Ferrari

Roma

Ferrari Roma: La Nuova Dolce Vita

For decades, the core lineup of Ferrari has been rigidly defined: mid-engine V8s for the track enthusiasts, and front-engine V12s for the ultimate grand touring experience. The entry-level front-engine V8 spot was usually occupied by hardtop convertibles like the California or the Portofino.

However, in late 2019, Ferrari introduced a car that completely disrupted this hierarchy: the Ferrari Roma.

Marketed under the slogan “La Nuova Dolce Vita” (The New Sweet Life), the Roma is a 2+2 front-mid-engine coupe. It was not designed to set lap records or scream the loudest. Instead, it was designed to be the most beautiful, elegant, and usable Ferrari on sale—a car you could drive to a premier in Milan or a dinner in Paris without shouting about your arrival, until you pressed the throttle.

The Design: Minimalist Elegance

The Ferrari Roma is widely considered one of the most beautiful cars produced by Maranello in the 21st century. Designed by Flavio Manzoni at the Ferrari Styling Centre, it deliberately rejects the aggressive, highly vented, aerodynamic aesthetic of cars like the F8 Tributo or the 812 Superfast.

Instead, the Roma draws inspiration from the elegant Ferrari grand tourers of the 1950s and 1960s, specifically the 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso.

  • The Shark Nose: The front end features a pronounced, overhanging “shark nose” and a completely unique body-colored grille. The grille is made from a single piece of aluminum, perforated to allow air to reach the radiators without breaking the smooth lines of the front fascia.
  • Clean Flanks: There are no Scuderia Ferrari shields on the front fenders (though they can be optioned, many designers argue it ruins the clean lines). There are no massive side intakes. The profile is defined by muscular, sweeping haunches and a rapidly sloping roofline.
  • Integrated Aerodynamics: Because the body is so clean, downforce is managed invisibly. The car features a complex front underbody and an active rear spoiler integrated flawlessly into the rear window. The spoiler deploys automatically at high speeds, offering three different positions (Low Drag, Medium Downforce, High Downforce) depending on the vehicle’s speed and lateral acceleration.

The Heart: Award-Winning Turbo V8

Beneath the long, sweeping hood lies the F154 BH engine. It is a 3.9-liter (3,855 cc) twin-turbocharged V8, part of the same engine family that won the “International Engine of the Year” award four years in a row.

For the Roma, the engine was heavily revised compared to its application in the Portofino. It received new cam profiles, a speed sensor to measure turbine revolutions (allowing the maximum revs per minute to be increased by 5,000), and a new exhaust system equipped with Gasoline Particulate Filters (GPF) to meet strict Euro 6D emissions standards.

To ensure the GPFs didn’t ruin the sound, Ferrari removed the traditional silencers (mufflers) entirely, introducing a new bypass valve design to maintain a robust, muscular V8 growl.

The engine produces 620 cv (612 hp) between 5,750 and 7,500 rpm, and a massive 760 Nm (561 lb-ft) of torque. Like all modern turbocharged Ferraris, the Roma utilizes Variable Boost Management, which limits torque in lower gears and delivers the full 760 Nm only in 7th and 8th gear, mimicking the linear power delivery of a naturally aspirated engine.

The 8-Speed Transmission

Power is routed to the rear wheels via a new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, derived from the unit developed for the SF90 Stradale hybrid hypercar.

This new gearbox is 6 kg lighter than the previous 7-speed unit used in the Portofino. The addition of the 8th gear allowed Ferrari engineers to shorten the ratios in the lower gears for more aggressive acceleration, while utilizing the 8th gear as an overdrive for quiet, highly efficient highway cruising.

The Roma accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.4 seconds, 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 9.3 seconds, and has a top speed of “>320 km/h” (>199 mph).

A Digital Revolution Inside

While the exterior of the Roma is deliberately retro and minimalist, the interior represents a massive technological leap forward for the brand. The cabin features a “dual cockpit” concept, clearly dividing the space between the driver and passenger.

The Roma abandoned traditional analog dials entirely. Behind the steering wheel sits a massive, curved 16-inch digital instrument cluster. The steering wheel itself introduced a new era of Ferrari interfaces, featuring haptic touchpads instead of physical buttons for starting the engine, navigating menus, and controlling the wipers.

In the center console sits an 8.4-inch vertical touchscreen to handle climate and infotainment, while an optional slim display can be fitted ahead of the passenger, allowing them to view telemetry, speed, and audio settings. The gear selector is a beautiful piece of machined metal designed to mimic the classic open-gate manual shifters of vintage Ferraris.

The Ultimate Everyday Ferrari

The Ferrari Roma is built on an evolution of the modular platform used for the Portofino, but 70% of its components are completely new. The chassis is significantly stiffer and lighter, resulting in a dry weight of 1,472 kg (3,245 lbs) when equipped with lightweight options.

Equipped with the 6th generation of Side Slip Control (SSC 6.0) and the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer (FDE), the Roma is incredibly agile. It feels much sharper and more focused than a typical Grand Tourer, blurring the lines between a comfortable cruiser and a dedicated sports car. It is the perfect modern interpretation of La Dolce Vita.