It is officially “New Ferrari Day,” a date on the automotive calendar that usually results in a collective intake of breath from enthusiasts and a frantic checking of bank balances from the world’s elite. Today, the spotlight falls on Maranello’s latest open-top creation: the Ferrari Amalfi Spider. Named after Italy’s sun-drenched, iconic coastline, this new arrival isn’t just a simple exercise in chopping the roof off a coupe; it is a meticulously engineered love letter to the classic Italian grand tourer, designed specifically for those who believe that 631 horsepower is best enjoyed with a healthy dose of Vitamin D and the unrestricted roar of a twin-turbocharged V8.
The Ferrari Amalfi Spider: A Masterclass in Open-Air Design
The Ferrari Amalfi Spider serves as the spiritual and technical successor to the Roma, though “successor” might be too light a term. It is more of a transformation. While the Roma was a masterclass in under-stated elegance, the Amalfi Spider adds a layer of theatricality. The transition from a fixed hardtop to a fabric roof is a bold move in an era where many manufacturers have defaulted to heavy, complex retractable hardtops.
According to Autocar, the decision to use a five-layer fabric roof was central to maintaining the car’s sleek proportions. This roof can cycle through its operation in just 13.5 seconds at speeds of up to 37mph. Despite the move away from metal, Ferrari claims that when the roof is up, the insulation and acoustic comfort are “comparable to that of a Ferrari retractable hard top.” It is a claim we are eager to test, though, in a car named after the Amalfi coast, one suspects the roof will remain stowed for 90% of its life.
Visually, the Amalfi Spider retains the Roma’s long-hood, short-deck silhouette, but introduces stunning rear buttresses that flow into the integrated active spoiler. It is a design that prioritizes “La Nuova Dolce Vita,” and while it may lose a sliver of the Coupe’s purity, it gains a massive amount of “look-at-me” charisma.
Performance and Engineering: The Heart of the Beast
Underneath that sculpted hood sits the award-winning 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8. In the Ferrari Amalfi Spider, this engine has been tuned to deliver a staggering 631bhp. Power is sent to the rear wheels via the same lightning-fast eight-speed twin-clutch gearbox found in the SF90 Stradale.
The performance figures are, as you’d expect, properly “Ferrari.” It will sprint from 0-62mph in a mere 3.3 seconds—matching the coupe—and while the top speed “drops” to 198mph compared to the hardtop, we doubt many owners will feel short-changed while their hair is being rearranged by the slipstream.
As noted by Car and Driver, the Amalfi Spider does carry an extra 86kg of weight compared to the coupe, bringing the total to 1,556kg. This is the inevitable price of chassis reinforcement and the roof mechanism. However, to ensure the handling remains razor-sharp, Ferrari has equipped the car with version 6.1 of its Side Slip Control (SSC) system and an advanced brake-by-wire setup.
A Cockpit Designed for Drivers (With Real Buttons!)
Perhaps the most surprising—and welcome—update inside the Ferrari Amalfi Spider is the ergonomics. While recent Maranello offerings have leaned heavily into haptic touch surfaces that could be finicky at speed, the Amalfi Spider brings back a selection of real physical buttons. This move aligns with a growing trend among luxury manufacturers to prioritize tactile feedback, a sentiment echoed in recent reviews by MotorTrend.
The “dual-cockpit” layout remains, creating a cocooned environment for both the driver and the passenger. Despite the focus on performance, practicality hasn’t been entirely abandoned. With the roof closed, you get 255 litres of luggage space, which drops to 172 litres when stowed—just enough for a couple of weekend bags or several very expensive cakes.
Market Outlook: Ferrari vs. Aston Martin
The arrival of the Ferrari Amalfi Spider puts it in direct competition with another heavy hitter: the Aston Martin Vantage Roadster. While the Aston offers more raw power and a more aggressive “bruiser” personality, the Ferrari counters with its sophisticated Side Slip Control and that unmistakable Italian flair.
As we noted in our previous Ferrari Roma review, the platform is already one of the most balanced GTs on the market. By adding the sensory experience of open-top motoring, Ferrari has created a compelling argument for being the best all-rounder in the segment.
For those who find the SF90 too intimidating and the Purosangue too… well, large… the Amalfi Spider sits in the sweet spot. It is a car built for the joy of driving, the joy of being seen, and the joy of hearing a twin-turbo V8 bounce its soundtrack off the limestone cliffs of southern Italy.
Whether you are a purist who prefers the lines of the coupe or a sun-seeker who demands the wind in your hair, there is no denying that the Ferrari Amalfi Spider is a triumph of design and engineering. Stay tuned to TopGear.com for our full first-drive impressions coming later this summer.
As Jalopnik often reminds us, the world is always a better place when there is a new front-engined, V8 Ferrari to argue about. And this one? It’s a beauty.
Discover the latest car news, reviews, and automotive trends by exploring our coverage here.
