THE ROMA: HISTORIC HOMAGE
The Roma is Ferrari’s latest interpretation of the classic Italian grand tourer – and then some.
In his early days as a manufacturer, Enzo Ferrari had no interest in building comfy sports coupes. He proudly built uncomfortable, no-nonsense race cars for gentlemen who wanted to take on the Mille Miglia.
Ferrari’s hugely popular 250 series was a dominant force on the race tacks of Italy during the 1950s, but these rich gentlemen racers eventually wanted a Ferrari with a touch of luxury to go with the V12 performance.
Birth of the GT
When the 250 series came to an end in 1964, the classic race cars, such as the legendary 250 GTO were joined by the factory’s luxurious new Grand Tourers, which were blessed with aspirational names such as GT Berlinetta (Italian for little saloon), GT California and GT Lusso.
These stylish, comfortable cruisers with their leather, chrome and wood interiors were more at home in Monaco than Monza and famous owners included Clapton, Delon and McQueen. Classic V12 GTs such as the 365 GTB/4 Daytona and 612 Scaglietti followed with the first of the front-engine V8s arriving in 2009 with the revival of the California.
It’s a GT that wants and likes to be driven like a race car.
TODAY’S GT
Currently, there are three GTs in the Ferrari range; the entry level Portofino M, the flagship 812 Superfast, and the mid-level Roma. Although based on the Portofino, the Roma is in fact 70% new – and feels it.
Putting out 611bhp with 561 pound-foot of torque from its 3.9 litre twin turbocharged V8, the Roma is a real performer. The 0-100 km/h sprint is despatched in a mere 3.4 seconds; 0-200km/h takes 9.3 seconds and the 1570 kg (same kerb weight as a Focus RS) Roma can power on to a top speed of 320 km/h.
NIMBLE
What these numbers don’t portray is just how nimble and usable the Roma is around town. Although at 4.6 metres, the Roma is the same length as the Portofino, F8 and 812 Superfast, the sculptured bonnet edges are far more visible from the driver’s seat than its stablemates. On Sheikh Zayed Road, you can slide into any gap you see with complete ease. In fact, the Roma, thanks to its eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is one of the nippiest cars we’ve ever driven – a real automotive pitbull terrier. It’s a GT that wants and likes to be driven like a race car.
Legendary performance: The Roma’s turbo-charged V8 comes from the family of engines that has won the overall International Engine of the Year award four years running.
La Nuova Dolce Vita
Although the Roma’s drivetrain is very much current Ferrari, it’s exterior and interior designs are like no prancing horse before it.
When the model launched in 2020, the fresh look penned by Ferrari’s Senior Vice President of Design, Flavio Manzoni, was a revelation, with original front and rear treatments that were a major departure from the styling language of the rest of the current stable. Ferrari describe the new look as La Nuova Dolce Vita – or the new good life, taking classic design traits from the original 250 Series, such as the slatted grill and the flowing coupe roofline.
COCKPIT
Designed specifically to entice a new breed of younger Ferrari owner, the Roma’s interior does away with the analogue and has now become fully digital. The yellow tachometer still dominates the gauge cluster but now it’s part of a widescreen digital display. There’s also an 8.4-inch centre touchscreen that controls the climate and infotainment systems; a passenger touchscreen display, haptic steering wheel controls and a 5-position manettino dial that allows the driver to switch between wet, comfort, sport, race and ESC-off. Even the centre console gear selector (designed to look like Ferrari’s classic metal shift gate) only requires the gentlest of touches to engage.
It may not be your classic Ferrari dash, but the Roma is after all, aimed at owners who are new to the prancing horse brand. Ferrari estimates that 70% of buyers would be first-time Ferrari customers – a younger demographic tempted over from their super salons and super SUVs to an easy/safe to drive, digitally focussed grand tourer.
