2024 Ferrari Roma Spider

The Ferrari Roma Spider, the latest addition to the Maranello marque, was presented today as part of an exclusive event held at the El Badi palace in Marrakech. With its performance and timeless elegance, the car reinterprets the Italian style of the 50s and 60s in a contemporary key, characterized by refinement and pleasure of living. The great novelty of this spider – which incorporates the successful V8 2+ concept already appreciated on the Ferrari Roma in terms of proportions, volumes and technology used – lies in the removable fabric roof, a solution which sees its return in the Prancing Horse’s front-engined range 54 years after its glorious appearance on the 365 GTS4. 

The modern interpretation of the soft top gives the car a strong character thanks to the multiple customization opportunities provided by the refined tailored fabrics and the possibility of selecting contrasting stitching. In terms of performance, the reduced roof opening times (13.5 seconds) and the maximum speed for completing the operation (60 km/h), as well as its reduced dimensions which maximize the capacity of the luggage compartment and, hence, the versatility. A new patented mobile wind deflector , integrated into the backrest of the rear bench, opens when necessary at the simple touch of a button on the central tunnel, guaranteeing high on-board comfort without increasing the size of the car.

The excellent dynamic characteristics of the Ferrari Roma are also confirmed on the Ferrari Roma Spider: in fact, the car boasts a weight/power ratio at the top of its category thanks not only to the fabric roof, but also to the all-aluminum chassis and the 620 HP V8 engine coming from the family capable of winning the “International Engine of the Year” award for four consecutive years. The 8-speed DCT gearbox also guarantees excellent levels of comfort, mechanical efficiency and fun during sporty shifting.

The Ferrari Roma Spider is easy to take to the limit, dynamic and reactive: it is therefore the ideal companion for a weekend away or even longer journeys accompanied by the soundtrack of the characteristic sound of the Ferrari V8 . Its two rear seats equipped with connection to the boot, the roomy boot and the standard wireless connectivity guaranteed by Android Auto® and Apple CarPlay® are just some of the solutions aimed at emphasizing its versatility, among which it is also possible to mention the seats ergonomic, heated and 18-way electrically adjustable, available on request with neck warmer device .

STYLE

The Ferrari Roma Spider, designed by the Ferrari Style Center under the direction of Flavio Manzoni, aims to transfer the concept of “New Dolce Vita” outside the city spaces, in a context of elegance and carefree en plein air . The car is a spider 2+ equipped with an extremely refined fabric soft top , designed to preserve and enhance the proportions of the Ferrari Roma without altering its elegant and fluid silhouette .

To redesign the pavilion, with a rather sloping shape at the rear, it was necessary to rethink the geometry of the rear window. In the Ferrari Roma Spider, in fact, this component is integrated into the structure of the soft top to be stored together with it inside the tonneau coverin open roof configuration. The original styling theme has been interpreted as if a body-coloured band crossed the area at the base of the rear window transversally, breaking it down into two sections. The lower part thus becomes an active carbon fiber spoiler, the geometry of which virtually joins the rear window and completes the design of the roof. When the roof is closed, the active spoiler connects optically to the geometry of the parcel shelf and the headrests.

Compared to the simple canvas used for many convertible cars on the market, in the case of the soft topof the Ferrari Roma Spider a particular fabric with a sartorial weave has been adopted which makes the roof even more refined. For this purpose, textile weaves have been selected and developed with color combinations that highlight the two souls of the car: the two-tone sartorial set-up can be selected from a palette of four shades whose texture enhances the characteristics of elegance and sophistication typical of a tailored suit, while the technical fabric developed specifically for the Ferrari Roma Spider dresses it with a sporty yet sophisticated approach. The innovative weaving of the latter material, iridescent in shades of red, enhances its three-dimensionality and technicality.

OUTDOORS

The exterior of the Ferrari Roma Spider is characterized by a stylistic approach based on cleanliness and absolute synthesis of the elements. The proportions and pure and elegant volumes are in line with the tradition of mid-front engine Ferraris; however, the Ferrari Style Center designers have given it a modern interpretation, giving the car a sophisticated and contemporary style.

The front bonnet emphasizes the essential silhouette of the side, giving momentum to the car body and giving it a dynamic image. The front, sober and essential, is treated as a monolith machined from solid, with a cantilevered volume that generates a shark-nose effect.

The bonnet and the sinuous wings interpenetrate without solution of continuity, in harmony with the characteristic Ferrari stylistic elements. We wanted to preserve the minimalist elegance of the shapes through the absence of vents or decorations, even proposing a launch configuration without a side shield as was used in the 1950s for the Maranello road cars.

