Review 2022 Ferrari Roma, conveying the excitement of grand touring

While the mid-engine hybrid supercar and the upcoming Prosangue crossover SUV have dominated most of the Ferrari buzz lately, the Roma Coupe is not to be overlooked. This V8-powered 2+2 is more than just a gateway to the Scuderia House. It is a grand tourer that comes alive in unexpected places.

Indeed, at $243,358 ($311,647 for the test vehicle, plus $5,000 in destination fees (...)) included) starts at a hefty price, but let's ignore that price tag and start the engine. Driving the Loma will make you feel like a million bucks.

Despite its mechanical relationship to the Portofino M hardtop convertible, the Roma's appearance is clearly not "base Ferrari," placing it much closer to the exotic-looking 296 GTB. Even the Grigio Medio in the understated hue of this test drive makes the Roma look like a much more expensive car. Sleek and refined, with enough weirdness to make any car enthusiast do a double-take.

The Roma's test-drive is literally lavishly adorned with carbon-fiber accoutrements, amounting to a whopping $33,242. Wheel caps, front spoiler, side sills, diffuser, and active spoiler are all finished in lightweight materials, combined with 20-inch wheels ($2,531), black brake calipers ($1,519), and a sport exhaust system ($1,687). The car is equipped with. [carbon fiber steering wheel and paddles ($5,062), premium stereo ($6,243), Alcantara headliner ($4,219), passenger infotainment display ($5,906), Apple CarPlay for Dollars, and so on. Yikes.

That said, the Rome's interior is truly exquisite. The seats are comfortable, supportive, and feel like any back will be wrapped around you for an extended period of time. In addition, forward and side visibility is quite good for such a low-slung sports coupe. Headroom and legroom are fine for taller occupants, but the pair of rear seats are completely useless for anything but shopping bags. Typical example.

If Roma has one major drawback, it is the in-car technology. The vertically oriented center touchscreen is low-resolution and laggy, and all controls in the reconfigurable instrument cluster are performed with a four-way tactile pad to the right of the steering wheel. Operation is fairly straightforward, but the system's response to inputs is inconsistent, and the menu structure is complex, aiding those who need to access functions such as driver assistance settings and the trip computer while driving.

I understand that a robust infotainment suite is not a top priority for Ferrari customers, but this is terrible. Really bad. There is value in a tailor-made experience, but it should not come at the expense of usability. I'd like to take the UX designers at Ferrari, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, McLaren, etc., and put them in a $22,000 Chevrolet Trailblazer and say, "I'm sorry. Do this."

I digress. Once you find the backlit capacitive touch icon for engine starting (RIP, big red start button) and fire up Roma's V-8 engine, you won't care about the frustrating mirror controls or the time it takes to respond to the in-screen volume controls. When this car wakes up, so will your senses.

The Rome uses the same 3.9-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine as the Portofino M and sits neatly in front of the firewall in a proper front-mid arrangement. This engine produces 612 hp and 561 lb-ft of torque, and a sophisticated 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission drives the rear wheels. Huge paddle shifters mounted on the steering column operate the transmission, while a toggle in the form of a manual shift gate on the center console provides access to reverse, neutral, and automatic. According to Ferrari, the Roma accelerates from 0-62 mph in 3.4 seconds and has a top speed of around 200 mph.

Launching the Roma is an intoxicating experience. While the Porsche 911 Turbo reaches warp speed from a standstill in no time, the Loma is much more viscous than that. The rear tires struggle to maintain traction as they take on the power of the V8 engine, the dual-clutch transmission stomps through each gear with head-spinning force, and the steering wheel lights come on as the engine approaches the 7,500-rpm redline. The steering wheel lights come on as the engine approaches the 7,500 rpm redline. Many supercars, including Ferraris, are point-and-shoots, but not Roma. You absolutely have to step on it.

The same is true while enjoying the stunning canyon roads of Southern California. The steering is chatty and the suspension tells you by the seat of your pants about every single change in the road surface. The engine sounds great, one of the best forced induction V-8 engines I've ever heard. Quick reflexes are nicely matched with Rome's playful rear end, which, despite a slight tendency toward oversteer on tight hairpins, is always at the driver's mercy. As with the great Ferraris, the Roma works with the driver and encourages him to go faster. This does not disappoint.

The same is true for docile driving. The Roma can be equipped with an optional dual-mode magnetic rheological suspension that costs $5,568. Switch the Manettino's drive mode selector from Comfort to Sport, and the suspension stiffens up considerably, so you won't shatter your spine if you inadvertently hit a pothole too hard. Wet and Race modes round out the available settings. A further turn to the right also completely disables the stability control, but this should only be done when driving on the track.

Combined with the aforementioned comfortable cabin and good visibility, the Roma could really be driven every day. The trunk is large enough to hold two rollboard suitcases or one large checked bag, and Ferrari even offers the latest driver assistance features such as adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning. The only thing missing is an electronically controlled front lift. Caution is needed on steep driveways.

Rome's high-end competitors include the Aston Martin DB11 and the Bentley Continental GT. A more appropriate adversary for Ferrari is the Porsche 911 Turbo S. The important thing is that the Turbo S is faster and more powerful, but are those really the most important characteristics for potential Ferrari customers?

No. The most important thing here is exclusivity. Compared to the Roma and other Ferraris, the 911 is relatively modest. Yes, the Porsche may be faster and easier to handle, and the infotainment controls may be less frustrating, but the Roma is a Ferrari. And it is a great one.

-by Steven Ewing

Motor Authority was loaned a test car by Ferrari to bring you this raw report.