Ferrari has officially unveiled its latest creation, the Roma Spider, at the El Badi Palace in Marrakech, Morocco. This vehicle is the convertible version of the Ferrari Roma, inheriting the proportions, volume, and specifications of its V8 2+1 concept.
What makes the Ferrari Roma Spider even more special is the soft top. This solution appears for the first time in a Ferrari front-engine vehicle in 54 years since the 1969 365 GTS4. Embodying timeless elegance and outstanding performance, the Ferrari Roma Spider is a modern reinterpretation of the lifestyle of sophisticated Italians from the 1950s and 60s who pursued pleasure.
The soft top offers a wide range of personalization options, including sleek bespoke fabrics and contrasting stitches. In terms of functionality, the soft top can be opened or closed in just 13.5 seconds while the vehicle is moving at speeds of up to 60 km/h. Thanks to its compact design, the soft top has also expanded trunk space, allowing the vehicle to be used for more versatile purposes. A newly patented wind deflector is integrated into the rear seatbacks and can be operated with a button on the central tunnel, maximizing passenger comfort without occupying interior space.
The Ferrari Roma Spider retains the exceptional dynamic characteristics of the Ferrari Roma. Beyond the soft top, the use of an all-aluminum chassis and the award-winning 620hp Ferrari V8 engine, which has won the Engine of the Year award for four consecutive years, showcase a segment-leading power-to-weight ratio of 2.5 kg/cv. This engine is paired with Ferrari’s 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, known for its comfortable driving experience, excellent mechanical efficiency, and fast shifting times.
The Ferrari Roma Spider is not only easy to drive but also extremely dynamic and responsive, making it the perfect companion for everyday driving or long-distance travel. Furthermore, the exhilarating soundtrack of the Ferrari V8 adds an exhilarating backdrop to enhance the joy of driving. With a hatch through the rear seats for transporting bulkier items, the largest trunk in its category, and wireless connectivity features for Android Auto® and Apple CarPlay®, this car is equipped with many functional features that broaden its use. The ergonomically designed heated seats are adjustable to 18 levels, with an optional neck warmer.
Designed by the Ferrari Styling Centre led by Flavio Manzoni, the Ferrari Roma Spider extends the concept of ‘A New Sweet Life’ beyond urban boundaries, allowing for elegant and comfortable open-top driving. The 2+ Spider version boasts a stylish fabric soft top that enhances the coupe’s perfect proportions without disrupting the elegantly flowing silhouette.
The tapering of the coupe has been redesigned as a fastback. The rear screen integrates with the soft top, allowing it to fold under the tonneau cover when in open-top mode. The original styling theme of the Ferrari Roma has transformed into a body color band flowing along the base of the roof in the Ferrari Roma Spider, which integrates the tonneau cover smoothly into the overall design by separating it from the carbon fiber active spoiler. With the soft top down, the active spoiler visually connects with the rear seats and headrests.
Unlike the common basic fabrics used in most convertibles, the soft top of the Ferrari Roma Spider features a new material. Special fabrics have been selected, and unique color combinations have been developed to enhance the elegance and sporty character of the Ferrari Roma Spider. The bespoke finish woven in a two-tone palette using four colors exhibits both sophistication and haute couture characteristics.
Developed exclusively for the Roma Spider, the technical fabric offered as an option provides a sporty yet refined charm. The innovative weaving method gives birth to a red color that changes depending on the viewing angle, further accentuating the 3D effect of the roof.
The exterior styling of the Ferrari Roma Spider focuses on clean design and perfect balance among various elements. Harmonious proportions combined with volume that exudes purity and elegance inherit the tradition of Ferrari’s front-engine GTs, signifying a modern reinterpretation of classic proportionality to create a refined yet contemporary style.
The elongated front hood emphasizes the silhouette from the side, making the body sleek and dynamic. The relatively wide front end gives a restrained look, appearing as though sculpted from a solid block of metal, creating overhang and shark nose effects.
The hood and wave-shaped wing are seamlessly connected, harmonizing with Ferrari’s traditional style. Designers have removed any vent or unnecessary details to maintain the vehicle’s minimalist elegance. In fact, the launch configuration does not include the Scuderia Ferrari side shields, reflecting the style used in the 1950s road cars.
The engine is cooled by a perforated surface, with a newly interpreted grill installed where necessary. This unique solution matches the color of the body, ensuring perfect styling integration. The edges of the front grill lead to two horizontal strip-shaped full-LED headlights, which provide a strong personality to the vehicle’s front. The headlights pass through a horizontal DRL (daytime running light) strip that hints at the internal structure of the car, adding tension to the body.
