Ferrari has quietly revolutionized its entry-level offering with the new Amalfi, and for driving purists, this might be the most important automotive news of the year. The legendary Italian manufacturer has done something remarkable in today’s horsepower-obsessed market: they’ve focused on refinement over raw power, admitting past mistakes while delivering exactly what enthusiasts have been demanding.
The Amalfi replaces the Roma with a philosophy that should resonate deeply with traditional Ferrari lovers. While competitors like Aston Martin push their Vantage past 650 horsepower and Porsche prepares to breach 700 with the next 911 Turbo, Ferrari has added just 20 horses to their twin-turbo 3.9-liter V8. The result is a more civilized 631 horsepower that propels the Amalfi from zero to 62 mph in 3.3 seconds, reaching a top speed of 199 mph.
This measured approach extends throughout the car’s engineering. Ferrari has retained the naturally aspirated V8’s character while improving responsiveness through lighter camshafts, faster-spinning turbos, and a raised 7,600 rpm redline. The eight-speed dual-clutch transmission sends power exclusively to the rear wheels, maintaining the pure driving dynamics that made Ferrari legendary. There’s no hybrid assistance, no all-wheel drive complexity, just honest rear-wheel drive performance.
The most significant change addresses a complaint that has plagued Ferrari owners since 2019. The company has openly acknowledged that their touch-sensitive control experiment failed spectacularly. Ferrari executives admit they heard “very loudly from clients” about the frustrating haptic interfaces that replaced traditional buttons. The Amalfi marks their return to sanity with proper physical controls, including a beautiful red aluminum start button that feels exactly as it should.
Visually, the Amalfi adopts a more technical appearance that ditches the Roma’s somewhat controversial styling cues. The front end abandons traditional grille work for a cleaner, more purposeful design that prioritizes aerodynamics over anthropomorphic styling. A new three-position active rear spoiler generates up to 240 pounds of downforce at 155 mph, providing genuine functional benefit rather than mere decoration.
Inside, Ferrari has completely reimagined the cabin with a focus on usability. The new 10.25-inch infotainment display uses a sensible landscape orientation, while the dashboard abandons the Roma’s dramatic but impractical waterfall design for something more accommodating. The center console, milled from anodized aluminum, feels substantial and purposeful.
Perhaps most importantly for purists, the Amalfi represents Ferrari’s acknowledgment that more isn’t always better. In an era of thousand-horsepower hypercars and ever-increasing complexity, this car celebrates the fundamental joys of driving. It’s quick enough to thrill, beautiful enough to admire, and honest enough to trust. For enthusiasts who’ve watched Ferrari drift toward technological complexity, the Amalfi feels like a homecoming.
Starting deliveries in early 2026, the Amalfi will likely command a premium over the Roma’s $240,000 starting price, but for purists seeking an authentic Ferrari experience, it may prove worth every penny.
