Ferrari unveiled the 2026 Amalfi on July 1, 2025, a front-mid-engine V8 2+ coupé that replaces the Roma as the brand’s entry-level grand tourer. Named after Italy’s picturesque Amalfi Coast, this sleek evolution blends enhanced performance, updated styling, and a tech-rich interior while retaining the Roma’s elegant proportions. With a 631-hp twin-turbo V8, a redesigned front fascia, and the return of physical steering wheel buttons, the Amalfi aims to balance daily usability with Ferrari’s signature sportiness. Set to hit European roads in early 2026 with a starting price around €240,000 ($283,000), it competes with the Aston Martin Vanquish and Bentley Continental GT. This article explores the Amalfi’s features, performance, and market context, drawing on insights from motor1.com and related sources.
Design: Evolving the Roma’s Elegance
The 2026 Ferrari Amalfi refines the Roma’s aesthetic with a modernized front end featuring Ferrari’s “sharknose” design, seen on the SF90 and 12Cilindri, characterized by a black bar connecting sleek LED headlights, per motor1.com. The grille-less fascia emphasizes minimalist lines and geometric volumes, while flush door handles and a fastback roofline maintain the Roma’s aerodynamic silhouette, per zigwheels.com. At the rear, quad LED taillights are linked by a black trim piece, with an active spoiler generating up to 242 pounds of downforce at 155 mph, per autoguide.com.
Available in vibrant colors like Verde Costiera (azure green), the Amalfi exudes sophistication, per caranddriver.com. X post @MotorBeam praised its “updated aerodynamics,” noting the aggressive diffuser and integrated spoiler, while @therealautoblog called it “another Italian beauty,” highlighting its seductive lines. However, some, like Top Gear, found the front’s expression “tricky-to-read” compared to the Roma’s distinct look, per topgear.com.
Interior: Buttons Return, Tech Upgrades
The Amalfi’s interior addresses a major Roma critique by replacing touch-capacitive steering wheel controls with physical buttons, a move hailed by Jalopnik as a win for usability, per jalopnik.com. A 10.25-inch central touchscreen supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, paired with a 15.6-inch digital driver’s display and an 8.8-inch passenger screen for real-time performance data, per zigwheels.com. The dual-cockpit layout, crafted in milled aluminum, enhances spaciousness, while a 14-speaker Burmester sound system and optional comfort seats with massage and ventilation add luxury, per hagerty.com.
X post @carwowuk lauded the “modernized interior,” but @MotorTrend noted the cabin’s sporty yet practical design suits daily driving, per motortrend.com. The return of physical controls, akin to Volkswagen’s reversal from touch-sensitive switchgear, was a fan favorite, per manofmany.com. However, some X users like @AutoSpies wished for softer materials to match the $283,000 price, per X posts.
Performance: Enhanced V8 Power
At its core, the Amalfi retains the Roma’s 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 from the F154 family, now tuned to deliver 631 hp (640 cv) and 561 lb-ft (760 Nm) of torque, a 19-hp increase, per caranddriver.com. Upgraded turbochargers spinning to 171,000 rpm, a lighter camshaft (down 2.9 pounds), and a new ECU sharpen throttle response, per autoguide.com. The eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, driving the rear wheels, ensures smoother shifts, hitting 0-62 mph in 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 199 mph, per motor1.com.
Brake-by-wire technology, borrowed from the 296 GTB, and Side Slip Control 6.1 enhance handling, while a new exhaust silencer maintains Ferrari’s signature sound within noise regulations, per autotrader.co.uk. X post @autocarindiamag noted the “640hp V8’s thrilling performance,” though @BBC_TopGear questioned if the modest power bump matches rivals like the 650-hp Aston Martin Vantage, per topgear.com.
Safety and Technology
The Amalfi incorporates advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist, ensuring safety without compromising performance, per citymagazine.si. ABS Evo and aerodynamic tweaks, like air-channeling headlight slashes, improve stability, per topgear.com. Ferrari’s seven-year maintenance program is standard, per industryleadersmagazine.com. While Euro NCAP ratings are pending, the Roma’s robust structure suggests strong safety credentials, per motor1.com.