The fastback cabin is compact and positioned close to the rear of the vehicle, concluding at the bottom where designers have modernly reinterpreted the signature Ferrari tail. The long rear overhang, characteristic of Ferrari vehicles from the 1950s and 60s, has also been applied to the Ferrari Roma Spider and is designed to wrap the rear axle compactly and low. The wrap-around tail emphasizes purity and modernity with a transom style.
The advancement in technology has allowed for a reduction in the size of the tail light assembly, resulting in a minimalist and iconic design. The rear of the vehicle is completed with a compact-sized aerodynamic diffuser that integrates vents and exhaust tailpipes.
The cabin of the Ferrari Roma Spider features the same volumes and shapes introduced in the Ferrari Roma. The separated spaces between the driver and passenger seats evolve the dual cockpit concept that marked a significant milestone in Ferrari’s history in the 1970s. The innovative exterior dual cockpit extends the philosophy applied to the dashboard across the entire cabin. As a result, the two modules extend and integrate around the driver and passenger seats, captivating the eye.
The cabin of the Ferrari Roma Spider has a nearly symmetrical structure, where space and functional elements are organically distributed. This allows the passenger to feel as if they are a driver too. Various elements within the cabin have a continuous texture, evoking a sculpture-like feel overall.
The volume is reduced and accentuated by piping along the edges, surrounded by a wraparound structure. These two cockpits are organically integrated from the dash, door, rear seat to the tunnel, stretching from the dashboard to the rear seats. Thus the cabin can be described not as a mere assembly of subassemblies but as a complete structure developed organically from each element.
The digital dashboard of the Ferrari Roma Spider connects seamlessly with surrounding structures and is protected by an anti-glare visor that naturally extends from the dash. This technology is derived from the Ferrari Roma. Additionally, a display that shares driving information can be optionally selected for the passenger seat. The 8.4-inch central display positioned partially in the middle of the dash and tunnel is equipped with infotainment and climate control functions.
F1 gearbox control is completed with a modern metal plate referencing the iconic gear lever gate. This device is positioned at a slight angle in the middle of the tunnel for easy access by the driver’s hand.
The HMI of the steering wheel has been refined and polished from the version in the Ferrari Roma, featuring touch controls on the spokes. A concave touch control has been placed on the left spoke to help drivers easily detect what should be used. The trackpad on the right spoke has been improved, also designed to be concave for easier swiping.
These solutions assist drivers in easily knowing where the controls are, aligning with Ferrari’s long-standing philosophy of “eyes on the road, hands on the wheel.” The engine start button lights up red, emphasizing the thrill of igniting the Ferrari twin-turbo.
The Ferrari Roma Spider is powered by a turbo V8 engine. Ferrari’s turbo V8 engine has won the ‘Engine of the Year’ award for four consecutive years and was named the “Best Engine of the Last 20 Years” in 2018. The 3,855cc power unit delivers 620cv at 7,500rpm, meaning it can produce 161cv per liter, thanks to the fact that 80% of the torque is available from only 1,900rpm.
The oil pump has also evolved, reducing the time taken to build oil pressure inside the engine during cold starts by 70%, while increasing flow rates at intermediate engine speeds. The improved oil pump has also been applied to the Ferrari Roma, demonstrating Ferrari’s commitment to continuous research and development.
Like all Ferrari vehicles, the Ferrari Roma Spider provides immediate throttle response. This is due to the special solutions such as the flat-plane crankshaft, small turbines, twin-scroll technology, and monolithic cast exhaust manifold. The flat-plane crankshaft has been reduced in size for improved fluid dynamics, and its rotational mass is lower.
The turbines have been miniaturized, reducing their inertial moment, and through twin-scroll technology, exhaust gases from each cylinder are directed into their respective scrolls, increasing the pressure of the exhaust pulses for maximum power output. Furthermore, the monolithic cast exhaust manifold is equipped with pipes of the same length, optimizing pressure waves within the turbines and reducing losses.
The Ferrari Roma Spider is equipped with Variable Boost Management, a control software developed by Ferrari. This adjusts the torque output based on the selected gear.
As the RPM increases, fuel consumption is optimized while providing more powerful acceleration. As the vehicle shifts up a gear, the amount of torque transmitted by the engine increases, reaching up to 760Nm in the 7th or 8th gear. This allows for a longer gear ratio in higher gears, reducing fuel consumption and emissions, while also enabling a steeper torque curve in lower gears for smooth and consistent acceleration.
The gearbox is based on a dual-clutch wet bath architecture, derived from the 8-speed gearbox introduced in the ‘SF90 Stradale.’ However, notable changes include longer gear ratios and a reverse gear. By integrating new layouts and components, the size and arrangement of the gearbox have also been optimized.
The 8-speed gearbox and optimized transmission efficiency have allowed for reduced fuel consumption in urban and highway environments without a decrease in performance. Indeed, even during sporty driving at high speeds, this has shown significant improvements. These results are due to specially designed differentials, the use of low viscosity oil to minimize fluid dynamic losses, and a dry sump configuration.
