As the quintessential daily driver of maranello , I embarked on an adventure to see if a Ferrari Roma could live with me. It's "a day in the life of Emma," driving the first of a new family of grand tourers.
what we liked
its sophisticated and stylish styling
top-notch technology and interior comfort
superb handling and a superb driving experience that captivates
cons
options are expensive, or I've been told
voice commands are in awkward positions
wireless charger is not available in our model
I'll be blunt - I love Ferrari . I grew up supporting Schumacher in Formula 1, dressed as a fê rrari racing driver at the end of December this year and I even got my aunt to create a Ferrari outfit I wore to the Australian Grand Prix when I was 17 Prix. true story.
so driving is not just another day at work for me. It means more because I feel that connection with the brand. We all have a brand, right?
Thanks to the COVID lockdown in Melbourne I have been waiting a long time since the release of the Ferrari Roma I attended in December 2020.
Then, with limited time (overnight loans) and some constraints still in place, I racked my brains wondering what I could do with the car - it required more than standard paperwork. I want to make it fun!
So, after snapping it up before it left Melbourne for a tour of Australia, I continued to work on it instead of completing the original mission,i.e. asking if I could live with this car, I decided to position the project as "Can a Ferrari Roma live with me?" '. Essentially, a day in Emma's life.
My lucky Ferrari is the 2022 Ferrari Roma. It starts at $409,888 plus on-road, and our test model was done with a Matt Aluminium Opaco. The
spec sheet is easy to read, with 27 options added, and while I'd love to pass those prices on to you, Ferrari doesn't offer them. I can tell you that the one we tested was the high-spec model, and I heard it cost around five yuan. Learn more about these options later.
First, it's worth learning more about the philosophy of this beautiful machine. Ferrari Roma, named after its national capital, is known as the everyday Ferrari.
It is the first in a new family of grand tourers, inspired by the most legendary GT Ferrari of the 1960s front-engined cars. The
Roma is powered by Ferrari's familiar 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 and features a front, mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout. This is matched to a new eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox, which has the benefit of being 6kg lighter than the seven-speed gearbox.
It puts out 456kW of power and 760Nm of torque, with a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 3.4 seconds.
comes standard with 16.0-inch digital instrument cluster, keyless entry and engine start system, carbon-ceramic braking system, 8x4-inch portrait touchscreen information telematics with map navigation, USB, Bluetooth audio streaming and DAB radio and performance launch controls , to name a few.
is influenced by the 250 GT Lusso, which looks a bit dated. The long hood with its shark nose overhang, as well as its distinctive large grille, set it apart. On the side, you'll notice the lack of the Scuderia shield, which can be added as an option, but I personally prefer the simple as-is.
Access to Rome is via sleek recessed door handles, while the understated elegance continues at the rear with smaller Ferrari emblems and flat, unconventional taillights.
So as per my daily life, I set off early. First, I'm a morning person because I like to get some exercise before heading to the office, and second, I know what's waiting for me in the garage. It's something worth getting up at dawn. In fact, you'd be jumping out of bed for a car like this.
Of course, I wouldn't have been able to make this journey without the staff at Drive, so I had our photographer Ted and videographer Julien come to greet me for my morning walk.
Before that, I had to get out of the parking lot, which was a good opportunity to start seeing if this Roman could live with me. I have a lot of expensive luxury cars in my building and it's safe, so I'm not worried.
But I'd be lying if I didn't say I was a little nervous going up and down the ramp, because this car doesn't have a front axle lift. But it does gain 120mm of higher ground clearance, and in the end, while you'll need to be careful of course, that height is more than enough for this case.
Parking was easier than expected and it was from a not so good parker, or so I was told. Thankfully, you get extra support from the optional surround-view camera, and it's hard to hit anything with the beeping through the cabin when reversing.
Started my morning walk, constantly remembering in the dark that I was driving a very expensive car - as Ted likes to call it "supercar stress". This is real.
Fortunately, the rain had cleared the night before and we had a beautiful day. Because I can tell you one thing, driving a supercar in a downpour,Activating wet mode and high-performance Michelin tires is not the ideal way to spend 24 hours in a Ferrari.
After we refueled with coffee and captured the beauty of Rome at sunrise, it was time to hit the road to Mornington Peninsula. Cruising down the highway is the best way to get to know the character of this car.
It's just over an hour's drive from Melbourne, so it's not the longest road trip, but it's always comforting to know you're in a luxurious and comfortable car.
interior is top notch. Our model is finished in Cuoio coloured leather, the rest is finished with premium fabrics and refined carbon fiber . Just sitting in it makes you feel special, and that's exactly what Ferrari is about - to evoke emotion. mission completed. I feel like there's a million dollars hovering around here.
