The Ferrari Roma is an exquisite grand touring car with a 2+2 coupe design, rivaling the likes of the Aston Martin DB11, Bentley Continental GT, and the Rolls-Royce Wraith. However, the Roma stands alone as the only supercar in this segment. Based on the Ferrari Portofino, it sits between the Portofino and the F8 Tributo in the Ferrari lineup.
Since its debut in 2020, the Roma has been an impressive attraction, and to add to its allure, the Italian marque unveiled its convertible variant in March of last year. But it’s only now, on July 17, 2024, that the Ferrari Roma Spider has been officially introduced to the Vietnamese media.
The Ferrari Roma Spider has been unveiled in Vietnam, with a starting price of 20 billion VND, excluding options and on-road costs. The key highlight of the car is its retractable hardtop, which takes just 13.5 seconds to raise or lower.
The Ferrari Roma Spider is more than just a Roma with its roof chopped off; it embodies the spirit of “La Nuova Dolce Vita.” Firstly, after 54 years, Ferrari has reintroduced a front-engined, fabric-roofed convertible, with the Roma Spider following in the footsteps of the 365 GTS4 of 1969.
Secondly, the Roma Spider boasts the fastest roof operation of any Ferrari convertible, taking just 13.5 seconds, which is commendable, even if it’s only 0.5 to 2.5 seconds quicker than other Ferrari convertibles available in Vietnam, such as the 488, 458, 430, California, Portofino, 360, and F355.
Some automakers advise against operating the roof at speeds above 50 km/h, as it may damage the retractable hardtop or soft top. However, Ferrari allows you to operate the Roma Spider’s roof at speeds of up to 60 km/h, making it the most impressive Ferrari convertible in terms of roof operation speed.
The reason for choosing a soft top over a hardtop, as seen on the 488 Spider, 458 Spider, and 296 GTS in Vietnam, is that it takes up less trunk space. This soft top can be retracted, and a pass-through in the rear seatback allows for longer items. Of course, you should always check your cargo, as the trunk now offers 255 liters of space instead of the 340 liters found in the coupe.
Inside, the Ferrari Roma Spider features an 8.4-inch vertically oriented infotainment screen, supporting wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for easier navigation. If that’s not enough, an optional 8.8-inch passenger screen can display navigation, performance data, entertainment settings, and climate control, allowing the passenger to become a “co-driver” rather than just a passive occupant.
Under the hood, the Ferrari Roma Spider is powered by a 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine, producing a staggering 620 horsepower and 760 Nm of torque. This engine is mated to an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, similar to the one found in the Ferrari SF90 Stradale.
With this powertrain, the Roma Spider can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds and reach 200 km/h in 9.3 seconds, eventually topping out at over 320 km/h. These performance figures match those of the coupe variant.