Ferrari Portofino M unveiled with more power and a new gearbox

KUALA LUMPUR: The Ferrari's most affordable model, Portofino, originally made its debut in 2017, and after three years, its time for the brand's retractable hardtop update. The Italian marque unveiled the all-new Portofino M, which denotes more power and other technological upgrades.

As per the company, it is not a radical overhaul, but it is more an evolution of the outgoing model. Thus it added an M for 'modificata' (modified) to its name instead of bringing a new moniker.

If you think it is a simple modification that you get at a shop near you, no, it is not. There are some fundamental differences between the Portofino Modificata and the Portofino. Let's get into the details.

Externally, the new Portofino has been lightly modified over the standard model. The changes are mainly focused on the front end, which has a redesigned bumper for a sportier and more aggressive appearance.

Coming to the engine part where most of the changes have happened, the Portofino M features a 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing 612 hp, up from the Portofino's 592 hp, while the torque remains the same at 760 Nm. It also has a new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission in place of the seven-speed of the Portofino. The new gearbox has a 20% smaller clutch module and 35% higher torque delivery.

The Ferrari's engineers retuned the exhaust system and camshafts profile to recover more power and the Prancing Horse sound.

With the extra power and extra transmission ratio, the performance of Portofino M has been improved. Though the 0-100 kmph time is almost unchanged (3.45 seconds compared to 3.5), the 200 kmph hit can now be done in 9.8 seconds, a second less than the non-M model.

Another important highlight is an enhanced drive mode selector, which has a new Race option, other than Wet, Comfort, Sport, and ESC-Off.

Enhance Portofino's GT styling, the automaker is also offering new optional bits, including heated and ventilated seats, along with several advanced driver assistance systems. These include adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go function, blind spot, collision warning, lane departure warning, and a surround-view camera.

The deliveries of Portofino M will start in Europe in the second quarter of 2021, priced from €206,000 (roughly RM 1,004,848).

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