Ferrari Australasia has unveiled the Ferrari Roma for the first time in Sydney, Australia with a series of intimate, invitation-only appointments at the Ferrari Sydney and North Shore dealerships and Driven Women Magazine has been to see this most beautiful car in person today.
The latest V8 coupé from Maranello, the Ferrari Roma boasts harmonious lines, timeless elegance and cutting edge technology. Housing a turbo-charged V8 which is from the family of engines that have won overall International Engine of the Year award four years running, making the Ferrari Roma not only an icon of Italian design but also, the pinnacle of performance in its category.
“After much anticipation and excitement, it brings us great pleasure to present the all-new Ferrari Roma for the first time in Australia. Ferrari Roma reflects a uniquely Italian lifestyle, offering an extraordinary experience of understated luxury and elegance. This new model is truly Ferrari, perfectly balancing performance, innovation, technology, driving pleasure and design.” Said Dieter Knechtel, President of Ferrari Far East and Middle East Hub.
During the invitation- only preview, guests are introduced to Ferrari’s interpretation of ‘La Nuova Dolce Vita’, and invited to indulge in the carefree, pleasurable lifestyle that was prominent across Rome in the 1950s and 1960s. Complete with luxury food and beverage that are synonymous to Italian culture, the pop-up draws on styling inspiration from Roman history and Mid Century design to transport the guests back in time to the Golden Age era.
Dedicated to the safety and well-being of patrons visiting the immersive suite during this uncertain time, Ferrari Australasia have implemented strict measures to ensure an enjoyable and safe environment for all visitors. The immersive pop up will travel to dealerships across Australasia over the next six months and will welcome guests to experience ‘La Nuova Dolce Vita’ in the following locations:
• Ferrari Sydney & Ferrari North Shore, New South Wales
• Ferrari Richmond, Victoria
• Ferrari Brisbane, Queensland
• Ferrari Gold Coast, Queensland
• Barbagallo Ferrari, Western Australia
• Ferrari Adelaide, South Australia
• Continental Cars Ferrari, Auckland, New Zealand
The Ferrari Roma’s design took inspiration from the concept of sporty elegance celebrated in the most legendary grand touring Ferraris of the 1960s, front-engined cars with simple yet elegant forms and a 2+ fastback coupé design.
The designers sought to preserve the minimalist elegance of the car’s forms by removing any vents or superfluous decorations; for instance, engine cooling is guaranteed by surfaces locally perforated only where strictly necessary, creating a new interpretation of the grille concept. In addition, the car was designed without the Scuderia Ferrari side shields, reflecting the approach taken with the road cars of the 1950s. The two linear full LED headlights, which lend the front of the car a distinctive character, are traversed by a horizontal light strip that brings a sense of tension to the car, in a nod to the iconic Ferrari Monza SPs.
The turbocharged 3.9 litre V8 engine produces 456 kW (620 cv) at 5750 – 7500 rpm and 760 Nm at 3000 – 5750 rpm and revs to 7500 rpm. Paired with the 8-speed F1 dual-clutch gearbox means the Roma is capable of 0-100 km/h in 3.4 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 9.3 seconds and on to a maximum speed of >320 km/h
A new architectural concept for volumes and forms was developed for the Ferrari Roma’s cabin. The idea was to create two separate spaces or cells, one each for driver and passenger, in an evolution of the Dual Cockpit concept introduced on other cars in the range. The strikingly innovative look of this dual cockpit was achieved by extending the philosophy applied to the dash to the entire cabin.
The passenger is meant to feel very involved in the driving experience, almost like a co-pilot. Created by paring back the volumes and underscored by piping along their edges, the two cockpits are cocooned in a wraparound volume and extend from the dashboard all the way back to the rear seats, organically incorporating the dash, doors, rear bench and tunnel.
The Ferrari Roma’s F1 controls have been set into the central console in a modern metal plate which references an equally iconic feature from the past: the classic gear lever gate. This element is angled to make it easier for the driver to reach and see.
Exclusive materials, including full-grain Frau leather, Alcantara, chromed aluminium and carbon-fibre have been used throughout the cabin, producing a glamourous experience. All of this makes the Ferrari Roma perfect for those looking for a car with an iconic and timeless design, capable of delivering unique driving experiences. The 2+ coupé claim refers to two pieces of luggage rather than two adults in the back from what I can see and the Roma looks to be as tight as the Portofino in the rear seats and head room is limited by the low sloping roof.
The look and feel of the cabin was driven by the complete redesign of the HMI, which marks a major leap forward starting from the new Ferrari range steering wheel designed using the “Eyes on the road, hands on the wheel” philosophy. The digital instrument cluster is protected by an elegant binnacle, which extends out naturally from the dash. The instrumentation is now entirely digital with all the screens going completely black when the car is not running, lending the cabin a very minimalist look. But once the Engine Start button on the steering wheel, which actually isn’t a button anymore, is pushed, a “ceremony” of sorts begins that sees all the digital components gradually springing to life until the whole cockpit is aglow.
The instrument cluster comprises a single 16” HD screen that is curved to make it easier to read. In the default screen, the navigation and audio screens surround the large circular rev counter. The screen’s dimensions mean that there is huge flexibility in terms of personalising the displays, which are very easy to navigate using the steering wheel controls. For example, it is possible to select a full screen version of the navigation map for ease of use.
The new steering wheel introduces a series of multi-touch controls that allow the driver to control any aspect of the car without ever taking their hands off the wheel. Traditional controls include the 5-position manettino, headlights, windscreen wipers and indicators. The new haptic controls include a very practical touchpad on the right-hand spoke of the steering wheel which allows the driver to navigate the central cluster screens, while voice and Adaptive Cruise Control are on the left.
The extremely intuitive and easy-to-use new 8.4” HD central display, set between the two cockpits, incorporates the other infotainment, sat-nav and climate control functions. The passenger’s experience reaches a new level with the optional 8.8” colour Full HD touchscreen which not only displays the car’s performance figures and status, but can also be used to interact with its on-board system selecting music, viewing satnav information and managing air conditioning functions. So essentially, the passenger becomes a co-driver.
Ferrari’s unparalleled quality standards and increasing focus on client service underpin the extended seven-year maintenance programme offered with the Ferrari Roma. Available across the entire Ferrari range, the programme covers all regular maintenance for the first seven years of the car’s life. This scheduled maintenance is an exclusive service that allows clients the certainty that their car is being kept at peak performance and safety over the years. This very special service is also available to owners buying pre-owned Ferraris.
Contact your preferred Ferrari Dealer for more information about the very elegant Ferrari Roma.
Photographs by Driven Women Magazine.