Engine cooling is ensured by a locally perforated surface in the body color, only where strictly necessary, giving rise to a reinterpretation of the grille concept: this distinctive element of the front reaches its maximum expression in integration with the car body. In formal continuity with the ends of the grille, two linear LED projectors develop which give a particular character to the front, crossed by a light bar that suggests a structure under the skin, an element of tension around the car.

The volume of the cabin, of the fastback type , ends with a nolderjust mentioned under which a modern interpretation of the transom is generated. The long rear overhang of the Ferrari Roma Spider, characteristic of Ferraris from the 1950s and 1960s, appears reproportioned thanks to a low and compact rear volume, obtained by drying the volumes around the dimensions of the rear axle. The monolithic and enveloping rear is characterized by the purity and modernity of the transom. Technological development has made it possible to reduce the size of the optical groups, allowing minimalist and iconic light sources to be designed; the figure of the rear is completed by an aerodynamic diffuser with contained proportions which integrates drifts, exhausts and auxiliary functions.

INTERIORS

The designers applied the same formal approach introduced on the Ferrari Roma to the interior of the Ferrari Roma Spider. Two cells dedicated to the driver and passenger have been created, an evolution of the dual cockpit concept which has a profound link with the Ferraris of the 70s. Its most innovative aspect consists in extending its philosophy to the entire cockpit: this is where the vision was born. of two modules that envelop the rider and passenger, also integrating the rear seats.

The passenger compartment of the car has an almost symmetrical structure, to the full advantage of a more organic distribution of spaces and functions, so much so that the passenger feels involved in driving almost like a co-driver. The shapes are modeled plastically, defining a sculptural volume in which all the elements of the passenger compartment are in material continuity.

The two cockpits , obtained by subtracting volumes and emphasized by ribbons that delimit their perimeters, are immersed in an enveloping volume and extend from the dashboard to the rear seats, integrating doors, rear bench and tunnel. The passenger compartment is not conceived for separate subsets, but defined by elements that develop in continuity.

The technology adopted derives from that of the Ferrari Roma: the full-digital instrument panel , integrated with the perimeter volumes, is protected by an anti-reflection lid that extends continuously from the dashboard. The passenger display is also available upon request, to share riding information with the rider. A standard 8.4” central display set between the cockpits and partially floating between the dashboard and tunnel, collects the other functions related to entertainment and climate controls.

The gearshift group is concentrated on a plate that recalls the Ferrari gear selector with the iconic hash theme; in the Ferrari Roma Spider it is housed in the central part of the tunnel, in an inclined position, to facilitate better accessibility by the driver and maximum visibility.

The man-machine interface adopted by the Ferrari Roma Spider represents a revised and improved version of that already seen on the Ferrari Roma, in which the steering wheel is made up of touch controls positioned on the spokes. On the left there are bas-reliefs which make the button being pressed perceptible; on the right, however, we find the controls and in particular the trackpad, in this version equipped with shallow water that improves ease of use. These references help the driver to find the position of the controls more intuitively, in accordance with the “eyes on the road, hands on the wheel” philosophy that Ferrari has adopted for some time now. Finally, red backlighting has been introduced on the engine start button to underline the emotion that the driver will feel every time he starts the iconic Ferrari biturbo V8.

ENGINE

The engine of the Ferrari Roma Spider is part of the twin-turbo V8 family that won the International Engine of the Year award for four consecutive years and was named Best engine of the last 20 years in 2018 . The 3855 cm3 engine ^delivers 620 hp at 7500 rpm, equivalent to 161 hp/l, thus confirming the exceptional power and usability qualities achieved by the Ferrari Roma engine, capable of delivering 80% of the available torque already at 1900 rpm.

An important evolution of the oil pump has been introduced on the Ferrari Roma Spider which has made it possible to reduce the time-to-pressure in the event of a cold start by 70%, as well as increasing the flow rate at medium revs. This technological improvement has also been applied to the Ferrari Roma, bearing witness to the Maranello company’s ongoing pursuit of technical perfection.

The Ferrari Roma Spider, like the other biturbo cars in the range, enjoys an almost immediate response from the engine to accelerator impulses thanks to the adoption of a flat shaft, aimed at obtaining greater compactness and mass containment and improving fluid dynamics; of compact turbines, less subject to inertial forces; twin scroll technology which reduces the interference of exhaust waves between the cylinders; and an exhaust manifold equipped with ducts of equal size to reduce pressure drops.

The car is equipped with Variable Boost Management , software developed by Ferrari which varies the torque delivered according to the gear used to benefit from ever-increasing thrust while optimizing consumption at the same time. As the ratios go up, the amount of torque available is in fact increased, up to 760 Nm in 7th and 8th gear: on the one hand, this has made it possible to use longer ratios, useful for containing fuel consumption and emissions, at higher gears. tall; and on the other hand to adopt ever increasing torque curves in the lower ones to provide a constant feeling of thrust.

