Things are busy at Maranello. This, the Roma, is the fifth new Ferrari model of the year – and for our money, the most striking of them all.
It's a front-engined V8 coupe built on the same platform as the Portofino and with a slightly powered up version of the same 3.9 litre twin turbo engine producing 611bhp.
The simple, curvy design gives it a classic appeal, accentuated by the long bonnet – which gives it a more contemporary, sharp-edged Ferrari front-end – and you could say a more Aston Martin-esque rounded rear.
Details are fairly thin on the ground so far but it’s going to be fast – a top of speed of 199mph and a 0-62mph time of 3.4 seconds. The silver colour on this release image is even making us rethink our favourite Ferrari paint job.
Apparently it’s called Roma because Ferrari sees the car as “a contemporary representation of the carefree, pleasurable way of life that characterised Rome in the 1950s and Sixties.” Cue images of Marcello Mastroianni in black sunglasses and a cigarette in-hand, sipping espressos in the Piazza Campo de’ Fiori. Frankly, we’re sold.
Meanwhile back in Woking, McLaren announced its spectacular new £1.4m hypercar, the Elva.
That’s a lot of cash for a car with no roof or windscreen, but McLaren’s new near-range-topping Ultimate Series model has something called Active Air Management, to cleverly keep buffeting air out of your hair.
Looks-wise, it’s less La Dolce Vita in Rome and more Bruce Wayne doing errands around Gotham, though the name comes via a different Bruce – founder Bruce McLaren designed an Elva race-car back in the 60s.
As the brand’s lightest ever road car and with 800bhp, you don’t have to be a car geek to know that equates to some breakfast-shifting acceleration.
Two very different supercars we look forward to seeing in the metal soon.
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