By Khulekani Dumisa

Our local Ferrari has revealed its stunning long-nosed two-seater coupe named the Roma. The new icon of Italian design looks inspired by the latest offerings from Aston Martin’s DB series although Ferrari says it’s inspired by the likes of 250 GT Berlinetta lusso and 250 GT 2+2.

The Ferrari Roma employs the same platform used by the Ferrari Portofino. Powering the 4,656 mm long Italian coupe is a 3.9L turbo-charged V8 engine which has won the overall international engine of the year award for four years running.

The 90-degree mid-front-engine is mated to the 8-speed DCT transmission which was first introduced in the first-ever, fully-electric SF90 Stradale.

The V8 engine in the new Ferrari Roma produces 456 kW of power and 760 Nm of torque and sprints from 0-100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds whereas 0-200 km/h can be done in 9.3 seconds. The top speed has been limited to 320 km/h.

Technological advancements

Ferrari says, its engineers developed several leading-edge technologies to guarantee best-in-class performance whilst still retaining the stylistic purity of its bloodline. Most notably, a mobile rear spoiler integrated into the rear screen is designed to retain the car’s formal look when retracted and also guarantee the downforce which essential for the Ferrari Roma’s performance by automatically deploying at high speeds.

The Ferrari Roma also features Variable Boost Management for instantaneous throttle response. With the adoption of Gasoline Particulate Filters, attention was also focused on the sound of the exhaust system which has been completely redesigned, removing the silencers and introducing new bypass valves.

Interior

The Roma’s cabin adopts two separate cells, one for the driver and the passenger, that feature a dual cockpit concept that embraces the entire cabin rather than just the dashboard.

Conveniently, “Comfort Access” function allows the driver to open the car by touching a button next to the new flush handle in the door.

Safety

Matrix LED headlights and optional Ferrari advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including adaptive Cruise Control, are available to ensure an even more exhilarating Ferrari Roma experience.

The new Ferrari Roma is priced from R4,972,000.