The gearbox, based on the double clutch in oil bath architecture, derives from the 8-speed transmission introduced on the SF90 Stradale. The main changes compared to the latter consist in a longer gear ratio and in the implementation of the mechanical reverse gear. The new layout and integration of components has made it possible to optimize its dimensions and installation in the car.

The introduction of the eighth gear and the improvement in transmission efficiency allow for a significant reduction in consumption in urban and motorway use, obtaining on the other hand a perceptible improvement in performance in sporting use. The main technical solutions that have guaranteed this result are the use of low viscosity oil and the dry sump structure aimed at minimizing fluid dynamic efficiency losses, as well as the use of a bevel gear without offset on the pinion axis to reduce the crawl speed.

The overall dimensions of the clutch group are reduced by 20% compared to the 7-speed gearbox, while the transmitted torque is increased by 35% for a maximum dynamic shifting value of 1200 Nm. The software strategies have been evolved thanks to a more powerful and best integrated with engine control programs. Particular attention was also paid to strategies aimed at reducing fuel consumption and emissions, especially when using the Start & Stop function .

Each Ferrari engine has a voice that makes it unique and the Ferrari Roma Spider is no exception. In addition to the adoption of the flat shaft, capable of equalizing the cylinder bank explosions, and of ducts of equal size aimed at equalizing the sound flow, the exhaust line of the Ferrari Roma was used, which provides for the elimination of the rear silencers and the adoption of a special by-pass valve shaped to continuously and progressively control the acoustic emission, in order to enhance the sound and performance qualities of the car according to the driving situations.

AERODYNAMICS

The implementation of a fabric roof and its indirect impact on the geometry of the bodywork represented the starting point for the aerodynamic development of the Ferrari Roma Spider. In order to maintain the high aerodynamic penetration capacity and the effective downforce of the Ferrari Roma, the roofline and its curvature on the midsection were subjected to in-depth numerical analyses.

The changes to the bodywork required significant changes to the geometry of the mobile spoiler , the design of which is in keeping with the style of the car and the new roofline. In a similar way to what happens on the Ferrari Roma, but with specific calibrations for the open roof configuration, this element follows an automatic movement logic correlated to speed and longitudinal and transverse accelerations, made up of three different positions.

The Ferrari Roma Spider boasts a vertical load in high-speed handling situations comparable to that of the Ferrari Roma, always resulting in the same driving sensations as the closed version. Great attention has also been paid to aerodynamic comfort with the roof open, as well as minimizing turbulence in the passenger compartment and aerodynamic noise.

The solutions chosen were guided by the need to simplify the transition from closed to open roof, introducing automatisms in the movement of the surfaces responsible for creating an aerodynamic comfort bubble, among which a 5 mm ramp on the windscreen cross member stands out. A patented automatic wind deflector has also been developed, which can be operated by the driver even while driving: when the driver decides to open it by simply pressing a button positioned on the tunnel, the backrest of the rear seats (if not in use) will rotate and position itself behind the heads of the occupants.

In this configuration, the flow that would enter the passenger compartment drawn from the rear of the car is deflected, establishing a stable bubble of comfort around the occupants and improving the regularity of the slow flow that touches the heads by about 30% compared to previous spider 2+ applications for the highest height percentiles. Its permeability has been optimized through a transverse opening cut in the centre, which forms an aerodynamic duct with a precise inclination, while the plan shape is tapered on the sides. These formal characteristics combine to divert the more energetic flow drawn into the passenger compartment.

The duct on the central part of the wind deflector causes a part of the return flow to be diverted downwards, towards the rear seat, forcing it to mix with the slower flow: in this way it loses most of its energy, minimizing turbulence. The result is an extension of the comfort bubble in which the occupants and especially their heads are positioned, ensuring unrivaled open-roof comfort. Shape, inclination and permeability of the wind deflector are characteristics crucial to achieving this goal, and have been developed through numerous CFD simulations and wind tunnel sessions.

The element with the greatest impact for the generation of the load is the active spoiler installed on the rear of the car. In fact, the rear hood houses a mobile part capable of assuming three predefined positions (LD or Low drag , MD or Medium downforce , HD or High downforce ) thanks to a suitable kinematic mechanism.

Up to a speed of 100 km/h, when the contribution of the vertical load is modest, the wing remains in the LD position. Above 300 km/h, however, the wing always assumes the MD position, because in these conditions it is preferable to have a car that is as balanced as possible, given even the slightest drag penalty. In all other conditions, in which the vertical load plays a role of primary importance for performance, the spoiler is by default in the MD position and its movement towards the HD position depends on longitudinal and transverse accelerations. The threshold value is variable and is linked to the position of the Manettino.

