Ferrari Roma Spider revealed, Australian debut expected within 12 months

For the first time in 50 years, Ferrari is building a soft-top convertible with the engine up front, removing the Roma’s fixed roof to create a Spider variant.

The 2024 Ferrari Roma Spider has been revealed overnight, becoming the iconic Italian marque’s first front-engined soft-top convertible in half a century.

Based on the Roma coupe – itself a fixed-roof version of the Portofino hard-top convertible – the Roma Spider features a fabric soft-top roof which Ferrari claims provides “acoustic comfort on a par with retractable hard-tops”.

It is the first time Ferrari has built a front-engined convertible model with a soft-top since production of the 365 GTS/4 – commonly known as the Daytona – ended in 1973, while it is the brand’s first fabric roof model to launch since F430 Spider made its debut in 2005.

Ferrari says the Roma Spider’s electronically-operated soft-top can retract in 13.5 seconds – shaving half a second off the time of the Portofino’s metal roof – while driving at up to 60km/h. 

Aside from the changes to its roof, the Roma Spider is virtually identical to the coupe it is based on, retaining the same 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8, developing up to 456kW and 760Nm which is delivered to the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Despite the Roma Spider tipping the scales at 1556kg – 84kg more than the Roma coupe – Ferrari claims it can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 3.4 seconds, identical to the fixed-roof model, with a top speed of more than 320km/h.

At speeds up to 170km/h, a wind deflector at the rear of the cabin reduces turbulence while the roof is down, though it retracts at higher speeds.

Inside, the Ferrari Roma Spider is equipped with a digital instrument display, vertical infotainment touchscreen and a mix of leather and suede upholstery.

Ferrari claims the Roma Spider’s boot offers up to 255 litres of storage space when the roof is up – 27 to 132 litres less than the coupe – while its soft-top sits 220mm high when folded down.

A spokesperson for Ferrari’s Australian division estimates the Roma Spider could arrive in Australian showrooms in towards the end of 2023 or in late 2024, due to left-hand-drive production being prioritised for the major markets.

Australian pricing and specifications for the Ferrari Roma Spier are expected to be revealed closer to its local launch. In Australia, the Ferrari Roma coupe is priced from $409,888 plus on-road costs, while the Portofino starts from $455,000 before on-roads.

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