Ferrari’s new Roma coupe teams up with its Portofino coupe-convertible in defence of its territory in the sub-million dollar segment
The new Ferrari Roma is unique in more ways than one. Though it is an entry-level model—albeit one that will cost you close to a million dollars ($888,000 without options/COE)—it is a proper coupe, not a convertible or a combination thereof. Secondly, it’s Ferrari's first front-engine V8 coupe. The carmaker has had great front-engine coupes before, but all have been V12s and none have been equipped with a V8.
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However, its styling is what sets the Roma apart from the rest of the family. Ferrari’s stable is full of sports cars that look overtly sexy. Instead, the Roma’s design has clearly drawn inspiration from Ferraris of the 1960s, an age when elegance was the order of the day.
This is not to say that the Roma does not drive like a Ferrari, because it still has all the exciting attributes that make it a proper Ferrari. Its award-winning turbocharged V8 with 620 hp sees to that and is more powerful than the Portofino coupe-convertible. Launching the Roma from any standing start is rather exciting because the massive power will have the rear tyres “squirming” despite their considerable grip.
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POWER
With a new eight-speed F1 gearbox optimising the power delivery, it will zip to 100 km/h from a standing start in a scant 3.4 seconds and will reach a remarkable top speed of over 340 km/h given a long enough stretch of road.
Unlike the Portofino, the Roma has been given the “Race mode” setting, just like Ferrari's more extreme sportscars. This suggests that the Roma has been imbued with a sportier character than the Portofino.
“Race mode” will be pretty handy should the owner want to drive the Roma at the race track, but it is also surprisingly pliant and tolerable even on the city streets if you find yourself in an aggressive mood.
Selecting “Comfort mode” calms everything down and makes this the most comfortable Ferrari I have ever had the pleasure of piloting. Admittedly, it’s no magic-carpet ride but it is impressive how the engineers could develop a suspension with such wide adaptability—from street to track with a mere twist of the Manettino switch, providing settings for comfort, sport, race and stability-off.
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