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A Drive to Remember

A Drive to Remember

Anne Kurian
  • Ferrari creates exceptional sports cars and the Roma, which falls into the GT category, stands out with its performance, design and technology. We take the coupe for a spin from Muscat to Sifah

One of the most appealing aspects of Oman is its fascinating urban landscape. The country has beautifully merged the urban development with its natural panorama. Add to that an impressive road network and you have a winning combination. Now imagine bringing the sculpted beauty, that is the Ferrari Roma into the picture. It’s an exquisite sight. Well, we didn’t have to imagine because Alfardan Motors made it a reality when they gave us the Ferrari Roma for a spin around the city. We, in fact, went beyond the city. More on that later. 

The Ferrari Roma was launched in 2019 and is one of the brand’s most captivating models. This beauty from the Prancing Horse badge pays tribute to the carefree and pleasant way of life that Rome was popular for during the ‘50s and ‘60s. The Roma is meant to evoke La Nuova Dolce Vita or the new life, while it clearly embodies ‘understated luxury’. The beautifully sculpted Roma combines classic sublimity with modern engineering, resulting in an ideal daily use Ferrari especially for city dwellers. 

Inside the Roma beats the Ferrari’s 3.9-litre, twin-turbo V-8 engine, mated to the brand’s new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The award-winning V-8 features Variable Boost Management for superfast throttle response. This feature blew our minds the first time we took the Roma for a drive and this time around, we got to put it to test on a much longer route. 

The latest leg of our Ferrari drive included both the Roma and F8 Spider; the latter deserves an independent article as well, so watch out for part 2 of this drive review soon. We got the opportunity to drive the cars all the way to Sifah. For the uninitiated, Sifah is a fishing hamlet that’s situated around 60 kilometres away from Muscat. The route is one of the finest stretches to drive, especially when driving the Roma.

We have been to the launch event of the Ferrari Roma and have taken the coupe for a drive. Yet, every time we get a glimpse of this beautiful car, the design takes our breath away. Sensuously sculpted, the Roma’s front fascia swoops forward sharply like a ‘shark’s nose’ as it is called. The twin taillights at the rear are styled like thin bars, adding to the GT’s chiselled silhouette. 

The design DNA carries forward inside; the cabin design is centered around the dual-cockpit concept with two separate cells – one for the driver and the other for the passenger. Adding to the sleekness is the 16’ inch digital instrument cluster; the overall design even extends to the door panels. We are lovers of aesthetics and the key design of the Roma is a prime example of this – a metallic rectangular fob swathed in leather, which fits snugly into its dedicated space in the centre console.

The proof of the pudding is in its taste. The Roma is a performer through and through. The V8 kicked into action the moment we decided to pick up pace off a few kilometres after the city. The V8’s Variable Boost Management showed the Roma’s ability to adjust torque delivery depending on the gear selected. At each curve and turn, the Roma moved with surprising ease and agility yet making the driver in complete control. The gear shifts are smoother and quicker in the Roma as we expected. 

Not only is the Roma breathtakingly beautiful but also a thrilling coupe to drive. With performance, looks and impressive technology to boot, the Ferrari Roma is definitely going to stay on as one of the finest from the Prancing Horse. 

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