Sound the new Ferrari klaxon, we’ve got another one. The fifth new model from Maranello this year – F8 Tributo, F8 Tributo Spider, 812 GTS, SF90 Stradale… and now Roma, designed to muscle in on the Aston Martin Vantage and AMG GT’s patch.
Details incoming, but first let’s place it in Ferrari’s sprawling V8 range. GTC4 Lusso T is the big front-engined V8 Grand Tourer, Portofino is the front-engined V8 convertible, F8 Tributo and hybrid SF90 Stradale have the hardcore mid-engine V8 market covered, and Roma is something new – a front-engined V8 coupe, a bit faster and more dynamic than Portofino, that plugs a sizeable gap in the line-up.
Ferrari tends to use separate platforms for separate model lines, but the Roma’s basis is the Portofino – same wheelbase, same 3.9-litre twin turbo V8 engine, but with a few crucial changes. The engine has been juiced up by 19bhp to 611bhp at 7500rpm, it uses the new eight-speed DCT gearbox from the SF90 Stradale, and the interior is entirely new. Ferrari is calling the Roma a 2+, rather than a 2+2, and with only the pictures here to hand, it’s unclear exactly what that means – optional rear seats is our best guess. Clarification as soon as we have it.
Performance is enhanced over the Portofino, partly down to the extra grunt, partly down to weight loss – at 1472kg dry, it weighs 73kg less than its open-top sister car. So, 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds is a tenth faster than the Portofino and two tenths faster than the 503bhp Vantage, 0-124mph in 9.3 seconds is comfortably faster than both, and a top speed of 198mph+ is plenty for anyone who lives in the real world.
In terms of size, it’s a few millimetres longer, wider and lower than Portofino, a full 191mm longer than Vantage and 83mm shorter than a DB11. But, like the Vantage, it bulges like a tense muscle, but at the same time brings some minimalist elegance back. Stunning, isn’t it?
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