KUALA LUMPUR: Following the launch of the Ferrari Amalfi in coupe form in March, the drop-top Spider variant now gets its regional introduction in Malaysia.
As the Spider takes the limelight, estimated pricing could reach around RM3mil, while being accompanied by a seven-year Genuine Maintenance programme covering scheduled servicing (every 20,000km or once a year) and is available across the entire Ferrari range as well as to owners of pre-owned Ferraris.
The exclusive programme covers all regular maintenance for the first seven years of the car’s life, and is available on all markets worldwide and from all dealerships on the official dealership network.
Being a cabriolet/convertible, the fabric roof can be deployed in 13.5 seconds and is operational up to 60 kph, while four colour options in tailor-made fabric and two in technical fabric are made available, including the new Tecnico Ottanio.
The distinctive weave of the technical fabric is said to create a shimmering effect that helps enhance the material’s three-dimensionality and is naturally folded in the boot, reducing the capacity from 255 litres to 172 litres.
Acoustic and thermal insulation is provided by a five-layer fabric delivering soundproofing and heat insulation comparable to that of a Ferrari retractable hardtop, and when stowed, it is only 220mm thick.
Overall, the Spider's heft has also been increased, now having a kerb weight of 1,556kg (+86kg) thanks largely in part to chassis strengthening along the side sills from the front wheel arch to the rear for added torsional rigidity.
Additionally, its weight distribution is now 48:52 from the coupe's 50:50, and despite the weight penalty, the Spider is still able to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 3.3 seconds and achieve the same top speed of 320kph as the coupe.
This is made possible by the same powertrain that consists of a 3.9-litre turbocharged 90-degree V8 powerplant producing 640hp at 7,500rpm and 760Nm from 3,000 to 5,750rpm, all while being mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and drinking from an 80-litre tank filled with premium petrol.
Although the front-end is defined by large air intakes and a long, sculpted hood to house the mid-mounted turbocharged V8, the rear integrates an active spoiler that contributes to its high-speed stability.
Here, it provides three active configurations of Low Drag (LD), Medium Downforce (MD), and High Downforce (HD), adjusting automatically in accordance with speed, as well as longitudinal and transverse acceleration of the car.
In HD configuration, the wing generates up to 110 kg more load at 250kph, with a drag increase of less than 4%, while MD configuration helps to develop the downforce, with a quicker transition to maximum opening.
For grip, the Spider rolls on staggered 20-inch forged wheels wearing front 245/35 and rear 285/35 tyres co-developed across three brands for choice, namely Pirelli P Zero, Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport and Bridgestone Potenza Sport.
Particular attention has been paid to passenger comfort during open-top driving, thanks to the inclusion of a wind deflector integrated into the backs of the rear seats.
This can be activated by the driver at the touch of a button, and when active, the airflow entering the cockpit from the rear is deflected to create a more stable and comfortable bubble around the passengers by reducing turbulence and noise, particularly in the head area.
The system has been calibrated with an opening angle of 101 degrees, and the design of the backrest (including the frame and moving parts integrated into a recessed sub-frame) is said to provide a solid and dynamic response during all driving conditions.
The deflector can be opened at speeds of up to an electronically limited 170kph, and once deployed, it can be used all the way to the Spider's maximum speed.
The Spider's exhaust note has also been tuned by using a new silencer layout that not only meets the strictest noise emission regulations, but also does so without compromising that Ferrari signature tone.
The exhaust features a ceramic matrix catalyst with a trimetallic coating (rhodium, platinum, palladium), with reduced activation times thanks to lower thermal inertia.
Sound control is managed by a new proportionally controlled bypass valve with dedicated maps to adapt the exhaust note to different driving conditions.
Like the Coupe, the Spider touts advanced electronics with carefully tuned hardware for sharper, more predictable performance via its brake-by-wire system.
This improves braking efficiency, pedal response and modulation, while Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Evo optimises braking force and wheel slip across different surfaces.
Meanwhile, its Side Slip Control (SSC) 6.1 integrates steering, torque and chassis systems, while an improved EPS-based grip estimator responds 10% faster.
The five-mode (Wet, Comfort, Sport, Race, and ESC-Off) Manettino located on the steering wheel adjusts the car’s dynamic character, while the active rear spoiler adds downforce during hard braking and high-speed cornering.
In terms of safety, the Spider is equipped with a comprehensive suite of next-generation ADAS systems that have standard inclusions such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, automatic high beam, traffic sign recognition and assistance and driver drowsiness and distraction detection.
Optional Surround View and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are available upon request, and all systems are configurable via the instrument cluster menus that have been integrated with the car’s electronic architecture, which includes front and rear radar, cameras, and dedicated control units.