In MD position, the mobile wing forms a 150° angle with the rear window and is capable of generating approximately 30% of the maximum vertical load, with an increase in resistance of less than 1%. In handling or performance braking conditions, it goes automatically to the HD configuration, giving rise to the maximum vertical load and making the car ready to give the driving sensations typical of every Ferrari: the 135° angle with the surface of the rear window allows approximately 95 kg of vertical load at 250 km/h, with a drag increase of just 4%.

The increase in front load on the car is mainly entrusted to a pair of vortex generators specifically optimized for the Ferrari Roma Spider. Acting in ground effect, they introduce a concentrated and coherent vorticity into the field, also managing the slipstream of the front wheel in order to create vertical load in an extremely efficient way.

VEHICLE DYNAMICS

The dynamic development of the Ferrari Roma Spider has made it possible to obtain a car characterized by emotions and driving precision in line with those expressed by the Ferrari Roma thanks to the control software developed by Ferrari Side Slip Control (SSC), which adopts an of the trim angle of the vehicle in real time which allows to coordinate and activate the dynamic control systems in a rapid, punctual and precise way.

The SSC system, here in its 6.0 version, integrates all the other vehicle dynamics systems, among which the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer (FDE), active in the ‘Race’ position of the Manettino, stands out. The FDE allows lateral dynamics to be controlled by applying punctual hydraulic pressure on the four wheels and in line with the braking system driving situation, in order to make vehicle movement more predictable when cornering and exiting corners. This system joins the traditional Electronic Stability Control .

The Manettino of the Ferrari Roma Spider has five positions, like the Ferrari Roma, to extend the usability of the handling and traction performance thanks to the introduction of the ‘Race’ position. This driving mode, supported by the FDE, aims to maximize driving emotions.

CHASSIS AND BODY

The chassis of the Ferrari Roma Spider derives from that of the Ferrari Roma, but contains some new components and the rear section is inspired by the solutions used on the Ferrari Portofino M. The sill, an element of fundamental importance at a structural level, was instead developed specifically for the Ferrari Roma Spider, as well as some elements suitable for installing the soft top and the windshield ring.

The bodywork maintains the fundamental elements of the Ferrari Roma design unchanged: the modifications are mainly concentrated on the rear and are aimed at harmonizing the lines of the Ferrari Roma Spider for use with the roof open. The flexural and torsional stiffness values ​​of the bodyshell and chassis are excellent, against a weight increase of only 84 kg compared to the Ferrari Roma which brings the weight/power ratio to 2.5 kg/hp, at the top of the spider 2 category + high performance. These excellent results also guarantee that the Ferrari Roma Spider is equipped with the same performance and handling values ​​as the Ferrari Roma.

This increase in weight occurred, in addition to the introduction of the roof opening system, due to the adoption of a new integrated wind deflector capable of significantly increasing on-board comfort and the insertion of rear head restraints which create a most characterizing in the rear part of the passenger compartment.

The fully automatic fabric top guarantees comfort comparable to that of the RHT ( retractable hard-top ) system found on all Ferrari spiders currently in the range. The large glass rear window is fully integrated into the geometry of the convertible top . The five-layer acoustic fabric dampens outside and road noise, thus ensuring comfortable journeys even at high speeds. In the development phase, particular attention was also paid to minimizing the ballooning effect typical of soft-top spider cars: the technical solutions introduced by the Maranello engineers made it possible to achieve values ​​at the top of the category in this case as well.

The roof mechanism has been designed to be light and resistant: the kinematics have been pushed to the technical and performance limit with a ‘Z’ movement capable of folding the soft top in just 13.5 seconds and at a maximum speed of 60 km/h. h. The height of the roof in the folded version, equal to 220 mm, is the lowest in the segment; in this way, it was possible to maintain a considerable capacity in the trunk (no less than 255 with the roof closed, a value at the top of the segment).

The gas springs that operate the wind deflector have been developed down to the smallest detail to have controlled and fluid behavior at all times of movement and in all environmental conditions. Its opening is possible up to 170 km/h; this speed is electronically controlled to make the opening and closing maneuvers always safe, but the mechanism can be used in the open configuration at any speed.

The system retains all the peculiarities of a real backrest: the padding is present on the entire surface facing the back of the rear occupants to ensure seating comfort, the hang gliding line allows it to be opened even when the front seats are moved a lot backwards and the central grille compensates the pressure on the two sides, improving its efficiency. The kinematic points of the system were the result of an in-depth study of the entire rear seat and boot area, optimizing their positions in relation to movement and weight.

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