Ital Auto Malaysia Sdn Bhd, the official importer and distributor for Ferrari cars in Malaysia, launched the Ferrari Roma Spider yesterday at the newly-revealed Ferrari Ital Auto Malaysia showroom located at the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
The latest in a long line of iconic Spiders bearing the Prancing Horse emblem, the Roma Spider, which is priced at RM3.2 million, pays homage to the pleasure-seeking lifestyle of the 1950s and 60s, presenting customers with the option of a soft top for the first time in a front-engined Ferrari in 54 years after the 1969 365 GTS4.
There’s a novel and modern take on the soft-top design that underlines the Ferrari Roma Spider’s exuberant character, with extensive personalisation options that include sophisticated, bespoke fabrics and contrasting stitching.
On a functional level, the soft top deploys in just 13.5 seconds and can be actioned at up to 60 km/h. The fact that it is so compact also yields a larger boot and boosts the car’s versatility.
A new, patented wind deflector integrated into the backrest of the rear bench can be deployed by a button on the central tunnel, guaranteeing exceptional in-car occupant comfort without taking up any space in the car.
Redesigning the coupé’s fastback roofline meant modifying the rear screen to incorporate it into the soft top so that it can fold below the tonneau cover when open. On the Ferrari Roma Spider, the original styling theme has become a body-colour band running across the base of the roof that divides the carbon-fibre active spoiler from the roof and rear screen, creating a seamlessly integrated tonneau cover. When the soft top is lowered, the active spoiler visually connects with the rear bench and head rests.
Unlike the more usual basic fabrics seen on most convertibles, a new material has been used for the Ferrari Roma Spider’s soft-top, giving it a sophisticated air. Special fabric weaves were selected and developed in colour combinations that highlight the car’s twin souls, one more elegant and the other sportier.
The bespoke finish with two-tone weave draws on a palette of four colours highlighting the refined, haute couture nature of the fabric. The optional technical fabric developed specifically for this car gives it a sporty yet very sophisticated allure with an innovative weave creating an extremely striking iridescent red finish that further enhances the roof’s 3D surface.
Having said that, the Ferrari Roma Spider retains the Ferrari Roma’s excellent dynamic characteristics with a best-in-class weight/power ratio thanks not only to its soft top, but also to its all-aluminium chassis and V8 engine family that was heralded as the International Engine of the Year on four consecutive occasions.
In terms of performance, the engine which makes 620 hp and 760 Nm of torque allows the Roma Spider to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds while hitting a top speed of over 320 km/h.
The engine is coupled with Ferrari’s universally-acclaimed 8-speed DCT known for its incredibly fast shift times as well as excellent standards of comfort and mechanical efficiency.
Always, of course, with the exhilarating Ferrari V8 soundtrack playing in the background. A number of features are designed to make this car superbly versatile, including a category-topping boot size which includes a hatch via the rear seat backrests to allow larger items to be carried, and standard wireless connectivity by Android Auto® and Apple CarPlay Wi-Fi.
The soft-top mechanism was designed to be light yet resilient as it pushes technical performance limits to new heights thanks to a Z-shaped movement that folds the soft top away in a mere 13.5 seconds and up to a maximum speed of 60 km/h.
When stowed, the roof occupies a height of just 220mm, which is the lowest in the category, and that, in turn, ensures a roomy boot (a class-leading 255 litres with the top up).
