“Unique driving pleasure dressed in elegantly light cocktail robe” is how Flavio Manzoni, Chief Design Officer at Ferrari, described the Ferrari Roma Spider in a few words. The mention of driving pleasure in this statement comes as no surprise, as this is exactly what one would expect from a Ferrari with a Ferrari V8 engine. Combined with an 8-speed dual clutch gearbox and wide wheelbase, this car is light, responsive and dynamic to drive. But what about the cocktail robe reference? In fact, the Ferrari Roma Spider is inspired by the iconic, high-performance, fabric soft-topped Spider sports cars with front-mid-engine, in particular the 1969 Ferrari 365 GTS4, and aims to transfer their promise of a light, summery lifestyle into the present by giving it a new form – as the title of the design concept “La Nuova Dolce Vita” already suggests. The new Spider is based on the Ferrari Roma V8 2+ and retains the proportions, volumes and with them the elegance of the Roma coupé. At the same time, these classic proportions have been interpreted in a contemporary take. The long front bonnet emphasises the sleek silhouette of the flanks and lends the entire body an air of slenderness and dynamism. The Roma Spider owes its minimalist elegance also to the absence of any air vents or decorative elements – another reference to the road cars of the 1950s. In addition, the concept of the radiator grille has been reinterpreted, with a modern pattern also inspired by the Ferraris of the past. Instead of a retractable hard top, the Ferrari Roma Spider boasts a lightweight fabric soft top, which emphasises the elegantly flowing silhouette and the luxurious character of the car – making the association with cocktail robe clear. The soft top offers extensive personalisation options, including an innovative woven fabric in a striking iridescent red that was specially developed for Ferrari. In terms of functionality, the soft top can be deployed and retracted at speeds of up to 60 km/h. “The Ferrari Roma Spider embodies the essence of a convertible sports car,” the jury concurred. In an outstanding manner, this model has succeeded in achieving the perfect balance between performance, on the one hand, and simplicity, on the other – it is a high-performance sports car of reduced Italian elegance.