The clutch module has shrunk by 20% compared to previous 7-speeds, but the torque has increased by 35%. During gear shifts, dynamic torque of up to 1,200Nm is transmitted. The transmission software has been enhanced through strong ECU (Electronic Control Unit) integration with improved engine management software. Special attention has been given to designing strategies that reduce fuel consumption and emissions, especially when using the Start & Stop function.
Each Ferrari engine has its own unique soundtrack. The Ferrari Roma Spider is no exception. The flat-plane crankshaft, which synchronizes ignition times, alongside the exhaust headers of the same length, contributes to creating a consistent sound.
This Spider model adopts the full exhaust line of the Ferrari Roma, which has been configured with new geometry applied to the bypass valves by removing two rear silencers. Continuous and gradual bypass valve control enhances engine sound and performance according to driving conditions.
The adoption of the fabric soft top and its indirect impact on the body structure marked the starting point of aerodynamic development for the Ferrari Roma Spider. To maintain efficient downforce and low drag of the Ferrari Roma, the curvature of the roof’s lines and the frontal section underwent deep numerical analysis.
Reconfiguring the body of the Ferrari Roma Spider required a new mobile spoiler structure. In fact, the design of the new mobile spoiler has been delicately crafted to reflect the vehicle’s styling and new roof lines. While similar to the Ferrari Roma, these spoiler elements are designed to fold or extend in a manner specialized and calibrated based on the longitudinal and lateral accelerations acting upon the chassis, resulting in three different spoiler positions, especially tuned for open-top driving.
As a result, the Ferrari Roma Spider achieves downforce comparable to that of the Ferrari Roma at high speeds and during handling situations. Consequently, the vehicle consistently provides a balanced driving experience while maintaining aerodynamic equilibrium. Special precautions have been taken to minimize turbulence and wind noise, enhancing aerodynamic comfort in the cabin during open-top situations.
Several solutions have been adopted to facilitate easy transitions to open-top driving. These include technologies creating an aerodynamic ‘bubble’ effect over the cockpit to naturally direct airflow toward the body surface. First, a new windscreen header rail with 5mm of uplift has been added in the areas where airflow separates.
Secondly, an automatic wind deflector, patented to allow the driver to deploy or stow it without stopping the car, has been developed. The driver can simply press the button on the tunnel to extend the wind deflector, which will then rotate the rear seatbacks (in cases where no passenger is seated there) to prevent airflow from entering the cabin behind the front-seat passenger’s head.
In this configuration, the generally favorable airflow entering the cabin from the rear of the vehicle is redirected to create a calm air region around passengers, reducing turbulence around the heads of taller drivers by approximately 30% compared to the previous 2+ Spider. Central ports have been drilled into the wind deflector to optimize airflow permeability. The angle of these holes is designed to perform the roles of aerodynamic ducts with a progressively narrowing form when viewed in plan. These two structural features combine to disperse the highest energy airflow entering the cabin away from the passengers.
The duct at the center of the wind stop diverts some of the airflows entering the cabin beneath the rear seats, mixing with slower airflows. This effectively reduces turbulence inside the cabin while mostly dissipating energy.
As a result, the bubbles forming around the passengers and their heads expand, helping to provide a very comfortable driving experience in open-top situations. The shape, angle, and permeability of the deployed wind stop are all critical elements to achieving this goal, developed through CFD (computational fluid dynamics) simulation and numerous wind tunnel experiments.
The most visually striking downforce-generating feature is the active spoiler positioned at the top rear of the body. The mobile spoiler cunningly hides within the rear leads without disrupting the car’s lines. Utilizing a unique mechanism, it operates in three different modes (Low drag – LD, Medium Downforce – MD, High Downforce – HD).
In situations where downforce has only a slight impact on vehicle performance at low speeds, the spoiler shifts into LD position. This configuration remains effective until the vehicle reaches a speed of 100km/h. At speeds beyond 300km/h, the spoiler is in MD mode, designed to balance vehicle performance during high-speed driving while minimizing drag. In speed ranges where downforce plays a critical role in performance, the spoiler operates in MD mode, with the possibility of switching to HD mode depending on the vehicle’s longitudinal and lateral acceleration. The thresholds are variable and linked to the Manettino position.
In MD mode, the mobile element (the moving part) forms an angle of 150 degrees with the rear screen. In this configuration, it generates approximately 30% of maximum downforce while adding less than 1% to the increasing drag. In high-performance handling or braking situations, the mobile element automatically switches to HD mode to maximize downforce, offering thrilling driving experiences. In HD mode, which extends to maximum height, it makes an angle of 135 degrees with the rear screen surface, producing 95kg of downforce at 250km/h while increasing drag by only 4%.
