Think Ferrari’s new Roma has been getting all the attention of late? Well, the entry-level Portofino convertible has now received some love in the form of the Portofino M. This revised drop-top serves to enhance the model that originally launched three years ago now. Tweaks inside and out aim to keep this elegant Prancing Horse competitive.
The Ferrari Portofino M certainly appears a more focused variant of the open-top sports car. A reprofiled front bumper presents an aggressive face to the world, while new taught lines create a muscular effect down its length. It still retains an air of sophistication, but it appears a more serious machine than when initially launched.
The real headlines come from beneath the skin of this Italian Stallion, with its twin-turbocharged 3.9-litre V8 engine now producing 612bhp. That’s 20bhp more than before and a pretty considerable total considering that this is the baby of Ferrari’s range. Ferrari has also managed this power increase despite making alterations for new Euro emissions regulations.
Connecting that V8 to the rear wheels is a new eight-speed automatic transmission, something that replaces the familiar seven-speed. According to Ferrari, the clutch is smaller and lighter, not to mention can handle 35% more torque than before. Smoother shifts are a given, and expect even faster responses from the wheel-mounted paddles. The Portofino M also gets the full Ferrari manettino experience with multiple driver modes.
This refreshed Ferrari will now race from a standstill to 62mph in just 3.45 seconds and complete 0-124mph in 9.8 seconds. That is not bad for the ‘slowest’ Ferrari on sale today!
Pricing for the Ferrari Portofino M starts at a hefty £188,000 and those who put down a deposit today can expect their car to arrive from Italy in 2021.
Keyword: Ferrari Portofino M launches with more powerful V8 engine