Ferrari Amalfi loses its top with new Spider variant

It might be a little heavier than the coupe, but the Ferrari Amalfi Spider promises wind-in-the-hair thrills mixed in with a V8 soundtrack.

The roof mechanism can open or close the roof in 13.5 seconds, and operates at speeds up to 60km/h. In topless mode, the roof is compressed to be just 220mm thick so it only reduces boot space from 255L to 172L.

There are six roof colours in total to choose from, four for the more traditional “tailor-made” fabric, and two for the “technical” material, which has an interesting weave that shimmers in the light.

The technical fabric can also be applied to the tonneau and nearby surfaces so the material remains visible when the roof is down. Contrast stitching is also available for the roof.

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With its five-layer design, Ferrari claims the Amalfa Spider’s roof has sound and heat insulation properties that are “comparable” to a retractable hardtop.

While the paint palette is largely carried over from the coupe, there is a new Rosso Tramonto colour that’s exclusive to the Spider.

The hidden rear wing will automatically set itself into three positions (low drag, medium downforce, and high downforce) depending on the car’s speed. There’s also a driver-activated electric wind deflector integrated in the back of the front seats that creates a larger bubble of less turbulent air inside the cabin.

Described as 2+ seater, the Amalfi Spider has a two-person rear bench that’s suitable for a children, but will more likely be used as extra storage space.

Under the bonnet the Spyder employs the same twin-turbo 3.9-litre V8 as the Amalfi coupe, which makes 477kW at 7500rpm, and 760Nm between 3000 and 5750rpm.

It drives the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Despite its dry weight increasing 86kg to 1556kg, the Spider has the same 0-100km/h time as the coupe at 3.3 seconds.

The Spider rides on 20-inch wheels shod with 245/35 tyres at the front, and 285/35 rubber at the rear. Buyers can choose between Pirelli P Zero, Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport, Bridgestone Potenza Sport tyres depending on their tastes.

Pricing hasn’t been released for the Spider, but we expect it to command a premium over the Amalfi coupe, which starts at $503,261 before options and on-road costs.

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