Taking advantage of the excitement surrounding the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, Italian automaker Ferrari chose this time of year to unveil its latest creation to the Canadian market, the stunning Amalfi Spider roadster.

The Amalfi replaces the Roma, but until now it had only been offered as a coupe. This time, as seen at Ferrari of Quebec on Jean-Talon Street in Montreal, the Spider version of the Amalfi serves as its convertible counterpart, a 2+2 equipped with a soft top that can open in less than 14 seconds, even at speeds of up to 60 km/h.

As a result, many Ferrari clients and enthusiasts gathered on Thursday evening, ahead of the Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix, at Ferrari of Quebec to see the new car in person. For the occasion, Gad Bitton, President and CEO of Holland Automotive of Montreal, which operates this unique dealership, opened the evening by introducing Luca Zanetti, President of Ferrari North America, who quickly praised this part of the country that gave birth to the legendary Gilles Villeneuve, before offering a brief presentation of the new car.

Mr. Zanetti then welcomed to the microphone some key figures from Ferrari's current world, beginning with Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc. The motorsport star was accompanied by Fred Vasseur, the team's principal. Naturally, both men were quick to praise Quebec hospitality before offering a few technical comments about Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, where Sunday's Formula 1 World Championship race was set to take place.

Their appearance concluded, of course, with the unveiling of the stunning car, after which Charles Leclerc took part in a photo session with guests and gave a few interviews before quietly leaving through the back door in preparation for what promised to be a demanding day ahead.

Once the car had been unveiled, guests took time to admire it up close and even sit inside for a few private photos. The Amalfi Spider presented at Ferrari of Quebec wore an all-new paint colour, Rosso Tramonto, which blended beautifully with the setting sun shining through the large showroom windows.

The Amalfi Spider is powered by the same drivetrain as the coupe, namely a 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 631 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and rear-wheel drive. No specific price was mentioned, but an American representative we asked told us that in the United States, the car would start at just over US$250,000.

(Photos by Éric Descarries)