RE: 2021 Ferrari Portofino M | PH Review

RE: 2021 Ferrari Portofino M | PH Review

Wednesday 23rd June 2021

2021 Ferrari Portofino M | PH Review

The new 620hp Portofino M has a modified brief. How does it play in the UK...



Viewed head on, there is just a hint of Ferrari's last V12 flagship, the F12 Berlinetta, in this new Portofino M. It's the pair of intakes that sit low and wide apart in the bumper, adding menace to the front end. Like the Portofino before it and the California and California T before that, this 2+2 convertible plays a very particular role within Ferrari's model line-up. Those new air intakes, however, are indicative of a slight change in method.

Now with 620hp from the same 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 as the fixed-roof Roma, the Portofino M is 20hp more powerful than the model it replaces. M stands for 'modificata', a reference to the tweaks and upgrades that have been made to make this a more sporting car than the one that came before it. With their folding hardtops, generous boots, comfortable suspension tuning and vestigial rear seats, the California and Portofino models are all aimed at everyday use, as well as buyers who have never owned a Ferrari before. But with this latest in the series, the Prancing Horse has lifted one blinker to also eye up more enthusiastic drivers.

Without wanting to make the car any more demanding in daily driving or more intimidating for customers who might be new to the marque, Ferrari set out to lend its droptop grand tourer some of the precision and response that earlier models lacked. More of the Fiorano, but no less of the swanky Italian coastal town that gave this car its name.


Around half of California and Portofino buyers hadn't owned any Ferrari before. While some would move on to mid-engined or V12 models having had their first taste of Maranello, just as many would stick with the marque's more laidback offerings. Along with the Roma, the Portofino M is the entry-point to new Ferraris, undercutting the F8 Spider by a full £50,000.

But where might its newfound dynamism come from? The Manettino driving mode switch now has five positions, the fifth being a Race mode. It is in that setting that Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer is engaged, which the company describes as 'a lateral dynamics control system that uses Ferrari software to adjust the hydraulic brake pressure at the callipers on all four wheels.' So it nibbles the brakes as you drive through and out of corners, making the car's limit handling feel more predictable.

Elsewhere there's an eight rather than seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. It's a new transmission that changes gears even more rapidly while also improving fuel consumption. Ferrari has made styling tweaks inside and out, while a gasoline particulate filter cleans up the car's emissions but robs it of some power. To more than win back the horsepower losses, Ferrari's powertrain engineers increased valve lift, enabled the turbos to spin faster and toyed with spray patterns - this wasn't merely a case of ramping up boost pressures.


With its powered folding roof, the Portofino M is 100kg heavier than the Roma coupe it shares a platform and powertrain with. As the hardtop folds or unfurls itself, and as it drops into the boot or thumps back down onto the windscreen header rail, you feel the entire car jostle and wriggle with the effort of it all. In that moment, you realise what a burden it is for any sporting car to carry on its back a roof like this one, all that extra weight sure to be felt at every braking point and each time you turn the wheel.

The cabin itself is airy, though the rear seats are only any good for small children. While the Roma's interior looks right up to date with its two great arcs of dashboard and the portrait touchscreen display that lives between them, the Portofino M's interior belongs to a Ferrari design language that was introduced more than a decade ago when the 458 Italia was new, and it feels dated because of it.

What I noticed right away upon firing the V8 and pulling away for the first time is how good all-round visibility is on board the Portofino M. The scuttle is relatively low, meaning you observe the road clearly ahead of you, while even with the roof in position you see plenty over your shoulders. The low speed ride is comfortable and the steering light, all of which makes the car effortless in normal use. Only the brake pedal, which seems to respond with nothing at all right up until it responds with everything, making the car tricky to bring to a halt smoothly, undermines how easy it is to drive through town.


That pliant ride never deserts you, at least not until you switch into Sport or Race mode. Even then, as has become a reflex while driving these modern Ferraris, you press the Bumpy Road mode button to switch the adaptive dampers back to a more relaxed state, which works so brilliantly on our roads.

That's when you find the supple chassis that deals well with bumps, but while keeping the mass of the car in check over a rising and falling road. The Portofino M has real body control, the kind that keeps the sump away from the surface of the road when you rattle through a sharp compression, but while marshalling the weight over crests. This, at long last, is the sort of performance car you can really chase along a B-road, feeling confident at its wheel.

Talking of which, the steering is measured and natural in its rate of response. Though it doesn't flood your fingertips with messages, it isn't overly light or exaggeratedly responsive like some Ferrari systems have been in recent times, allowing you to lean hard on the front axle from the first mile onwards. All of that combined means this is a droptop grand tourer that stands up to being thrashed along a back road, rather than recoiling at the prospect.


