By: Tarek Hawchar
The Ferrari Roma Spider follows in the footsteps of its coupé sibling but adopts some innovations of its own
Ferrari's new soft-top Roma Spider takes us back to the 1960s. It has been 54 years since the Prancing Horse brand made a front-engine Spider, especially since the 365 GTS4—Daytona in 1969.
Debuted earlier this year, the 2024 Ferrari Roma Spider is almost identical to the Roma coupé first unveiled in late 2019. This isn’t a bad thing, as the hard-top supercar is the most beautifully crafted Ferrari ever made, adopting the Italian concept of “Nuova Dolce Vita” (Pleasurable Way of Life).
Billed as one of the sexiest open-top grand touring cars that money can buy, the Ferrari Roma Spider follows in the footsteps of its coupé sibling but adopts some innovations of its own, thanks to the five-layer fabric top that can be lowered in 13.5 seconds at speeds up to 60 km/h.
We had the chance to climb behind the wheel of this irresistible convertible to fully explore its potential on Sardinia’s most scenic coastal roads. Southern Sardinia, a hidden gem of the Mediterranean, with its turquoise waters and picturesque villages nestled among the hills, provided an ideal setting for putting the Ferrari Roma Spider through its paces.
Cruising through Sardinia's complex curves and attitudinal lilts, the Italian high-end, drop-top grand tourer handled with incredible agility, and the result was nothing short of pure automotive poetry! Simply put, the new Ferrari Roma Spider was a blast to drive, along with being a feast for the eyes!
Just like its hard-top sibling, the soft-top Ferrari was inspired by the “chic, pleasure-seeking Italian lifestyle of the 1950’s and 60’s.”
Exterior
Undoubtedly, the 2024 Ferrari Roma Spider is a terrific-looking car! Just like its hard-top sibling, the soft-top Ferrari was inspired by the “chic, pleasure-seeking Italian lifestyle of the 1950’s and 60’s,” and the iconic grand tourers of that era, such as the 250 GT and 250 GT Lusso.
Though heavily based on the Roma coupé, the Spider variant stands out with its five-layer fabric roof that can fold in 13.5 seconds at speeds up to 60 km/h. Different color combinations, bespoke fabrics, and contrasting stitching are available for this classic canvas roof, exemplifying the drop-top’s character!
Because the 2024 Spider has no roof, numerous modifications have been made beneath its skin. To stiffen the body, new side sills and rear subframe are installed. Also, under the headrests, there are automatically deployed rollover hoops. These additions boosted the curb weight by 84 kg.
The rear is adorned with a deployable rear spoiler with low drag and medium and high downforce settings. There is also a new wind deflector that is integrated into the backrest of the rear seats, which reduces the wind blast with the hood down. In terms of dimensions, the new fabric-roofed Ferrari has an overall length of 4656 mm and measures 1974 mm and 1306 mm in width and height, respectively, with a 2670 mm long wheelbase.
Though the Roma coupé can accommodate up to four people aboard, the rear seats of the new soft-top Ferrari are merely ceremonial, there is very little legroom for normal-sized adults
Interior
Moving to the Spider’s interior, we can find a mix of familiar modern and retro design elements. However, the 2024 Ferrari Roma Spider has a “further honed and refined” steering wheel.” A more user-friendly helm from the Purosangue replaces the overly sensitive haptic sensors. To enhance the driving experience, the steering wheel-mounted ignition now has red backlighting.
The cockpit still has distinct areas for both the driver and front passenger, as they are separated by a massive center section. There is also a digital instrument cluster, along with an 8.4-inch infotainment display located vertically. The latter is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A third 8.8-inch screen is also available on the passenger-side dash that displays performance, navigation, climate, and media information.
Though the Roma coupé can accommodate up to four people aboard, the rear seats of the new soft-top Ferrari are merely ceremonial—there is very little legroom for normal-sized adults. That’s why Ferrari calls it a "2+," not a 2+2! In terms of luggage space, it's somewhat limited, with only 255 liters in the boot, which is cut in half if you fold the hood down.
The 2024 Ferrari Roma Spider is powered by the same V-8 engine found in the Roma coupé—a twin-turbo, 3.9-liter V8 engine that produces 620 hp and 760 Nm of torque
Engine and Performance
The 2024 Ferrari Roma Spider is powered by the same V-8 engine found in the Roma coupé—a twin-turbo, 3.9-liter V8 engine that produces 620 hp and 760 Nm of torque. The V8 engine is connected to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission that sends power to the rear wheels, enabling the Spider to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds, and to 200 km/h in 9.7 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 320 km/h.
We drove the fabric-roofed Ferrari on the scarped mountain roads of Sardinia, where roads have both poor and medium surfaces. The new Spider was able to make us feel not only connected to the machine and the road, but to the stunning scenery as well!
Even in sixth or seventh gear, the new Roma Spider punches hard thanks to the Variable Boost Management of the V8 engine. The latter adjusts torque delivery to suit whichever gear you’re in. Speaking of suspension, we found that it achieves a great balance between a compliant ride and enough grip and composure to tackle tight curves with confidence.
Our Verdict
There is no doubt that the hard-top Roma is a fantastic coupé, but to be honest, the 2024 Ferrari Roma Spider is an even better supercar! Looking sexier inside and out, the fabric-roofed Ferrari captures the essence of what makes a fun convertible, while delivering a highly polished and satisfying ride. Right now, it's hard to think of a more desirable open-top car!