Driving a Ferrari must be at the top of the bucket list for anyone who claims to even remotely like cars. Recently, I had the opportunity to do just that and also drive it in glamorous Dubai. Dubai loves cars and it is very much apparent by the evening traffic which contains supercars to luxury SUVs in the same number as we see hatchbacks in our traffic back here. A Ferrari naturally fits in here but this is also a new kind of Ferrari that will also appeal to other newer markets along with quite a few of them already being sold in India as well. I can see why as the Roma ticks all the usual Ferrari boxes but is also usable in day-to-day life with no fuss.
It is an all-new product that is a compact GT (grand tourer) with being a front-engined long bonnet supercar. When you first look at it, the Ferrari Roma indeed looks gorgeous but is also very compact. Compared to other Ferraris it is also simpler with fewer lines and a beautifully designed shape; like some of the earlier Ferraris. It is curvaceous, subtle, and neatly styled with some nice detailing like the twin tail lights or the LED headlamps which are striking in its design.  The Roma, in other words, is designed to be driven every day hence basic practicalities are also looked at. While the car is low, getting in and out is not a big issue but once in, your brain takes a few minutes to get used to the interior which is unlike anything else. Being a Ferrari, you obviously get leather, Alcantra, aluminum, and carbon fibre but design-wise, it is the most futuristic cabin I have seen from them.
Everything is changed- even including the 'usual' Ferrari key which is now leather-covered plus card-shaped. With digital being the latest buzzword, the Roma has a massive single 16" HD screen as the main driver display while the central screen happens to be a 8.4" HD display. The driver display is massive and easy to read/configure while the main central display comes with the infotainment/climate control functions. Not only that, even the passenger has an optional 8.8" colour Full HD touchscreen. Else, the interior has a cockpit-like feel and even tall people will not have any problems being comfortable.
Speaking of which, the Roma actually proved to be easier to drive in Dubai when compared to the massive SUV which I was last driving here. The blind spot assist warns you of traffic surrounding your blind spot, you can see out very clearly and it is also not difficult to drive at low speeds. The engine is a  twin-turbo V8 which develops 620hp but at low speeds, I barely used 100 it seems with the 8-speed dual-clutch auto coping with low-speed driving very well. More than going fast, I guess, the Roma needs to do well in these things and I can imagine this car being comfortable even on our roads. The ride is firm no doubt but never uncomfortable and it does keep you aware of what you're driving with gentle V8 background noise but you can never get tired of it. Oh, and the music system/AC worked very well with the air con, in particular, doing well to keep most of the intense Dubai heat away.
When you have a Ferrari to drive for a few hours, it is only a matter of time when you have to drive it the way a Ferrari needs to be driven. Dubai has strict speed limits between 80-120km/h but I did manage to find an empty stretch outside the city limits to unleash the power of the Roma. 0-100 km/h is claimed to be 3.4 seconds and I can vouch for that. Even in the heat, the car performed flawlessly with launch starts and acceleration runs. The twin-turbo V8 really does give it so much performance yet it also is thrilling to drive it at higher revs with a soundtrack that you would want to keep as a ringtone. How has Ferrari managed to make a turbo unit sound like a naturally aspirated engine is beyond me. The 5-position manettino switch on the steering is your friend here and it can turn into a monster with a flick. Corner it hard and it lets you have some fun while still keeping things safe while the steering is very sharp. I have driven some rivals of this car but I do not think they are really rivals as the Roma is sharper while still being practical. For India, I think this is one of the most practical, well-priced (Rs 3.7 cr) and beautiful Ferraris while still giving you the typical Ferrari driving experience you normally expect. 
 

 


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