Will the New Roma Make a Ferrari Fan Out of You?

Ferraris are intimidating. The marque has never been shy about that. Whether we’re talking about grand tourers or track-to-street sports cars, the horsepower can reach near 1,000 and the prices upwards of $1 million. But instead of scaring away those who are not the richest or the most reckless, Maranello has just released a, dare we say it, sensible car.

On Wednesday, Ferrari revealed the Roma, a new mid-front-engined 2+ coupé that exchanges sharp, racing-inspired design for a softer, more elegant shape (and the iconic red for a less flashy silver). According to a press release, the reveal was for clients only, but on Thursday full details were released to the press and public, and after seeing it in person Autocar categorizes this as a competitor to the Aston Martin Vantage and Mercedes-AMG GT.

The similarities in design to those grand tourers are obvious. So how does Ferrari differentiate it from them? As Autocar writes, Ferrari’s Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer Enrico Galliera said: “This car will attract people who have never driven a sports car, who drive something less aggressive and now was something a bit more extreme.” In other words, for those who are willing to own up to their insecurities, it’s designed for drivers who would “love to drive a sports car or a Ferrari, but might be a bit afraid of one,” Galliera said.

The new Roma focuses on the passenger experience as much as the driver, with features like a dedicated infotainment screen. (Ferrari)

If you’re wondering what a “2+ coupé” means, it signifies that there is an option for two small rear seats behind the driver and passenger. If it’s just the two of you (or one), that space can also be used for storage. Other details that will appeal to non-sports car drivers include a better passenger experience (most Ferraris focus on the driver experience to the detriment of others), including a separate touch screen on their side to supplement the center-mounted infotainment screen and digital driver display.

So what’s under the hood? Don’t worry, just because the automaker is appealing to less lead-footed drivers doesn’t mean it skimped on the horsepower. As Autocar writes, “The Roma is powered by a revamped version of the 3.9-litre turbocharged V8 engine used in the Portofino drop-top and elsewhere in Ferrari’s line-up, albeit using the eight-speed DCT gearbox that was introduced on the SF90 Stradale.” That leads to a maximum 612 horsepower and 591 lb.-ft. of torque, a 0 to 62 MPH time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed over 199 MPH.

We’ll have to wait for a final price from Ferrari, but Autocar puts it around £175,000 (or roughly $225K), which is on the lower end of the marque’s price range. Sales are set to begin this summer, but until then, go ahead and take a closer look below: