March 17, 2023

The Ferrari Roma Spider Is Here

The brand new Ferrari Roma Spider has been revealed – and it certainly seems to be causing quite a stir.

This 612bhp V8 convertible supercar is the first front-engined Ferrari to have a fabric roof since 1969 when the 365 GTS4 was released. The new Spider is heavier than the Roma Coupe (84kg heavier, in fact) but the added weight is mostly the result of the roof storage and wind deflector that helps increase comfort and aerodynamics.

The wind deflector rotates the backrest of the rear seats into a position where it sits behind the driver and passenger’s head. This clever design is deployed with the press of a small button on the centre console. Speaking of the centre console, the new Spider has the familiar Roma dual-cockpit look thanks to the high position of the control panel.

Performance figures are pretty impressive too with 612bhp being generated from the 3.9-litre V8 turbo. 0-62mph is done in 3.4 seconds and you can carry on all the way up to just under 200mph. It also has an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox and it sounds even better than previous models thanks to the new exhaust tune.

The roof can be opened or folded away in 13.5 seconds and this can be done at any speed up to 37mph. Inside the car, the driver benefits from an 8.4-inch central display and, as an optional extra, a screen can be added to the passenger side too.

A Ferrari like this certainly won’t come cheap and the UK price point has not yet been confirmed by Ferrari. However, a smart guess would be that it will be more expensive than the coupe which currently starts from around £175,000. This might make it an unobtainable car to most but, even admiring it from a distance, you can’t help but appreciate its stunning looks.

The Next Generation Of Classic Car Restoration

To some people, the classic car world is one that will eventually die out as the automotive industry continues to move forwards at a blistering pace towards an alternative fuel future.

However, classic cars hold so many memories and interesting stories that more and more of the younger generations are finding their way into classic car restoration. One such person is 19-year-old Luke Henshaw who is the Heritage Vehicle Apprentice at The Great British Car Journey in Ambergate, Derbyshire.

Actor Theo James Drives A Classic Austin Healey During Filming

Hollywood actor Theo James has been seen driving a 1962 Austin Healey 3000 during the filming of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix adaptation of The Gentlemen. Theo plays the lead character of Eddie Halstead in the highly-anticipated series that takes place in the same world as the widely successful film of the same name from 2019.

Theo was dressed smartly as he drove the classic Austin Healey through the grounds of the Badminton Estate in South Gloucestershire. This is the same location that has been used for scenes in Bridgerton, Pearl Harbour, and 28 Days Later.

A camera could be clearly seen attached to the front of the car catching action shots of the actor driving the blue and white vehicle.

Theo has previously starred in multiple high-profile films such as The Divergent Trilogy (Divergent, Insurgent, and Allegiant), Downton Abbey, How It Ends, and The Time Traveler’s Wife.

In the series, Theo’s character, Eddie, inherits his father’s large estate before discovering that it is actually a marijuana empire.

Guy Ritchie is the man behind the creation of The Gentlemen TV series and he will also direct the first two episodes. When talking about the new series, Guy said “The world of ‘The Gentlemen’ is a little bit of me, I’m thrilled that with Netflix, Miramax and Moonage we have this opportunity to inhabit it once again.

‘We’re looking forward to bringing fans back into that world, introducing new characters and their stories and I am excited to be doing it with this extremely talented cast.’ 

‘The Gentlemen’ is expected to be released towards the end of 2023 and we are sure that it will be an extremely popular series but, for now, we are more than happy to simply admire the 1962 Austin Healey 3000 being driven around the beautiful Badminton Estate.

The full story and images can be seen here.