Ferrari Amalfi: A Swansong to Petrol-Powered Panache
Ferrari has pulled the covers off the Amalfi, its final V8-powered GT before Maranello's inevitable waltz into electric territory. Revealed, appropriately, on the Amalfi Coast, the car is equal parts mechanical romance and strategic manoeuvre—a valedictory statement of combustion before the volts take over. And make no mistake, this isn't just a prettier Roma. It's a machine with a purpose: to remind us that Ferrari still knows exactly how to make your right foot very happy indeed.
Under the bonnet, it's business as usual—and that business is very good. The Amalfi gets a fettled 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 chucking out 640PS at a spirited 7,500rpm. Torque? A stout 760Nm from 3,000 to 5,750rpm. This isn't merely a numbers game; it delivers the kind of throttle response that feels hardwired to your synapses. Paired to the 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox lifted from the SF90, the Amalfi does 0-100km/h in 3.3 seconds and tops out at 320km/h. In short: it'll do the school run in the morning and make you question your sanity by lunch.
The numbers aren't the only thing that's lean. Ferrari has gone on a diet here too, shaving weight via lighter camshafts, redesigned engine bits, and even tweaking the oil viscosity. The result? A dry weight of 1,470kg and a weight-to-power ratio of 2.29 kg/PS. Throw in 50:50 weight distribution and you've got a grand tourer with genuine sporting intent—the kind that doesn't mind swapping Monaco for Magny-Cours.
The chassis tech reads like a greatest hits album. Side Slip Control 6.1 integrates steering, torque, and yaw management into a seamless dynamic ballet. Braking is now handled by Ferrari's ABS Evo and brake-by-wire setup—a system so smart it would probably scold you for braking too early. And then there's the rear active spoiler, which contributes 110kg of downforce at 250km/h. Translation: more grip, less drama.
Visually, the Amalfi is what happens when Ferrari does restraint. The floating wing front-end and recessed fascia nod toward the sharper 12Cilindri rather than the baroque flourishes of the Roma. It's muscular but not brutish, elegant but not coy. The rear end—with its hidden lighting and sculpted taillight bar—hints at futurism without trying too hard. It's a handsome thing, and crucially, it won't look like cosplay when parked next to a Purosangue.
Step inside and it's clear someone at Ferrari finally agreed that touch-sensitive controls were a terrible idea. Out go the maddening capacitive panels of the Roma, in come real buttons and a proper titanium start button. The triple-screen setup includes a 15.6" driver display, 10.25" centre stack, and 8.8" passenger screen—all with wireless CarPlay and Burmester sound. It’s tech-forward without being a tablet showroom.
Comfort hasn't been overlooked either. Optional massaging seats, a front-lift system for clearing speed bumps, and a rear bench for people you don't like very much make it a genuinely usable GT. It's a car for the weekdays as much as the weekends.
Position-wise, the Amalfi replaces the Roma in Ferrari's hierarchy. But more importantly, it sets the tone for what could be the final era of petrol-powered Ferraris. It's priced from around £180,000, which will probably be closer to £220,000 and Ferrari’s usual optional extras list (which includes everything short of your own race team).
Competitors? Think Lamborghini Huracán EVO, Aston Martin Vantage, and McLaren GT. All decent in their own right, but none offer the same blend of sharp dynamics, daily usability, and that indefinable Ferrari magic—the sort of alchemy that makes you take the long way home.
The launch timing is no coincidence. Ferrari's first EV lands in October 2025, with production starting in earnest the following year. The Amalfi is the brand's way of clearing its throat before the big electric aria begins. It's not an afterthought; it's a carefully composed overture.
And here's the kicker: the Amalfi isn't just a goodbye. It's a reminder. A statement that, even as the brand pivots to the future, it hasn't forgotten how to thrill the old-fashioned way—with petrol, pistons, and just a hint of mischief.
Verdict? The Ferrari Amalfi is both a nod to tradition and a flex of modern capability. It's a V8 symphony composed in the key of "while we still can." Not perfect, perhaps. But damned if it isn't memorable.