One of the things you can appreciate about Roma is the steps the brand has taken in terms of its technology. Inside the cabin is an 8x4 inch portrait touchscreen infocomm tablet with map navigation, USB, Bluetooth and DAB radio.
In keeping with Ferrari's 'eyes on the road, hands on the steering wheel' philosophy, all functions can be accessed via the tactile touchpad on the steering wheel. The indicator buttons remain, while the volume and rocker switches are located behind the steering wheel.
By the end I had most of the elements, but the elephant (or horse) in the room was still there - Ferrari voice commands.
When the left pointer is pressed, a slight swipe down activates the voice command immediately and doesn't deactivate any time soon. It doesn't seem to understand my English or Italian and just keeps chatting. It's distracting and turning left becomes quite annoying. Ferrari may need to consider repositioning in its next model.
Otherwise, cruising down the highway is effortless and, more importantly, exhilarating. I really enjoyed staring at the team, sharing smiles and waving as I shifted gears violently, letting them hear the harmonious howl of the V8 engine . I believe the term is "bend".
And just like that, we arrived at Red Hill, a popular wine region south of the city. What's more, it's also known for its breathtaking views and winding roads, so where better to really open her up (in a responsible way)?
This is the first time a Ferrari GT has five modes to choose from on a manettino - Comfort, Race, Sport, Wet and CT Off (you can turn off traction, but that's something to save for the track).
Ferrari The engineers at Brilliant gave this car all the tech you'd expect. It's fast, with instant throttle response and zero turbo lag, thanks to its variable boost management system.
When switching the open-door shifter to manual and engaging the paddle shifter, you know you're doing something special. Shifting it down a few gears and letting it spin at high speed in the lower gears is mesmerizing, and the V8 engine gives you those crackles we all crave from a supercar.
The Roma's rear exhaust system has been redesigned because Ferrari likes that each of its cars has its own sound. So while it might not sound as harsh as the rest of the lineup, I can assure you it's still quite loud.
The twisty road, some rough, no doubt got the nerves. No longer on the highway, I'm still very cautious about what might happen. Any larger rocks or higher velocity debris will not end well for this perfectly finished paint job.
Oh, don't forget how much power this car has. Did I mention it's fast? I have to say, though, that all the mechanics and technology it has built into it gives you a sense of security.
a few times its rear will wobble, but with excellent side slip control,This means you can turn confidently because it won't step on you.
steering is very light, the input is direct, and it takes you exactly where you point it. Even without "bump mode" activated, it feels manageable and able to soak up any rougher surfaces.
Every rev, upshift or downshift, the Roma impresses. It's flexible, compliant, and most importantly, an exciting drive. But it's a grand tourer, yes, so it's capable of prancing when you want, and going wild if that's more your style. The luxury of choice - a grand tourer and a sports car in one. Sounds like my car.
Finally, without many kilometers, made some final stops. One to the top of the Arthurs Seat for a great view (and to take a mini photo) and the other one of my favorite wineries to take home.
There's still plenty of room in the trunk for my own gift, with 272 litres of cargo space. That's right, it has a boot and a surprisingly good-sized boot.
It also has a back seat, which surprised me again. While they're tight, it's good to know they're an option. Also, for those who want to use it as an everyday family car, firstly, good for you, and secondly, there are two ISOFIX points for the rear seats. Anyway, better for kids than adults.
On the safety front, it comes with front airbags for driver and passenger and side airbags for front head protection. Our car got the optional ADAS package, which includes automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning with traffic sign recognition, blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert, and a surround-view camera. Don't forget Roma's Side Slip Control, Traction Control and Vehicle Dynamics Control.
As mentioned earlier, our test model was jam-packed with options, some of which included colored special stitching, leather under-cockpit area, fully electric and ventilated seats, active-matrix LED headlights, colored pads with logos, 20 inch forged diamond rims,And plenty of carbon fiber, including the front spoiler, wheel arches, rear diffuser, rear active spoiler and door lower covers.
Ferrari offers a three-year/unlimited kilometer warranty, plus a maintenance program for the first seven years. Service intervals are set at 20,000 km or one year - whichever comes first.
I have to tell you that after giving me the keys and hopping on Uber back to the office, I was so frustrated. But I did manage to hand it back to me with a range of just 9km, so at least no awkward discussions in the showroom. It's really been an enjoyable 24 hours.
But the question remains - can a Ferrari Roma live with me? Well, it's fast enough for my busy schedule, stylish enough for a girl who loves fashion, and functional enough to carry all my belongings. I would say absolutely yes.
This Prancing GT does exactly what it says on the box. It's the perfect combination of performance, top-notch technology, comfort and accessibility, all wrapped up in a very nice package. An "entry level" Ferrari will do, thanks.
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