FERRARI AMALFI

Roma successor brings vital updates for Maranello's entry car

- ILLYA VERPRAET

Ferrari tends not to do 'facelifts'. Updated cars usually get an entirely new name - such as with the 360 and the F430, or the F12 and the 812. But they do tend to be pretty big updates that incorporate some major technical changes.

This brings us to the new Amalfi, which we can all see is the facelifted version of the Roma, Ferrari's front-engined V8 sports GT that's a distant descendant of the California and has been the entry point to the Ferrari range since 2020.

Visually, there's a clear evolution from the sinuous style of the Roma and towards the more angular 12Cilindri but, as we'll see, the mechanical updates are relatively minor. Then again, the 'old' Roma saw off the then brand-new Aston Martin Vantage in both coupé and roadster group tests in the past year, so there weren't an awful lot of wrongs to right. The Amalfi is more about keeping it fresh and, importantly in today's regulatory climate, legal to sell in Europe.

The Roma was a bit of a shock when it was launched. With its minimal detailing, solid-looking front grille and body panels that looked like they were under tension, it was divisive. Some said that it looked like an Aston Martin, others that it lacked aggression. I, for one, thought it was one of the most beautiful Ferraris in years.

This new one clearly has to fall in line with a fresh era of Ferrari design. There's no obvious front grille at all. The Amalfi swaps it for a body-coloured 'wing' and a gloss black bar running between the headlights. In the initial, highly digitally enhanced press images, it reminded me a little of the Toyota bZ4X's 'hammerhead' look, but in the metal it looks much more purposeful, particularly in the spectacular greeny-blue Verde Costiera launch colour.