Pricing and Availability
The Amalfi starts at €240,000 ($283,000) in Europe, with some sources estimating €260,000 ($305,000) for higher trims, per topgear.com. U.S. pricing is expected near $300,000, reflecting inflation and tariffs over the Roma’s $247,308 base, per motor1.com. Production begins late 2025, with European deliveries in Q1 2026 and U.S. sales as a 2027 model, per caranddriver.com. Australian arrivals are slated for Q3-4 2026, per manofmany.com. A convertible Amalfi Spider is likely, given Ferrari’s trademark filing, per motor1.com.
Competitive Landscape
The Amalfi competes in the luxury grand tourer segment:
- Aston Martin Vanquish: Offers 650 hp and a 3.2-second 0-62 mph time for $333,000, with a plusher interior but less brand cachet, per topgear.com.
- Bentley Continental GT: Delivers 626 hp (hybrid) and unmatched luxury for $320,000, but lacks Ferrari’s agility, per caranddriver.com.
- Porsche 911 Turbo: Expected to exceed 700 hp in 2026, with a 2.9-second 0-62 mph sprint, priced around $230,000, but less exclusive, per topgear.com.
The Amalfi’s 631 hp and elegant design position it as a balanced GT, though its power trails the Vantage and 911 Turbo, per @carwowuk.
Ferrari’s Strategy and Market Context
The Amalfi, unveiled at a lavish Amalfi Coast event for 1,000 clients, reinforces Ferrari’s commitment to petrol-powered GTs ahead of its first EV in 2026, per reuters.com. Built on the Roma’s platform, it follows Ferrari’s tradition of evolutionary updates, like the FF-to-Lusso and 488-to-F8 transitions, per motortrend.com. The Roma Spider continues alongside the Amalfi until a convertible variant arrives, per indiatvnews.com.
Ferrari’s 2025 lineup, including the 296 Speciale and 12Cilindri, balances combustion and hybrid models, with the Amalfi as the “most accessible” V8 offering, per ferrari.com. Tariff pressures and rare-earth export limits from China could impact costs, per finance.yahoo.com, but Ferrari’s Maranello production mitigates risks. X post @MotorTrend called it a “worthy Roma successor,” while @BBC_TopGear questioned its distinction from the Roma, per topgear.com.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Pros:
- Performance: 631-hp V8 delivers 0-62 mph in 3.3 seconds, with sharp handling via Side Slip Control 6.1, per citymagazine.si.
- Design: Sleek sharknose styling and Verde Costiera paint exude elegance, per industryleadersmagazine.com.
- Interior: Physical buttons, Burmester audio, and triple displays enhance usability and luxury, per zigwheels.com.
- Daily Usability: Comfort features and ADAS make it versatile, per hagerty.com.
Cons:
- Modest Power Gain: Only 19 hp over the Roma, trailing rivals like the 911 Turbo, per topgear.com.
- Price: $283,000-$300,000 starting cost limits accessibility, per motor1.com.
- Subtle Redesign: Front fascia changes may feel too similar to the Roma, per topgear.com.
Who’s It For?
The Amalfi targets affluent buyers seeking a daily-drivable Ferrari with GT elegance over track-focused aggression. Starting at $283,000, it appeals to enthusiasts valuing V8 purity and modern tech, competing with the Vanquish for style-conscious buyers, per caranddriver.com. Track purists may prefer the 296 GTB, while EV adopters await Ferrari’s 2026 electric model, per reuters.com.
Conclusion
The 2026 Ferrari Amalfi, unveiled July 1, 2025, succeeds the Roma with a refined 631-hp twin-turbo V8, sharknose styling, and a tech-forward interior featuring physical buttons. Priced from €240,000 ($283,000), it offers 0-62 mph in 3.3 seconds and a 199-mph top speed, blending grand tourer comfort with Ferrari’s performance heritage. While its modest power bump and Roma-like design draw minor criticism, the Amalfi’s advanced ADAS, Burmester audio, and brake-by-wire tech make it a compelling rival to the Aston Martin Vanquish and Bentley Continental GT. Set for 2026 deliveries, the Amalfi reinforces Ferrari’s petrol-powered legacy before its 2026 EV debut, captivating enthusiasts with Italian elegance and V8 thrill.
