There was much to like about the gorgeous Ferrari Roma, but now the car has been thoroughly updated along with being given a new name. Yes, the Roma is already a few years old, and Ferrari has replaced the moniker too. Meet the Ferrari Amalfi-named after a popular holiday destination along the southern edge of Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula, this GT has been sharpened but also taken closer to the classic Ferrari ethos. The Amalfi has not been made to pound laps after laps; instead, it will criss-cross countries with ease while you settle down on a V8-fuelled cruise. Let us start with the styling, which is sharper but still maintains the svelte lines. The front-end removes the shark-nose grille and goes for an edgier 12 Cilindri-like design while the headlamps remain the same. The lines are cleaner, surfacing sleek, and the tail-lamps too are slimmer.
While the monolithic proportions are juxtaposed with some gorgeous detailing, the more talked-about highlights of this new Ferrari are actually the interior. Yes, Ferrari has reverted to physical switchgear and the red starter button. These two elements will no doubt be a source of joy for the Tifosi since the bright red starter button is an event, while replacing the touch-sensitive switches was very much needed. This comes after feedback from Ferrari owners and rightly so, as these tactile buttons are much easier to use. Elsewhere, there are modest power gains too with the 3.9-liter twin-turbo V-8 developing 631 horsepower while the torque remains the same.
The dual-clutch automatic has been tweaked as well, along with some aerodynamic changes which reduce drag. However, more importantly, the V8 has the same operatic tenor as you would expect from a Ferrari, but it is also an everyday supercar with ample mollycoddling too. The Amalfi gets a lot of technology, but Ferrari has clawed back some of its tactile flourishes, and that’s great news. The design is slicker, more confident, and the V8 continues with no electric assistance. Hence, it is Ferrari’s GT which broadens its clientele while keeping the fiery spirit alive. Set to compete with a duo of British stalwarts like the Bentley Continental GT and the Aston Martin Vanquish, the new Ferrari Amalfi is a big improvement but remains an edgy GT with ample power to uncork on a long European jaunt.
