Preview by Veeno Dewan,
The Ferrari Roma (Type F169) is an esteemed two-door grand touring sports car built by the legendary Italian manufacturer. Available either as a sleek coupe or a convertible, the format is a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout with a front-mounted turbocharged V8 engine and a 2+2 seating arrangement. Its low profile, long nose, short hood design, and combination of sensuous curves and angles make it simply sensational. Rather than the bloated, overwide, over-designed supercars so prevalent currently, the Roma oozes classic Italian design cues with its beautiful, tasteful design.
The Roma is powered by a 612-hp twin-turbocharged 3.9L V-8 engine under the long hood and is mounted near the middle of the car for better weight balance. The V8 produces 561 pound-feet of torque and is paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) mounted at the rear. The Roma screams performance acceleration with an rpm deadline of up to 7500. Its high-revving V-8 produces a glorious exhaust note, and the DCT allows for quick gear changes. Driving performance can be adjusted via the driver-selectable Ferrari Manettino mode switch that lets drivers choose between five drive modes, from Sport to Race. The Roma has a top speed of 320 kph, with a 0-96 kph acceleration time of 3.3 seconds.
Technical aspects to improve the performance include Ferrari’s vectoring e-differential, the Side Slip 6.0 control, and Ferrari’s Dynamic Enhancer electronic torque-vectoring systems. These systems allow the Roma to be driven hard and fast on various roads, maximizing the superb handling, balance, and suspension capability. The various drive modes aid in modulating and adjusting throttle inputs, steering, and suspension setups to wring the best in a straight line and racetrack circuit performance.
Interior-wise, the Roma has an exquisitely tailored cabin. Ferrari’s in-house” Centro Stile” design department has crafted a wonderfully appointed stitched leather and faux suede environment. A sleekly designed dashboard melds into a floating center console. The dash is a digital affair with a 16-inch fully digital gauge cluster with haptic controls. The Roma’s sporty, flat-bottomed steering wheel has a comprehensive set of spoke-mounted control buttons. These buttons and other controls handle the operation of the car’s secondary features. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard issues. There is also a vertically mounted 8.4-inch touchscreen and a separate digital screen for the front passenger. The front seats are well-built and comfortable, while the tiny rear seats categorize the Roma as a 2+2 coupe.
Unlike older sports cars of a certain ilk, which can be super tight—dimension-wise, the Roma is surprisingly roomy. Regarding cargo storage, the Roma has a small trunk suitable for compact cases and soft bags.
The 2025 Ferrari Roma in Canada is $243,358 to $277,970, depending on the trim and options. There are several wheel designs and numerous exterior paint choices. Interior trim materials and color options are also infinitely customizable in single-color and two-tone motifs with Rosso Ferrari leather trim. You can indeed go mild or wild!
The Roma offers several advanced Driver assist systems. Key safety features include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning.
To sum up, the Roma is not only Ferrari’s most recent front V8-engined sports car; for my money, it is the best-looking two-seat compact supercar on sale. Why? It harks back to a bygone, sensuous styling with real curves and flowing lines that make many modern supercars look clumsy. A deployable spoiler is at the rear, but you will not find many wings or complex splitters. Bulges, blisters, and other swollen appendages on or around the body. The front splitter and other aero aids are subtle and nicely integrated into the sleek design.
The downsides are few- obviously, the price and waiting list are two issues. However, the Roma is considered a more “affordable” Ferrari (If such a thing exists!) Its rivals include high-end competitors such as Porsche, Mercedes AMG, and Aston Martin. But seriously, what brand would you rather have in your driveway? Stunning in every way.
The 2025 Ferrari Roma is priced from $243,358 to $277,970 (Canadian) plus delivery, fees, and taxes.
