Ferrari's portfolio already includes a variety of models from V12 brutes to track-honed mid-engined machines, and now development is underway for a new addition to the lineup: the Ferrari Roma Spider. 

Sharing its engine and certain mechanicals with the convertible Portofino M, the Roma arrived in 2019 as an elegant grand tourer to rival the likes of the McLaren GT and Aston Martin DB11 AMR. We've been sceptical about a potential Spider version given that the Portofino M already occupies a similar space, but these spy shots indicate that development is in fact underway for an open-top Roma.  200w Brushless Agv Drive Wheel

Despite the heavy camouflage draped on this pre-production car, the Roma's distinctive shark-style nose, cab-rear proportions and muscular haunches are visible. However, the roofline is slightly different to that of the coupe, hinting that it’s the Spider model. We expect the roof to be a folding metal design, given that Ferrari's other convertible offerings such as the Portofino M, F8 Spider and 812 GTS have taken this route rather than a soft top. 

The Spider should exhibit similar refinement levels to the coupe as a result, although its dynamics may be blunted by the additional bulk of the roof mechanism. Thankfully, the Roma Spider will use a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 to make light use of that weight, producing in excess of 600bhp. The hard top's optional 2+2 seating arrangement may not be available given the packaging requirements of the convertible, however. 

The Roma's distinctive, flowing design will be mostly unchanged, and searing performance is expected - although the Spider’s 0-62mph time might not be as quick as the coupe's 3.4-second sprint. The engine will be mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, and the usual suite of drive modes - from Wet all the way to Race and ESC off - will be accessible via a steering wheel-mounted Manettino switch. Ferrari's advanced chassis systems, such as Slide Slip Control 6.0 and Dynamic Enhancer torque vectoring, will also feature. 

The cabin will also be carried over. As with the coupe, an 8.4-inch portrait touchscreen will be mounted on a vertical bridge which extends between the seats, with a 16-inch digital instrument panel set behind the steering wheel. The display can be controlled using touch sensitive pads on the wheel itself, and an optional passenger screen will also be available to display driving and media information. 

The Roma Spider could be unveiled next year, costing close to £200,000 when it lands in showrooms. 

Now read our review of the Ferrari Roma...

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