First Drive: Ferrari’s Amalfi brings more of a good thing

What is it?

First revealed back in 2019, the Ferrari Roma arrived as a new gateway to the Italian brand’s range of cars. Indeed, Ferrari made no bones about the car’s positioning as a car for those new to the brand and those who had never driven one of its vehicles before.

But never one to sit back and remain complacent, Ferrari has seen fit to update its Roma and, in transforming a number of areas of this stylish coupe, has changed its name, too. Enter the Amalfi – Ferrari’s new entry point to its line-up. We’ve been driving it in Portugal to see what has changed.

What’s new?

Far from a complete overhaul, the Roma’s change into Amalfi comes through evolution. It’s why the engine has been tweaked to make it more responsive, while a brake-by-wire system aims to make the car easier and more predictable to drive – something much-needed by those who might be driving a Ferrari for the first time.

In many ways, user-friendliness has been thought about in the Amalfi, too. Gone are the haptic-style buttons on the steering wheel, replaced by much simpler physical controls. The glowing and touch-sensitive starter switch of the Roma has been ditched, with the fully physical red starter button of the Amalfi harking back to a feature fitted to leagues of iconic Ferrari models, dating back to the original 360 of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

What’s under the bonnet?

You’ll find no radical changes underneath the long, sweeping bonnet of the Amalfi, either. As before, you’ve got a 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine though, with 631bhp, it has been graced with an additional 19bhp over the Roma. However, the throttle response has been sharpened thanks to a new crankshaft and redesigned turbochargers, making the Amalfi more urgent to drive. It’s linked to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, too.

A new brake-by-wire system helps to bring improved stopping power and a more natural pedal feel, no matter the conditions outside. Called ABS Evo, it’s a system that we’ve already seen put to good use on the brand’s 296 GTS hybrid supercar and in the Amalfi, it aims to provide a more efficient and predictable braking experience.

What’s it like to drive?

Look at the Amalfi’s elongated bonnet and huge alloy wheels and you’d think that this would be an intimidating car to drive. But once that red starter button is pressed and you’re on the move, the reality is quite the opposite. In fully automatic mode, the gearbox shifts smoothly and the ride does a great job of taking out the harshness from the road. In Comfort drive mode, the Amalfi has the hallmarks of a tremendous GT car, with good levels of refinement overall.

But that’s not to say that this can’t still act like a ‘true’ Ferrari. Switch into a sportier driver setting and the whole car sharpens and tightens, with that V8 engine feeling stronger than ever. In fact, for what is effectively the ‘entry-level’ Ferrari, the Amalfi delivers near-absurd levels of performance and far more than what anyone would realistically need on a daily basis. One element where the Amalfi doesn’t feel quite as intuitive, however, is the steering; it is very, very quick and quite light, so on some occasions can lead the car to feeling a touch nervous. It’s a common feature among Ferraris, but once you’re used to it, you soon settle into this characteristic – it could just be a little disconcerting for new Ferrari owners.

How does it look?

It’s fair to say that the Roma was hardly an ugly duckling, so Ferrari didn’t need to do an awful lot in the styling department. However, there have been some noticeable tweaks and changes introduced to help spruce things up. The front end is smoother and more aerodynamic than before, with the grille-like design of the Roma removed entirely.

There’s quite a big difference at the rear, however, as the Amalfi now gets an electronically adjustable wing. Fully automatic, it switches between low, medium and high downforce levels depending on the car’s speed or acceleration. Ferrari says it can generate up to 110kg of downforce at 155mph, in fact.

What’s it like inside?

There’s been a great increase in overall usability inside the Amalfi. The new physical steering wheel controls are a big improvement over the Roma’s haptic ones and make changing key features much easier. The Roma’s rather compact portrait-oriented screen has now been switched out for a landscape one which is larger, more feature-packed and much easier to use. Android Auto users now get full functionality, too, while Apple CarPlay remains as before.

The general fit-and-finish is good, too, with the front seats providing good support. It’s best to see the rear seats of the Amalfi as ‘occasional’ and only for children at that – a full-sized adult isn’t going to be able to sit there. A 273-litre boot provides enough space for some soft weekend bags or a decent amount of shopping, too.

What’s the spec like?

Prices for the Amalfi start at £202,459, though, as with any Ferrari, you’ll be able to quickly ramp that price up with an extensive options list. All cars get that redesigned infotainment setup, as well as a new 16.25-inch digital instrument display, which can be customised to show a variety of readouts. The Amalfi will also be available with an optional 8.8-inch passenger display, while wireless smartphone charging is provided in a tray underneath the primary infotainment screen.

The Amalfi comes with a range of assistance systems as standard, too, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and blind spot detection. However, the good news is that all of these systems – which can be a little distracting at times – can be easily switched off via three presses of a dedicated button on the steering wheel.

Verdict

It’s a case of refinement with the Ferrari Amalfi. Both inside and out, this car feels more intuitive and easier to understand than its predecessor, which, as a gateway for the Ferrari brand, it should be. However, it hasn’t lost any Ferrari sparkle in the process and still feels special both inside and out.

The quick steering may take some getting used to, but in every other area, the Amalfi is a car which feels at the top of its game.