Ferrari wrote the supercar rule book. Its cars are exotic, exclusive, powerful and dramatic, both to admire and to drive. But above all else is Ferrari’s passion; a passion for producing “Prancing Horses” that fuel an emotional connection between driver and machine. This passion culminates in the Ferrari Roma, a car that stands aside from the overtly boisterous world of racing cars made for the road and instead puts the focus on traditions, nostalgia, and old Italian luxury values.
Despite being at the lower quarter of the marque’s roster, sitting alongside the Portofino M and recently-released Roma Spider, there’s little about the Roma that feels entry-level. Heck, if you were given the keys to a Ferrari that looked like it was sculpted from Venetian marble for the weekend, we doubt you’d scoff at it being the baby of the family.
And Ferrari knows this. The Roma is la dolce vita: it embodies the very essence of what makes a car, such as this, desirable. It’s not trying to be a rip-your-face-off 812 Superfast or a track-focused lightweight lap record setter – the Roma is all about indulging in the sweet life, driving through the Italian hills, or in our case, escaping London for weekend excursions to wet and twisty British backroads, aka Hypebeast’s proven testing grounds for Open Road.
We’ve previously put the Roma’s rivals – the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera and Bentley Continental GT Speed – through their paces in identical situations, and we finally got our hands on the last part of this gran turismo holy trinity. Here’s how it squares up against its competition.
Eric Brain/Hypebeast
Engine and Handling
Ferrari is renowned for its engines and handling. For the Roma, the manufacturer has developed a 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that produces a healthy 612 HP and 561 lb-ft of torque, resulting in a 0-62 MPH time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 199 MPH. In the real world, you needn’t have any more power, and this recipe makes perfect sense for the Roma.
That’s because “the real world” is where the Roma feels at home. While supercars quickly start to get hot, cumbersome, and heavy in traffic, the Roma is compliant and comfortable. It is naturally geared towards making the life of the driver as easy as can be; an eight-speed automatic gearbox, adaptable suspension and throttle responsiveness settings plus a ride height that won’t rip off your front bumper mean that driving the Roma is hassle-free as driving any other car.
Only, it isn’t “any other car.” This is a Ferrari by all definitions of the word, something uncovered by putting the car into “Sport” or “Race” modes. Here, the engine breathes into life; everything stiffens and becomes more alert, as should you.
We have driven some rapid cars on Hypebeast’s Open Road, but few have tricked us like the Roma. One moment you’re doing 60 MPH coming onto the motorway, the next you’re pushing 150 MPH – and nothing inside the cabin has changed. Its speed is secretive, and its power is addictive, with a strong connection between the driver and the pedal that allows you to push the car to its limit every time a stretch of tarmac opens up.
As for handling, it’s quintessentially Ferrari. The steering wheel itself is light, featuring carbon fiber components top and bottom for a well-weighted feeling, while the feedback is razor sharp. One mistake and we’d call it cut-throat razor sharp. Thankfully, with the ground rather soggy in England, we could stick the car in “Wet” mode and rely on a sophisticated traction system that allowed us to explore the breadth of the Roma’s power and capabilities without spinning out on a puddle of water.
Eric Brain/Hypebeast
Eric Brain/Hypebeast
Eric Brain/Hypebeast
Eric Brain/Hypebeast
Eric Brain/Hypebeast
Eric Brain/Hypebeast
Eric Brain/Hypebeast
Eric Brain/Hypebeast
Exterior
As touched upon, the Roma is undeniably beautiful.
The coupé styling harks back to Ferrari’s legacy of creating 2+2 grand tourers, characterized by designs of the 1950s and ‘60s. Like its grandfathers, the Roma is a stunning thing – especially from the side. Here, you get to see the car’s proportions, split between three distinct sections: a long bonnet, a generous swoopy coupé-roof big enough for two fully-grown adults and two (very) small children, and the last part – the rear end.
Ferrari says the Roma channels “timeless elegance.” Who are we to disagree? But we will add that anyone driving behind you has a particularly good view of the car, with the Roma’s buttresses and rear haunches stretching wide across the rear before coming to a slight point, defined by four exhaust pipes poking out from the diffuser.
It’s hard to critique the Roma’s exterior. Even the rear lights conjure up some kind of poetic metaphor and romantic feeling, their daintiness just delicately offsetting the muscular, but not show-offy proportions of the car’s shoulders. Couple this with a spoiler that magically appears from the rear window, and you’ve got yourself what’s known as a “sleeper” in the car industry – an automobile that does not look as fast as it looks.
Eric Brain/Hypebeast
Eric Brain/Hypebeast
Eric Brain/Hypebeast
Eric Brain/Hypebeast
Eric Brain/Hypebeast
Interior
The interior and exterior are in harmony with each other, as the cabin as much a nice place to sit as the exterior is to look at. Touring seats are copiously large and comfortable, heating your back and bottom while cradling you in its fine Italian leather. Everything you touch feels luxurious – a metal plaque reading “Roma” reminds you where you are, and the digital screen for the passenger reminds them how fast you’re driving.
There are a few nits to pick – the infotainment screen is a bit rudimentary, and the touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel, controlling almost everything you may need to access, work like a smartphone. Great for walking and talking around town, but not so great in a 199 MPH Ferrari.
Regardless, if one is to drive any Ferrari for a long period of time, this might be the one. Before its new Purosangue four-door comes to the mass market, this 2+2 seater will do just fine. As you sink into the seats of the Roma and start to get familiar with its unique interior set-up, the driver and the car become one rather quickly, allowing you to focus on the road ahead while operating its systems.
This is enhanced by Ferrari’s special touch that finesses every little detail. It feels like no stone was left unturned here – a big screen in front brings up the speed in big numbers, a toggle on the wheel lets you change the mood in an instant, and the automatic gear selector is designed to look like a vintage gated manual gearbox is a particularly well-considered touch, especially in a car designed for a more discerning Ferrari customer.
Verdict
The Ferrari Roma is a love letter to Italy. From pasta to Positano, there’s an endless amount of reasons many go back to Italy time and time again. The Roma isn’t just from Italy, it embodies everything that makes the country so great; like its home, you’ll want to go back to the Roma again and again for equal amounts of sophistication, speed, and sensory overload.
