line. Similar to the Ferrari Roma, this element is designed to extend and retract in a calibrated way specific to the spider as a function of the car’s speed, and the longitudinal and transverse acceleration acting on the body. This guarantees three different spoiler positions, specifically calibrated for top-down driving.

As a result, the Ferrari Roma Spider has comparable downforce to the Ferrari Roma in handling conditions and at high speeds, guaranteeing the car is always aerodynamically balanced and capable of delivering the same driving excitement. Aerodynamic comfort on board with the top down received a great deal of attention, with a focus on reducing both turbulence and wind noise in the cabin.

Ferrari Roma Spider Side Slip Control

The Side Slip Control concept, which makes use of a Ferrari-developed algorithm to give all the various on-board control systems an instantaneous estimate of side slip, was the driving force behind the Ferrari Roma Spider's vehicle dynamics development, which aimed to deliver superior driving thrills and handling precision on par with the Ferrari Roma. This information is then used to quickly, efficiently, and accurately coordinate and carry out treatments.

The Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer, which is only active while the Manettino is in the "Race" position, is integrated into the Side Slip Control System (SSC), version 6.0 of which is used here. A lateral dynamics control system called the FDE quickly modifies the hydraulic braking pressure at the calipers on all four wheels to match the dynamic scenario that has to be controlled. It is intended to make steering and throttle control easier and more intuitive for the driver while also improving the predictability of how the car's lateral dynamics will change as it enters and exits curves. The device is placed alongside the conventional Electronic Stability Control device.

Ferrari Roma Spider Bodywork

The bodyshell of the Ferrari Roma Spider has not changed much from the original; instead, the changes were made mostly to the rear and to harmonize the lines to keep the Ferrari Roma Spider's elegance with the top down. While only adding 84 kg to the weight, the bodyshell and chassis offer exceptional torsional rigidity and beam stiffness numbers, maintaining the highest weight/power ratio in the high-performance 2+ spider category at 2.5 kg/hp. This outstanding outcome guarantees that the Ferrari Roma Spider enjoys the same superb performance and handling as the Ferrari Roma.

Photos from Ferrari

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