Ferrari is showing us something new on March 16, that much we know. As for the rest, including what that car will be, we can only guess for now because the firm’s teaser video is more cryptic than a crossword.
The short clip that appeared on the automaker’s Instagram account shows three different angles of a steering wheel that we can only just make out in the inky darkness. As the camera moves, light slowly illuminates some of the details, giving us glimpses of the carbon shift paddles and the carbon sections on both the top and bottom of the leather-wrapped wheel, and just about shows off the shift-light section built into the top of the rim.
We can also see the manettino driving mode toggle mounted in the lower right quadrant of the wheel, the dial for the lights on the opposite side, the turn signal buttons mounted above both spokes and something in the roof that we can’t make out, but which may turn out to be something of a clue after all.
As might the teaser video’s soundtrack, which contains no engine noise, just the chirp of crickets and the gentle sound of wind whistling. Which could means that Ferrari is about to unveil its first ever EV and really needs to work on its rubber door seals, or, more likely, it’s about to drop the long awaited Roma Spider convertible.
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Our spy photographers have captured prototypes of the Roma Spider testing a couple of times, though its unclear how a roofless version of the Roma coupe would fit into Ferrari’s range, which already includes a V8 convertible, the Portofino M. But giving the elegant Roma a fabric roof would help it avoid direct comparisons with the retractable hardtop Portofino.
The hardtop Roma is powered by a 612 hp (620 PS) twin-turbo V8 that generates 561 lb-ft (761 Nm) of torque and those numbers aren’t likely to change for any convertible version, unless Ferrari is facelifting the Roma and upgrading its powertrain at the same time. That’s not beyond the realms of possibility given that the Roma was launched in November 2019.
As for performance, strengthening the aluminium body structure and adding the mechanism for the hood will inevitably add a couple of hundred pounds to the curb weight, so don’t be surprised if the coupe’s 3.4-second zero to 62 mph (100 kmh) time gains a tenth or two in the conversion process without any extra muscle to help out.
What do you think Ferrari preparing to reveal?