The increase in front downforce is primarily generated by a pair of vortex generators optimized for the F169 S. This system forms focused and consistent air vortices while managing the airflow emanating from the front wheels. This produces ground effects, generating highly efficient downforce.
The development of vehicle dynamics for the Ferrari Roma Spider was focused on providing a driving thrill and precise handling on par with the Ferrari Roma through side slip control. Side slip control employs an algorithm developed by Ferrari that predicts side slip instantaneously and communicates this to all onboard control systems. Subsequently, this data is intervened swiftly and accurately to enhance vehicle handling and driving thrill.
The side slip control system implemented in this vehicle integrates all dynamics systems, including the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer (FDE), and operates solely in the race position of the Manettino. FDE is a lateral dynamic control system that swiftly adjusts hydraulic brake pressure in the calipers of all four wheels according to the dynamics situation requiring control.
The FDE system is designed to more accurately predict the vehicle’s lateral dynamics when traversing corners and exiting them, allowing drivers to control the steering wheel and throttle more simply and intuitively. This system acts as a supplement to the existing Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system.
Similar to the Ferrari Roma, the Ferrari Roma Spider’s Manettino features a race mode to provide easier access to vehicle handling and traction performance with five driving modes. The race mode equipped with the FDE function greatly enhances the enjoyment of driving.
The chassis of the Ferrari Roma Spider is based on the Ferrari Roma, but the rear portion draws inspiration from solutions used in the Ferrari ‘Portofino M.’ The sill serves as a crucial structural element developed specifically for the Ferrari Roma Spider. Elements required to install the soft top and A-pillar/windscreen surround have also been specially developed for the Ferrari Roma Spider.
The body retains the core elements of the Ferrari Roma design, but changes were made primarily to the rear to harmonize the lines of the Ferrari Roma Spider. This ensures that the character of elegance is maintained even when in open-top mode.
To achieve the highest power-to-weight ratio (2.5kg/cv) in the high-performance 2+ Spider category, the body weight has increased by 84kg; however, the twisting stiffness and beam stiffness figures for the body and chassis remain exceptional. As a result, the Ferrari Roma Spider can provide handling and performance at the same level as the Ferrari Roma.
This weight increase can be attributed to two factors: firstly, the unique integrated wind deflector, which significantly enhances passenger comfort; secondly, the addition of rear seat headrests, which visually integrates with the tonneau cover design.
The automatic fabric soft top offers the same level of comfort as the folding hard tops found in other spider models. The large rear glass screen is perfectly integrated into the soft-top structure. Fabric manufactured in five layers minimizes wind and road noise, ensuring a quiet ride even at high speeds. Great care was taken during the development process to reduce the balloon effect typical of soft tops. The technological solutions adopted by Ferrari engineers guarantee best-in-class performance in this regard.
The soft top mechanism is designed to be lightweight yet resilient. Thanks to a Z-shaped movement, the soft top can be folded down in just 13.5 seconds to speeds of up to 60 km/h, pushing the technology’s performance benchmarks to a higher level. When folded, the height is merely 220mm, the lowest figure in its category. This allows for ample trunk space, boasting the class-leading capacity of 225 liters when the top is extended.
The gas spring used to extend the wind deflector has been ingeniously designed and developed to deliver controlled smooth movements at every stage of motion and under every condition. The wind deflector can open at speeds of up to 170 km/h. Speed regulation is automatically set when opening the roof to ensure it safely folds and unfolds. Once the wind deflector is extended, it can be used at any speed during open-top conditions.
The wind deflector also retains all the unique features of a genuine backrest. The surface is padded to provide comfort for a passenger seated in the rear seat, and the wind deflector can be opened even when the front seats are pushed back. The central duct balances the air pressure on both sides, improving the airflow efficiency. To optimize the movement and weight position of the wind deflector, thorough research was conducted on the entire rear seat and trunk area.
Ferrari’s strict quality standards and high-level customer service are well illustrated in the 7-year maintenance program available for the Ferrari Roma Spider. Applicable to all Ferrari lineup models, this program offers regular maintenance services covering all ranges during the first seven years following vehicle purchase. The Ferrari maintenance program provided according to schedule guarantees that customers can maintain top performance and safety for years to come. This service is also available to Ferrari owners of certified pre-owned vehicles.
Regular inspections (every 20,000 km or once per year regardless of mileage), original parts, and precision checks conducted using the latest diagnostic equipment by personnel trained directly at the Ferrari training center are just some of the benefits available through the Genuine Maintenance Program. This service can be accessed through all Ferrari dealerships within the official dealer network worldwide.
All Ferrari vehicles possess outstanding performance and excellence. To meet customers’ needs to preserve these characteristics, the Genuine Maintenance Program is expanding the range of after-sales services.
Jin Sang, daedusj@autodiary.kr