Seen as the successor to the Ferrari Roma Spider, the Prancing Horse unveiled its new Amalfi Spider in Maranello yesterday. Powered by a 631-hp twin-turbo V8, the new coupe employs a 2+2 architecture and some refreshed styling.
The new Spider replaces the Roma’s signature “eggcrate” body-colored grille with a cleaner, simplified “sharknose” design and a black lower intake. It also features a new horizontal black bar between the sleeker, “bar-style” lighting clusters, moving away from what designers called the Roma’s “anthropomorphic” face. The rear is more “slab-like” and technical compared to the Roma. It includes a three-position active spoiler (the Roma had two) and redesigned taillights that are more integrated into the bodywork.
The design of the Amalfi Spider was driven by the desire to preserve the proportions and volumes of the Amalfi, and to maintain the flowing silhouette even with the roof open, a roof with four colour options in tailor-made fabric and two in technical fabric, including the new Tecnico Ottanio.
The soft top opens in just 13.5 seconds
The soft top opens in 13.5 seconds and can be operated on the move at speeds of up to 60 km/h. When folded, its compact packaging – just 220 mm thick – maximises luggage capacity, offering 255 litres with the roof closed and 172 litres with the roof open, in a layout suited to both everyday use and weekend getaways. Acoustic and thermal insulation is provided by a five-layer fabric delivering soundproofing and heat insulation comparable to that of a Ferrari retractable hard top (RHT).
Like the Amalfi, the cabin features a dual-cockpit layout and an evolved driver–car interface. Key elements include the steering wheel with physical buttons, the return of the iconic start button, the integrated central display, and controls designed for natural interaction even during the most dynamic driving. Even though Ferrari calls the coupe’s configuration ‘2+’, meaning it has two space-challenged seats in the back, these rear seats are only big enough for ankle biters or shopping bags. Completing the experience, an integrated wind deflector built into the rear bench backrest, and operated at the touch of a button, improves comfort by reducing turbulence during open-top driving.
The twin-turbo 3.9-litre V8 engine produces 19-hp more than it did in the Roma Spider, thanks to numerous upgrades which Ferrari says have also improved throttle response and the sense of endless acceleration, with more torque through the rev range. All 631-hp and 760Nm of torque are channelled to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and electronically controlled limited-slip differential. This Ferrari doesn’t quite reach the 656-hp the Aston Martin Vantage Roadster, or the 701-hp produced by the Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet, but it is still enough to jump from zero to 62mph in 3.3 seconds and hit a top speed of 199 mph.