In front there are eight cylinders
Front engine, rear drive, coupé bodywork. The new Ferrari Rome is designed to be driven every day: this is why it has the necessary comforts to juggle traffic and parking (good visibility, contemporary infotainment – with Apple CarPlay and AndroidAuto – and cameras on all four sides) and an aspect that it can also go unnoticed. This is despite the fact that it is a car that is anything but trivial and is closely linked to the best history of Ferrari: many of its details recall those of certain ancestors of the 60s, which however were V12s. It derives from Portofino even if, observing the technical data sheet (and above all guiding it), it is immediately clear how Rome is not its “simple” covered version. It has a distinct soul. It is twofold: travel companion and (if necessary) supercar.
What a style
466 cm long, 197 wide (as much as the SF90 Stradale hybrid supercar) and 130 high Ferrari Rome it has lines that are the result of the work done by the Ferrari Style Center coordinated by Flavio Manzoni. It has fluid and modern shapes, capable of intertwining the coupe styles of the Red epic. Also in this sense the reference to the Dolce Vita (or rather, to the cars that have interpreted it) is evident; the name was chosen at this time, given that Rome was the natural set of Federico Fellini’s famous film, La Dolce Vita.
The proportions of the Ferrari Rome they are clearly inspired by the Ferrari V12 motor grand tourers of the early 60s while the front, in particular the headlights and the mask, evolve the design of the super exclusive Ferrari Monza SP, in turn inspired by the racing cars of the 50s. the rear has the typical features of the latest generation Ferraris with four exhausts and four lights; which are however more original in shape: they are not in a circle like on the Ferrari F8 Tributo or 812 Superfast but ovoid, underlined by simple bright horizontal lines when they are in operation. Finally, between the rear window and the boot opening there is a small movable wing: it rises only in combination with the driving mode selected through the Manettino.
It is active, therefore when more load is needed (for example in a busy driving condition) it rises to the maximum to generate up to 95 kg of load; otherwise it works at 30 percent of its potential, from 100 per hour up to the maximum speed. Below 100 km / h it remains flush with the bodywork so as not to dirty the line. The underbody is faired and special flow separators contribute to the rest of the deportant potential together with the rear carbon extractor.
Tre display
If outside the Ferrari Rome it is elegant and inconspicuous in comparison to the other models in the Ferrari range, inside there are many affinities with the more extreme SF90 Stradale: behind the wheel there is no longer the classic analogue rev counter but a large 16 ”screen, just that of the SF90 , from which he also inherits the steering wheel and the logics that govern infotainment. Returning to the dashboard, it has an excellent resolution and is configurable through the touch buttons of the steering wheel spokes. But this screen does not represent the only form of interaction with the multimedia system: like the most luxurious Ferrari GTC4 Lusso, the Roma does not give up on a central screen, an 8 ”4 touchscreen that also includes all the air conditioning functions. Finally, the passenger can also have (optional) a completely dedicated display: it is a touchscreen and shows among others the status of the car, its speed, the speedometer and the selected driving mode.
How much space there is
The Ferrari Rome it is approved for four: behind the comfortable electrically adjustable front seats there are in fact two small armchairs, suitable for children or used as additional loading space (the car is approved for four people, but at Ferrari they define it as a “2+”) . Load space that is not lacking on this Ferrari Rome: by folding the backrests, 345 liters of capacity are obtained. Using only the boot there are instead 272 liters available. The traditional hatchback opening without the hatchback hatchback (as for example the Ferrari 812 Superfast) makes loading the suitcases less easy.
What changes under the bodywork
Immediately behind the wheel axle, the 3.9-liter twin-turbo 620 horsepower between 5750 and 7500 rpm and 760 Nm of torque between 3000 and 5750 rpm. It is 20 horses more than the Portofino “discovery” from which it somehow derives, but the differences do not end there: the Ferrari Rome uses the new dual-clutch robotic gearbox with eight gears, lighter than six kilos thanks to the new clutches and up to 23% faster than the Portofino’s seven-speed unit. The chassis has also been completely revised: it is new for 70% of the components. With a weight of 1472 kg, the Ferrari Roma accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in 3.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 320 km / h.
Two souls
As on all modern Ferraris, the driving experience is dictated by the Manettino, the driving mode selector located on the steering wheel. There are five positions available: Wet, Comfort, Sport, Esc off and Race (the latter inherited from the Ferrari berlinette with central engine and not present on the Red GTs). Modes that transform the way you drive and every response to the commands of the Ferrari Rome: taking off in “comfort”, the light steering, the electronically controlled shock absorbers and the fluid changes of the new eight-speed unit make the car comfortable and intuitive from the first kilometers; both at low speeds and on the highway, where the excellent soundproofing work and the eighth “rest” gear allow you to travel in silence and optimize autonomy.
And despite the width, there are not too many difficulties even when maneuvering: above all thanks to the 360-degree camera system. And more than discreet general visibility. But the “real” fun, from Ferrari “sport”, comes with a simple passage to the more and more driven modes. This is how the Ferrari Rome is transformed: the steering becomes more and more precise and useful for the purposes of fun (and speed), the gear changes are immediate; as the responses of the shock absorbers: so the insertions in curves become lightning fast, the powerful accelerations and the traction moves you at great speed from one curve to another with a disconcerting effectiveness, thanks also to the 285 mm rear tires.
The driving dynamics, then, is facilitated by the excellent weight distribution: 49 percent in front, the rest behind. All the electronic driving controls can be deactivated, but the sophisticated electronics of the Ferrari Rome intervenes only at the last, for example helping the driver to realign the car or perform in a traverse; the logic of the ESP in Race mode, in fact, allows you to cross Rome in a tasty way without risking the capital invested (200,936 euros) to get hold of an excellent coupe with timeless lines.
In our opinion
ADVANTAGES
> Electronics. Although the 620 horses are unloaded on the rear wheels only, the electronics make the Roma’s performance available to all drivers and allow you to have fun safely.
> Comfort. The possibility of grinding kilometers with this level of comfort is exciting; especially because turning the Manettino you always have a … Ferrari.
> Sottotraccia. Roma stands out from all other Cavallino supercars for its elegance. It is the right Ferrari for those who don’t like being in the spotlight.
DEFECTS
> Engine sound. With the strictest anti-pollution standards, the Ferrari V8 is more “mute” than a few years ago.
> Trunk. Although the space available is more than adequate for the type of car, the absence of a large tailgate can complicate the load of the bulky suitcases.
> Optional. Accessories such as the connection to the smartphone with Apple CarPlay or the electronic driving assistants, standard also on many compact sedans, are paid separately here.
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