Ferrari’s rich history and expertise in making world-class Grand Tourers date back to the Ferrari GT 250 2+2 from 1967. The best learnings and elements are taken from over half a century of experience making GTs have culminated in the creation of the 2022 Ferrari Roma, the Italian auto marque’s latest move to appeal to a younger, more captivating audience that’s not necessarily familiar with the brand. This is why the Roma is an effortless Ferrari to drive and own, so let’s look at all the things that make the new Roma, the most practical Ferrari ever.
The Roma might be Ferrari’s latest endeavor, but it relies on the brand’s tried and tested 3.9-liter twin-turbo V-8 that it shares with other entry-level Ferraris like the Portofino. In the Roma, the engine puts out 612 horsepower and 561 pound-feet of torque, which is enough to catapult this 2+2 GT from 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds and flat out, it will hit its manufacturer claimed top speed of 199 mph. Ferrari has managed to completely alter the twin-turbo V-8’s character and combined with the long-gearing of the seven-speed DCT. It now delivers seamless thrust, but it’s not as explosive as the F8, which suits Roma’s Grand Touring credentials and makes it the least intimidating modern Ferrari to drive.
The Roma might be an entry-level Ferrari but that doesn’t stop it from packing some top-tier hardware. Around 70-percent of the Ferrari Roma is all new, but the rest of the parts are borrowed from Ferrari’s flagship SF90 hypercar. This includes the eight-speed DCT transmission which is 20-percent smaller than the SF90’s but delivers 35-percent more torque and is more efficient. Even the gear selector is the same unit that first appeared in the SF90 Stradale and pays homage to the gated manual transmissions popularised by Ferraris of yesteryears.
The next trait that a good grand tourer must poses is a range because anybody can put a huge V12 in a front-mid engined chassis and call it a day, but what’s the point if you have to stop every 50 miles for fill-ups? The Ferrari Roma addresses these concerns with the latest iteration of Ferrari’s 3.9-liter twin-turbo V-8 which comes mated to an all-new 8-speed DCT that’s designed for fuel efficiency. The result is a Ferrari GT that does 17 mpg city and 22 mpg highway which is very impressive for a high-octane Ferrari and then there’s the 21.1-gallon fuel tank, the Roma can travel upwards of 750 miles on a single tank of fuel.
The Roma is based on the age-old Italian idea of "la dolce vita" or the sweet life and the design does reflect that. The Roma then is a Ferrari that’s not meant for posers, but for people who like to stay under the radar and prefer understated elegance. The styling is a modern rendition of Ferrari GTs of the past from the position of the grill and the lights to the gentle curves and the lack of sharp creases lend the Roma an air of understated elegance. The design language is in tune with modern Ferraris like its headlights that are lifted right off the Ferrari SP series and the new tail with slim and recessed lights point to a new design direction for the Italian marque.
The image that comes to mind when one says Ferrari is usually associated with an aggressive sports car with huge splitters and vents for optimal downforce. The 2022 Ferrari Roma is no track toy which is why it ditches Ferrari’s aggressive design language in favor of clean and unobstructed lines, which results in one of the prettiest modern Ferraris in a while. But it’s still a 612 horsepower, 199 mph through bread Ferrari which is why it gets advanced aero to keep it planted at high speeds. For starters, there’s a three-position spoiler that neatly disappears into the rear windshield and is capable of generating up to 209 lbs of downforce which is complimented by a set of vortex generators located in the car’s underbelly that keep the front end from lifting.
The 2022 Ferrari Roma’s interior is a fresh new take by the Italian marque, the front-mid-engined layout means there is a seemingly endless hood ahead of you but the swooping lines and generously sized windscreen lend plenty of outward visibility. In typical Ferrari fashion, you can choose from a bunch of leather and vegan options to trim your seats in and the quality of craftsmanship and attention to detail is what you’d expect from a luxurious Ferrari. Everything from the gear selector that pays homage to gated manual gearboxes of yesteryears to the dual-cockpit design of the cabin, all add up to deliver a special experience. The seats are generously sized and offer plenty of adjustability and support, but the rear seats are best left for your carry-on luggage.
Ferrari Roma’s next-generation cabin is also accompanied by plenty of next-generation tech. Gone is the signature analog Ferrari tachometer and in its place, there’s an all-new high-resolution 16-inch curved digital driver display that renders a crisp image of the analog tach and best of all, its standard kit on the Roma. The new 8.4-inch Portrait style infotainment isn’t the most elegant infotainment implementation out there given its design that resembles a bloated iPad with fat bezels but it gets the job done, however the lack of physical aircon controls is sorely missed. The steering too gets a bunch of touch-sensitive buttons including the controversial start/stop button that disappears. But, for the most part, the new-generation tech is well implemented especially touches like the passenger display, first seen on the SF90 hypercar that lets you control everything from the audio to the air con and even the passenger seat.
Ferrari’s Roma is a completely new take in every aspect, which is why nearly 70-percent of the parts used in the Roma are brand new. This also means a whole host of next-generation active and passive safety aids, starting with the adaptive cruise control system that features a nasty radar unit sticking out of the lower bumper but the system works just as advertised and has lane-centering capabilities which is a very nifty bit of kit useful for grand touring. Not surprisingly most of this new safety equipment isn’t part of the standard kit, so expect to shell out extra for things like blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, and even the 360-degree camera is optional.
A Grand Tourer needs to have a boot that’s just as appealing as it looks because the whole purpose of a grand tourer is to take up to two people and their expensive luggage across continents in utmost comfort and needless to say, Ferrari Roma ticks all the boxes. For starters, the 9.6 cubic feet of boot space is big enough to fit a regular-sized golf bag while it’s more than enough for up to two large suitcases. Ferrari might like to advertise the 2022 Roma as a 2+2 but the rear seats are best suited for storing carry-ons and handbags.
Ferrari ownership is mostly seen as access to an elite club of automotive enthusiasts and a sure-fire way to blow a lot of money on the upkeep and maintenance of your prancing horse. But the 2022 Ferrari Roma is going to change all that with its class-leading warranty and maintenance program that is going to offer a 3-year/unlimited miles bumper-to-bumper warranty which includes roadside assistance and corrosion protection. What’s even more fascinating is the fact that Ferrari is also offering 7-years of free maintenance, which is unheard of in the industry. Just to put things into perspective, one of Roma’s closest competitors, the Aston Martin V-8 Vantage only offers two years of comprehensive warranty coverage, and maintenance is not included.