Ferrari's Roma Spider harks back to Italian summers gone by. The winding, tight roads that lead to rocky coastlines, where the setting Ligurian sun bathes terracotta buildings in its glow. It's a car that is la dolce vita-incarnate.
I had the pleasure of test-piloting the Roma Spider on a couple's weekend at the new Mondrian Hotel on the Gold Coast, ahead of the car's recent unveiling. I say "pilot" instead of "drive" because the experience truly does make your feel the former. When you flick the steering wheel drive selector (that's called the manettino in a Ferrari) into "sport" and put your foot down, it delivers more than just brute speed. The gearbox shifts faster than you can blink and produces a flood of endorphins channeled through an engine. It's not a kick-to-the-back-of-the-head kind of power. It's funnelled from the car to the road as fast as modern science can get it there; and accompanied by a symphony of technology wrapped in luxury and artistry.
We took the long route from the Ferrari dealership to arrive at The Mondrian Hotel. Climbing the steep turns into the hinterland under the canopies of rainforest. Roof down, a task that takes just 13.5 seconds and can happen at up to 60km/h, the earthy air was a sensory delight as the Roma Spider coasted around the bends. It's a quiet kind of exhilaration that shows you exactly what it means to be a sports car owner.
Flicking the rotary manettino back to "comfort", we settled in for a supremely cosy journey across the next stretch of highway to the hotel. Typically, when you make that switch in a supercar, there is a limit to the comfort you receive. But Ferrari's Roma Spider is just as much about the passenger experience as the driver's. It's a car configured cruising just as much as it is for speed.
Pulling into our hotel home for the next two nights, it's undeniable that the Roma Spider is a head-turner. Wide-eyes and longing stares greeted us on arrival (as they had for most of the journey there). Ferrari has distilled the old-world elegance of 1950's Italy and used it to create one of the most glamorous cars on the road. The exterior design language paints a clear picture of summers touring the Italian Riviera, from Santa Margherita to Camogli. Vine covered walls and umbrellas set over pebbled beaches. The completely customisable leather interior is configured in a way that speaks to the essence of Italian design, no match the colours you choose.
The following day, we took a leisurely cruise down to Bangalow in the Northern Rivers for lunch at You Beauty; and then to Wategos Beach where we ate gelato on the sand. The crisp June air was not about to stop enthusiastic bathers from diving into the crystalline waters; nor did it deter the patrons of Raes hotel from enjoying an alfresco cocktail. It was a moment that reminds you that in the right setting and with the right vehicle, the embers of summer never truly die.
I hopped into the passenger seat for the drive back. The roof was down so we could truly enjoy the setting Byron sun. As the air turned chilly, the lavish neck-warming feature was so soothing that I may have dozed as we returned to the Gold Coast.
Most supercars prioritise the experience of speed. It's why so many supercar owners eventually trade their noisy racers in for comfortable, luxury SUVs. Supercars aren't typically practical touring cars for long drives or even daily living. You don't want to be pinched inside a tiny cabin with your luggage on your lap between Sydney and the holiday home you've booked in Byron Bay.
Instead of sitting back to let family-sized pavement prowlers cut their lunch, Ferrari has designed the Roma Spider to be both fast and supremely-comfortable. A sophisticated, soft-top grand tourer with lavishly comfortable seats, a passenger-side screen and a boot that easily our two weekender suitcases. It promises both sporty driving and relaxed grandeur in the same package.
Make no mistake, under the bonnet is a 620 cavallo-vapore (or 611 brake-horsepower for those who don't speak Italian mechanic) twin-turbo V8 engine that delivers serious performance; with silky smooth power delivery, thanks to Ferrari’s new eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox and clever torque management software. It's a mouthful, but that gearbox is particularly special, having been plucked from a much faster Ferrari for a new life in the Roma Spider grand tourer. It’s efficient too — a rare word in Ferrari speak — with start-stop functionality and a sleek aerodynamic build that keeps drag low and thrills high.
Changes to the roof design and the aerodynamics make sure you're not blown around when the top is down. You can feel the wind on your face but without whipping your hair into a frenzy and you can hold a conversation at a civilised volume. That's courtesy of a new wind deflector which pops out at the press of a button. An adapted suspension ensures you can put in an impressive lap time, even with the roof down - unlike some convertibles which lose precious seconds without the roof holding it together. There's wireless Apple CarPlay, a million combinations for your adjustable, lumbar-supported, heated seats, and convenient storage solutions just about everywhere you look.
It's undeniable. Ferrari built the Roma Spider knowing that a truly enviable driving experience is about the way a car make you feel, rather than simply its track time.
