Ferrari’s Bond ambition
CATCH sight of Ferrari’s new 200 mph Roma grand tourer and you half expect a tall, dark, dangerous‑ looking man in a dinner jacket to step out and be greeted with the words: ‘We’ve been expecting you, Mr Bond.’
For make no mistake, the Italian luxury sports car‑maker is gunning for 007’s favoured car of choice, Britain’s own Aston Martin.
And though priced from £170,984, customers are likely to spend more than £200,000 given the tempting (but expensive) extras.
Having driven the new Roma coupe both on the track at Good‑ wood and the streets, it was clear this is Ferrari’s gamble on an Aston Martin, with a distinc‑tive Italian twist.
Indeed, the marketing video, shot in night‑time Rome, echoes the chase scene from Spectre, with Bond in a DB 10, also filmed in the Italian capital.
Just before the latest Covid lockdown measures, on a rain‑ soaked Goodwood, I stayed in Wet mode, sensible when gun‑ ning it on the treacherous puddle‑strewn track at far higher speeds than legally possible on the road.
Staying on the Tarmac was my priority, and the various traction controls helped achieve that.
Out on the streets, I ven‑ tured into ‘Comfort’ mode and, for a short time, the more aggressive ‘Sport’, but in the deluge decided the more extreme ‘Race’ mode or tak‑ ing off the traction controls altogether would not be wise.
The Roma is powered by a turbo‑charged 3,855 cc V8 front‑mounted petrol engine developing 620 hp — equiva‑ lent to more than six Ford Fiestas. Running on 20 in wheels, it also inherits a slick new eight‑speed automatic gearbox — though I enjoyed most of my time using the steering wheel paddles. It accelerated from rest to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds and — on the track or where legal — up to 124 mph in 9.3 sec‑ onds. The top speed is in excess of 200 mph.
A gas‑guzzling average of 25.2 mpg with CO2 emissions of 255g/km should come as no surprise.
The high‑tech screen‑based i nterior with proximity‑ sensitive touchscreens and controls r eplacing many buttons does take some getting used to, but the 345 litres of boot space with the rear seats down is useful.
Its nearest rivals are the DB11 V8 the smaller V8 Vantage, and Germany’s Porsche 911.
I’d certainly like to have spent longer with the car and not so swiftly had to say: ‘Arrivederci, Roma.’