The tagline is “La Nuovo Dolce Vita” which is a spin on “La Dolce Vita”. The latter means “The Good Life” and the Former means “The New Good Life”. Ciò che intendono dire è… my apologies, I have probably enjoyed the two Ferraris a bit too much. What they mean by this is that Ferrari Roma is a modern callback to not only the Ferraris of the old but also the Italiana of the old. 

For me, the Ferrari Roma is a solid hybrid. Not that hybrid, do not stop reading just yet. I mean a design hybrid. While its shape, stance, and how the design flows point to the past, there are bits that not only wave to the present but also the future. It is a Ferrari that flips the script a bit. It is a Ferrari that can be enjoyed by people who aren’t Sainz or Leclerc and that quality shows in the design. 

There’s an obvious focus on luxury and looks. The Ferrari Roma’s proportions are just mind-blowing and simply put, it is a stunning-looking car. In performance-focused cars, the performance bits take away the simplicity of design. In that sense, the Roma is a breath of fresh air because it just flows sinuously and shows that proportions will always prevail over aero-appendages that add a tinge of unnatural aggression to the design. 

The LED headlamp and the quirky mesh grille start things off. They catch you off guard in the beginning but you quickly get used to them. And you better because this idea or this ‘face’ is here to stay. Now, just because there are no aero appendages does not mean the Roma does not take aerodynamics seriously. 

The body is shaped to slip through air and the smooth lines around the sides point to that. There are vortex generators up-front and a concealed deployable rear spoiler. So the Roma is well-endowed aerodynamically but it doesn’t go to the extreme which would have meant making the design a little too fussy and busy. Overall, the Roma is a step in a different direction and I am all for it. 

Not a lot of laptops can feel home in a Ferrari but the Acer Swift 5 certainly did. It is sleek, lightweight, has a brilliant screen but most importantly, it packs the processing performance chops to match those of the Ferrari Roma on the road.

I find talking about the interior a bit boring because, after all, it is a Ferrari. But it is a GT and about the good life so I won’t skimp on it. The first thing you notice is that the switchgear has been replaced with touch controls. A lot of people found the whole setup to be a bit much but I am a fan of the gadgets and I loved it, especially the sound it makes when you switch between the various displays on the 16” curved screen. 

Now, in a few cases, physical buttons would have been nicer such as for adjusting the door mirrors or for opening the doors. A lot of the controls are situated in the central display and people who aren’t used to it may find it a bit annoying that even the volume control and climate control stuff is in there. To be honest, though, it does take some getting used to but it is not the end of the world. 

The bottom line is this; the boot space is ‘okay’, the cabin is a nice place to spend some time in, the seats are comfortable, and the rear seats can be forgotten or used for inanimate objects only. Anything alive will suffer. It is a 2-door-2+2 seater but come on… it also has over 600 horses so I am not complaining. 

In the performance department, the Ferrari Roma is baffling if I have to use one word. It is surprisingly easy to drive and comfortable even over long distances. It is not always shouting or OD’ing on steroids. It is a civil car to drive. 612 horses and 760 torques and yet… you can easily cruise along on the highway without suffering (or enjoying) a sensory overload all the time. That said, it is still a Ferrari and if you push too hard in less-than-ideal conditions, it can bite back. It is because, underneath the racing suit, it is still made by a manufacturer that makes domesticated F1 cars for the road. Domesticated… not neutered. 

0-100 km/h: 3.4 seconds | Top Speed: 320+ km/h

In that sense, the Roma possesses somewhat of a dual personality but they are not distinct but overlapping. In a lesser mode, the engine is rather tame and you can try to lug around. The exhaust note follows suit with soft singing rather than metal but a sweet voice nonetheless. Now, heat things up a bit and the Roma does not shy away from showing its fangs. Prod the accelerator further and you realize the Ferrari Roma does not point to just one kind of Good Life.

I found the combination of this engine and the new gearbox to be amazing. The shifts are quick and the engine is a gift that just keeps on giving. Gone are the days of badly behaved turbos and this is as close to a naturally aspirated engine as it could be. There are no discernible gaps in power delivery and in the higher revs, it still isn’t quite metal but Rock and Roll for sure. 

Now, in sportier modes and as you gather speed, the Roma does start to feed you with all sorts of information from the road; where the tyres are and everything you need to keep in check. The information is not overwhelming but significant. At this point, you start to appreciate the steering. It has just the right amount of weight to it. This is a front-mid-engined car and it feels that way but not in a manner that robs you of confidence. The Ferrari Roma ensures that you know all you need to know to keep things in check. 

Photographing a Ferrari is a special occasion and it demands a special device. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra, with its fantastic camera system and the performance to back it up, is what we chose. Not to mention the pleasure of viewing those photos on its brilliant screen!

The chassis, the suspension, and the electronics, all work in tandem to ensure the best kind of ride quality. It is not jarring on brisk highway runs but it is firm enough when the road isn’t just arrow-straight tarmac. Again, this is a car that does very well with a little fiddling. Find the right setting for the setting you are in and it rewards you in currency comparable to gold. It is not a car that you can set on autopilot though. 

Park Inn has become our go-to stay during our adventures in Dubai. During our experience on various editions of the PowerTour, Park Inn is the only place that can match the opulence and exclusivity of the vehicles we drive.

It demands your attention which I believe is the right way to go about it. Steering is responsive so take care of your inputs. The throttle is responsive so take care of your inputs. The brakes are responsive so take care of your inputs. Modulate everything just right and set a winding road on fire or… set everything just right and have fun on your cross-country jaunt. The Ferrari Roma is not a bombardment like the 812 Superfast was but under the elegant suit, it is still a killer and it commands respect. In the end, the Ferrari Roma is a beacon of a Good Life whether it is stringing corners or munching miles. Heck, it signifies that even at a standstill. With that, it is also “La Nuova”, a new chapter in the historic story of the Prancing Horse from Maranello.