On The Roma
Much to the surprise of many, Ferrari does make front-engine rear-wheel-drive sports cars. Admittedly, the majority of Ferraris are rear-engine and rear-wheel-drive autos. With this brand-new front-engine 2021 Roma, the styling is still distinctly Ferrari, but somewhat harking back to earlier Ferrari generations. The low slopping hood line with bumps above the wheel wells, long narrow headlights and classic grille sets the tone. Likewise, the roofline is rounded and flows to the rear. Added are 20-inch alloy wheels that are wide open, showing huge brake discs and calipers. Four gigantic exhaust pipes are on the flanks of the rear area. The Roma is a beautiful car, to say the least, and a number of people simply walked up to it and commented about its attractive looks. Drivers in their cars on the road waved or gave shaka signs of approval.
And, as one would expect, power and handling are part of the equation. A twin turbocharged 3.9-liter V-8 that produces 612 horsepower is under the hood. Like most exotics these days, the era of a manual transmission with a clutch pedal and stick shift are gone. In its place is an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. But those who wish to control the gear pattern can use the huge paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. Even with all of this horsepower, the average fuel mileage rating is a reasonable 19 mpg. Safety issues are handled with multiple airbags and numerous warning notifications and graphs in the dash pod.
The interior has a number of interesting features. Surprisingly, there are four seats in this low coupe. Admittedly, the two rear seats are small and tight and really are for the keiki.
A small rear trunk provides additional storage. As one would expect these days, old traditional analog gauges are totally absent. In the dash pod is a 16-inch completely video display. Dominating in that slot is a video tachometer with a small video map to the left of it; to the right are radio choices. When in reverse gear, a camera shows what is behind the car. A small iPad-like 8.4-inch vertical video screen in the center of the dash controls, by touch, the radio, temperature and other features. As expected, the interior and steering wheel is covered in leather. A small center console handles some storage, a cup holder and an armrest.
When approaching the car with the key fob on you, side mirrors flip open to greet you and the doors open. Punching the start button lets everyone know that this car has some real power with a deep, resonating V-8 exhaust note. The front bucket seats have high lateral support to hold you in place while taking the corners.
To say the least, acceleration at any speed is terrific. The 0-60 time is a mere 3.1 seconds and the top speed is 199 miles per hour. In automatic shifting mode, the transmission generally picks the right gear, but with the big paddles behind the steering wheel, the driver can easily choose the gear shifting pattern to his or her liking, and the steering is direct as they come. Except for the very, very bumpy roads, the ride is reasonably absorbing. Taking corners is handled with ease.
With this edition by Ferrari, the Roma (named after the capital city of Italy) is a great mix of old and new styling clues resulting in a great looking car. And as expected, performance is terrific on all fronts.