Ferrari Amalfi marks its regional launch in Kuala Lumpur

The Ferrari Amalfi, the brand's front-mid-engined 2+ coupe that directly succeeds the Roma, has made its regional debut in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

The car's name of course pays homage to Italy's stunning Amalfi Coast, and was chosen to reflect that focus on beauty and heritage. But what exactly is the Ferrari Amalfi? Sieve through Ferrari's performance-focused jargon, and the key takeaway is that the Amalfi is the brand's most lifestyle-leaning car (expectedly, also the entry-point price-wise into Ferrari ownership), with an added emphasis on everyday usability. As Ferrari puts it, it is "designed for those who want to enjoy sporty driving without sacrificing comfort and style". 

The Amalfi has been designed for a more sculpted and modern form, informed both by improved aerodynamic performance as well as sleek monolithic surfaces

While the car's design certainly can be visually traced back to the Roma, here it has been reinterpreted for a more sculpted and modern form. There are sharp lines and geometric volumes that create a more monolithic-looking body, while the front dispenses with a traditional grille. Instead, there's a dark recessed band that houses the integrated sensors, as well as the headlights. Cooling requirements are handles by intakes lower down toward the front lip, as well as air inlets hiding above the head lights. 

At the rear of the car, there's a strong character line that wraps around the entire volume. Like the front, the taillights are housed discreetly within a black volume. There's also a wide and functional diffuser, as well as a redesigned active spoiler. 

Also particularly eye-catching is the car's launch colour - Verde Costiera. According to Ferrari, it is "a brilliant teal green inspired by the reflections of the sea along the Amalfi coast". 

The cabin sees a further evolution of the brand's HMI - a simplified design makes for a cleaner and more contemporary environment

Inside, the focus on monolithic sleekness continues. For example, the dashboard sees the instrument cluster and air vents fused into a single block (a first for the brand). The sculpted and suspended central tunnel, milled from a block of anodised aluminium, houses all the essential elements like the gear selector cate, key slot, wireless charging pad, and secondary controls. 

The cabin adopts the same dual-cockpit layout as the Roma - the cocoon that each front passenger occupies is linked in the middle by the 10.25-inch central touchscreen display, now moved further downward to improve ergonomic access and reduce visual obstruction. More relevantly, there's also an evolution of the brand's HMI (Human-Machine Interface). The steering wheel sees the return of physical controls, while the 15.6-inch digital instrument cluster provides all the necessary driving information. There's additionally an 8.8-inch passenger display that shows parameters including engine revs and G-forces. 

Power from the twin-turbo V8 has been bumped up to 631bhp and 760Nm of torque

Central to the Amalfi's performance credentials is the 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 that sits under its elongated bonnet. It's the same V8 engine that has seen duty in many of the brand's other models (yes, including the Roma), but here power stands at 631bhp and 760Nm of torque (a power bump of 20bhp compared to the Roma). This improved performance is effected through an improved turbocharging management system, as well as the new engine control until already used on models like the 296 GTB, Purosangue and 12Cilindri. This means that despite it's positioning as a more 'laid-back' sort of Ferrari, the Amalfi still delivers scintillating acceleration - it'll do 0-100km/h in 3.3 seconds. The gearbox has also be significantly recalibrated. 

The Amalfi also gets the latest evolution in Ferrari vehicle dynamics systems. Brake-by-wire is introduced, as is the latest development of the ABS Evo system. The Electric Power Steering also sees advancements in the grip estimation system, which Ferrari says is 10% faster and more accurate. 

These systems work together with a precisely tailored aerodynamics package. Fairings on the underbody, located in front of the wheels, reduce drag and improve efficiency, while a bypass duct above the head lights improve cooling to the engine bay. A pair of vortex generators generate downforce at the front, while the rear diffuser has been designed for the best balance between downforce and drag. 

For keen Singaporean buyers, the new Amalfi is expected to be launched locally very soon, with deliveries slated to begin towards the later half of the year. While no official pricing has been confirmed, the car is estimated have an starting price in the region of $1.3 million.