Monday 29th July 2024

Novitec debuts new Ferrari Roma Spider upgrades

The drop-top Roma is already Ferrari's best looking model - has Novitec made it even better?

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Having not made a series production, front-engined soft top for so long - the limited run Barchettas and SuperAmericas can’t really count, the Californias were hardtops - Ferrari really had the pressure on it for the Roma Spider. But boy did it deliver. ‘An utter joy’ was the PH verdict last year, praising the Roma roadster for the sharpness of its powertrain and chassis plus its structural integrity. 

No doubt the favourable reception to the Spider will have been helped by how it looks, too, the glamour of a classic Ferrari open top brought right up to date. Now Novitec thinks it can improve further on Maranello’s handiwork with its latest range of parts. It says the modifications ‘make the sporty and elegant looks of the two-seater even more thrilling’. Which, actually, it seems pretty hard to argue with - this is a properly arresting Ferrari Spider. 

Painting the wheels gold will have been a good start, of course, but check out how big they are as well - 21s at the front and 22s at the rear. With a 35mm suspension drop courtesy of some new springs as well, the attitude is really ramped up, the Roma much more of a hot rod than mere summer sports car now.

There’s plentiful carbon too, because it’s a Novitec build, though you’ll have to look closely for it on another black car. The front splitter, rear diffuser and bootlid spoiler are the important bits for aero, though pretty much anything can get the carbon treatment, from mirror caps to the grill.  

There’s the performance to match the aesthetic, undoubtedly. As with recent mid-engined V8 Ferraris, the turbos make tuning much simpler, so with revisions to the injection, boost pressure and ignition parts of the ECU this is now a 700hp Roma. 704hp to be precise, with a chunky 650lb ft alongside. Novitec reckons on 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds, taking a couple of tenths off the standard time, with more than 201mph possible. It also says the additional performance has been achieved ‘without impairing the durability’. 

Despite the giant gold wheels, this is probably about as modest as a Novitec Roma will be. The press release says that the company will ‘even fulfill the most unusual wishes when it comes to the interior design’ - the mind boggles. Anything goes with the leather and Alcantara, basically. You could probably leave the look of this Rosso Imola over Cuoio car well alone - it’s pretty stunning as is - but the power and the wheels might be just a little tempting…

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• 2024 Ferrari Roma Spider | PH Review
• New Ferrari 12Cilindri is 812 Superfast successor

[anonymous-user]

It's normally a safe bet that Techart/Novitec/Mansory, in order of increasing Barry, will fk up anything for an absurd amount of money but, shudder, I think that looks pretty decent. Hopefully actual buyers will spec it to look like complete shyte and order will be returned to the universe.

[Water Fairy]

Not doing it for me I'm afraid, but then I consider most new cars to be either overweight, overcomplicated or over powered, and in many cases all three.

[WPA]

I prefer the standard car

[Rough101]

Usually Novitec make them look worse, but this merely looks different.

I find the Roma an odd looking thing though.

[Augustus Windsock]

“The drop-top Roma is already Ferrari's best looking model ..”

Sorry but that doesn’t say much.

For me, the last of the classically beautiful Ferraris was probably the F355, although my personal favourite is the 308 / 328.
I just don’t ‘get’ Ferraris current ‘design language’, a bit like BMW who’s design team seem to have been drawn from the school of Wonder & Charles..

[sdiggle]

There was a Roma GT parked outside the hotel I was staying at last week. Barley anybody stopped to look or point like they used to with older Ferrari models. Maybe there are so many about these days.... but I didn't feel the want to go and have a closer look as it appeared ordinary.

I guess Novitec etc are solving that issue for the uber wealthy.

[NGK210]

Roma’s droopy-faced exterior improved. Shock!
Shame they couldn’t also improve the cost-cutting cabin’s vulgar aesthetics and crap UI.

[fantheman80]

sdiggle said:

There was a Roma GT parked outside the hotel I was staying at last week. Barley anybody stopped to look or point like they used to with older Ferrari models. Maybe there are so many about these days.... but I didn't feel the want to go and have a closer look as it appeared ordinary.

I had one parked in the apartment block we rented at the coast last weekend and I thought it was the most un Ferrari, Ferrari yet. My son didnt even give it the 'wow.' The door line shut made it look like it was open and there is a lower chicken wire grill in silver at the rear which was already rusted up. Living by the sea-side cant help but still.

[Steve12NG]

“Ferraris best looking model”

What? Not even close.

Having driven both back to back I actually preferred the Portofino M to the Roma, both in looks and driving.

But neither are a patch on the mid-engined cars. 296GTS is the pick of the current bunch, with 458/488 better looking than anything they do now.

[Justin-ow582]

Black on black with gold wheels? No thanks.

For me, gold wheels should be restricted to a Strato's, a blue Impreza or a Williams Clio, with maybe one or two special exceptions.

[Andy86GT]

Of the current Ferrari line up, to me this is best looking (less said about the rear view of the fixed head version though...);

[Harry Flashman]

I'm not sure the Roma is that good looking. It's pretty, but in the metal, looks a bit "generic swoopy sports car".

I know Ferrari can't really win, as their more aggressive designs are slated for being fussy, and this elegant one for being boring - but something in-between the two approaches would be nice.

Anyway, I personally think the 12 Cilindri in spider form is their best looking model, not the Roma. To me, it toes that line between presence and elegance quite nicely.

[Harry Flashman]

Andy86GT said:

Of the current Ferrari line up, to me this is best looking (less said about the rear view of the fixed head version though...);

Exactly.

[anonymous-user]

Augustus Windsock said:

“The drop-top Roma is already Ferrari's best looking model ..”

Sorry but that doesn’t say much.

For me, the last of the classically beautiful Ferraris was probably the F355, although my personal favourite is the 308 / 328.
I just don’t ‘get’ Ferraris current ‘design language’, a bit like BMW who’s design team seem to have been drawn from the school of Wonder & Charles..

I agree Fwrrari have lot their way for a while although I love the 812 and the monza was just sublime. It's offensive to mention them in the same sentence as BMW though, they aren't just lost, they bludgeoned the guy with the map to death and set fire to him.

[Nish Gnackers]

It's a good looking car ... and needs to be seen "in the metal" to appreciate

[blue al]

What’s a 2024 top ten of pretty cars look like these days?

Is it better in any way than in 2014

Price/performance/beauty


Pure Nostalgia or have we lost something along the way ?

Edited by blue al on Monday 29th July 19:45

[Justin-ow582]

Nish Gnackers said:

It's a good looking car ... and needs to be seen "in the metal" to appreciate

Hmm, that picture is not a strong argument for a good looking car... but it accentuates your point about it looking better in the metal.

Blue with a blue soft top. Who would order that?

[S600BSB]

WPA said:

I prefer the standard car

Same.

[Nish Gnackers]

Justin-ow582 said:

Nish Gnackers said:

It's a good looking car ... and needs to be seen "in the metal" to appreciate

Hmm, that picture is not a strong argument for a good looking car... but it accentuates your point about it looking better in the metal.

Blue with a blue soft top. Who would order that?

Someone who personally preferred that colour combo ?

There was a black Roma Spider at Donington on the Ferrari Challenge weekend with a red soft top ...

[ManyMotors]

S600BSB said:

WPA said:

I prefer the standard car

Same.

Here too.