Ferrari might be deep into the development of its first all-electric model, the Ferrari Luce, but that doesn’t mean that Maranello is abandoning any of its combustion-powered projects in the near future.
Instead, the Prancing Horse marque has just unveiled its latest entry-level, V8-powered convertible called the Amalfi Spider, which debuts globally today as the new and improved successor to the outgoing Roma Spider.
Ferrari Amalfi, But Make It Topless
Just like what the Roma Spider was to the Roma, the Amalfi Spider is essentially a top-down, convertible version of the original Amalfi coupe, which coincidentally just made its long-awaited Malaysian debut yesterday.
The familiar, two-door Berlinetta shape stays on for this new convertible, plus some of the Amalfi’s new design bits like slimmer lights with built-in air ducts on the front units, a cleaner grill-less nose, a more sculpted profile, and the 20-inch forged aluminium wheels it rides on.
Ferrari says the Amalfi Spider will come exclusively with a fabric roof, which in itself comes in multiple colour options—including two with a distinct weave pattern. It takes 13.5 seconds to deploy at speeds of up to 60 km/h and features a five-layer construction that provides soundproofing and heat insulation comparable to a retractable hardtop, Ferrari claims.
Despite the retractable roof, the Amalfi Spider features a 2+2 cabin with the same redesigned layout seen on the coupe version, including the triple-screen setup with a 10.25-inch infotainment display, a larger 15.6-inch digital instrument cluster, and a separate 8.8-inch passenger display.
Having said that, practicality is definitely not the Amalfi Spider’s strongest suit, as its 255-litre boot space shrinks down to 172 litres once the roof is dropped. Then again, cargo space should be at the bottom of your list when looking for an exotic Italian convertible.
Same Upgraded V8 as Coupe Version
Powering the Amalfi Spider is the same 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 engine used on the coupe model, producing 640 PS and 760 Nm. Power is also sent exclusively to the rear wheels (RWD) through an improved 8-speed DCT gearbox.
Despite tipping the scale heavier than the original Amalfi, the Amalfi Spider is still able to match its coupe twin’s performance, despatching from 0 to 100 km/h in a matching 3.3 seconds. That said, the weight difference has its toll once you get to 200 km/h, where the Spider takes 9.4 seconds instead of the coupe’s 9-second flat time, while its V-max is still capped at 320 km/h.
Also available here is Ferrari’s Manettino driving suite, which allows drivers to select multiple driving modes such as Wet, Comfort, Sport, Race, and ESC-Off. The convertible is also equipped with an ADAS suite, ensuring that you can daily drive this exotic Italian supercar in a safe manner.
More Expensive Than The Coupe?
As of writing, Ferrari has yet to reveal official pricing for the Amalfi Spider, although we’re certain that the convertible will sit slightly above the original coupe version on the price tier. For reference, the outgoing Roma Spider was retailed at RM3.2 million in Malaysia, so expect similar figures for the new Amalfi Spider once it debuts locally.
The new Amalfi Spider will face stiff competition against the likes of the Aston Martin Vantage Roadster, Mercedes-AMG SL 63, Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet, and Maserati MC20 Cielo, although we’d argue that none of them carry the same stature as the Prancing Horse’s latest V8-powered convertible.
