Know the last Ferrari to introduce a front-engine convertible with a soft top? The 1969 365 GTB/4, otherwise known as the Daytona Coupe and Spyder, went out of production in 1973. The new Roma Spyder introduced to Ferrari clients in Morocco ends its absence after 50 years with the same formula. The Habit has grown over the past few decades: It’s got everything you love about the Roma, plus a little extra weight and a retractable roof. The 185 pounds of extra heft compared to the coupe is more of a housekeeping note than bad news, as there’s still a twin-turbocharged 3.9-liter V8 up front that revs to 7,500 rpm, makes 612 horsepower and 561 torque, and will. A grander sound without any obstruction between the pipes and the cabin. The fabric weave roof comes in two flavors, one leaning towards elegance, one emphasizing sportiness in a technical fabric. Personalization options include a two-tone weaving palette in four colors, plus a range of contrast stitching colors for a few hours, which are both on top and slow enough to be savored. One of the options offers a iridescent red finish. The mechanism raises and lowers the roof in 13.5 seconds at speeds of about 37 mph. A few body improvements add comfort to the occupants. The top rail of the windscreen houses an aero device called Nolder to separate and manage airflow over the cabin, and at the push of a button, the headrests on the rear seats slide forward and up to form wind deflectors. The deploying rear spoiler also slots into three positions to provide coupe-matched downforce levels, whether the Spider’s top is up or down. A few ergonomics, cosmetic and performance revisions also make their way. The steering wheel buttons are said to be easier to use, the start button now glows red, the oil pump has been tweaked to reduce the time it takes to reach system operating pressure, and the eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox benefits from changes to improve fuel efficiency. Economy Ferrari hasn’t specified an arrival date or price for the Roma Spyder, but with that fuel economy bump, we’re not exactly concerned buyers. As a baseline for knowing where to start lobbing racks of cash, the coupe starts at $247,310.
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