And the engine? It's mightier than ever, still one of the most responsive turbocharged engines in production. Ferrari claims there is zero lag. It seems like marketing puff, but I find it buy into it. The force of the acceleration is fearsome, the way the torque is delivered - a little more with each new gear - meaning that shove doesn't seem to wane as you shift up through the ratios. There is just a little bit of richness in this car's soundtrack, but not the soaring musicality I would like. At least the eight-speed gearbox is close to flawless, managing to be smooth and refined in normal driving, then sharp and responsive in manual mode.

A significant step forward as a driver's car, then, and yet certain truths remain inalienable. A topless car will always be less rigid than a fixed-roof one, for instance. There is some wobble and shimmy in the Portofino M's structure across an uneven road, but less than you'd find in an F8 Spider. For another, a convertible car will invariably be heavier than a coupe one. Those two things mean an enthusiastic driver would still be far better served by the Roma, or better still the F8 Tributo.

A hint of the F12 Berlinetta? Perhaps. But no more than that.


SPECIFICATION | FERRARI PORTOFINO M

Engine: 3,855cc, V8, twin-turbo
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 620@5,750-7,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 583@3,000-5,750rpm
0-62mph: 3.5 secs
Top speed: 199mph
Weight: 1,664kg (kerb)
MPG: 25 (WLTP)
CO2: 256g/km (WLTP)
Price: £175,360












Author
Discussion

ManyMotors

Original Poster:

626 posts

97 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
Of course, some will complain that this car is still a Maserati. But if you've been reading the reviews beginning with the California, it is a Ferrari. That means a huge combination of options to make it yours along with a vehicular experience delivered as only Maranello can. And you don't want to look like your average Club slob in an MB SL.

Now only if it were part Prius. Oh! Something like that is set for June 24.

Number9

91 posts

202 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
Does it come with a Ferrari cushion so that driver can see over the steering wheel?

Kipsrs

422 posts

48 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
Side view. . Start at the nose and slowly work your way back. . . Is it me or is there a big bulge that suddenly appears over the rear wheels? Quite a good looker up to that point. . IMHO!!!
And, it does look like the driver could do with a cushion. . . biggrin

British Beef

2,191 posts

164 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all

I wonder why Ferrari have not cashed in on the manual gearbox value being placed on cars. Like a 599 GTB with a manual gearbox is worth 300%-400% of a regular GTB.

If they started offering it an option, would people buy it for "nostalgic motoring" ?

If I was in the market for this sort of car, top down open gate gearbox would be heaven.

The geartrains are now so efficient, fast and flawless, that adding some human interaction back in now, seems to me a logical step. I suspect I might be in the minority, hence no business case (but Porsche is catering for it with manual as GT3 option).

ClaphamBoxS

324 posts

63 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
Number9 said:
Does it come with a Ferrari cushion so that driver can see over the steering wheel?
It does…but it has to be N rated…and at a cost of £17000 ..plus VAT…only available at Ferrari dealers…obviously…

Should the cushion require any ‘ maintenance ‘ such as plumping it will need to be returned to the dealer who will carry out said ‘plumping’ at a cost…£5000 ….plus VAT..

Should ‘Sir’ even consider using a non Ferrari cushion….and Sir has an extended warranty?..you can see where this is going can’t you…

g3org3y

20,606 posts

190 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
There's a lot going on on that steering wheel.



Is there a big advantage of this set up over normal stalks?

Boom78

1,193 posts

47 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
No doubt it’s a lovely car to drive and well done to anyone who is lucky enough to own one but I can’t help but think that Ferrari interiors have lost their way, too complex, muddled, almost Halfords boy racer! I still don’t understand why passengers get screens in front of them showing combinations of revs, g-force or music! What’s wrong with a glove box wink

Manic Street Sleeper

996 posts

40 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
Passenger display is an (expensive) option - best avoided.

threespires

4,289 posts

210 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
Yawn. Another week, another new McL.
Whoops, I got it wrong.
A new Ferrari! Fantastic. Fabulous. Forza Ferrari................

varsas

4,004 posts

201 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
g3org3y said:
There's a lot going on on that steering wheel.



Is there a big advantage of this set up over normal stalks?
I always assumed it was to make space for better gear shift paddles?

British Beef

2,191 posts

164 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
varsas said:
g3org3y said:
There's a lot going on on that steering wheel.



Is there a big advantage of this set up over normal stalks?
I always assumed it was to make space for better gear shift paddles?
IMO it would look far better with conventional stalks, and a nice simple wheel with a horn.

Radec

3,772 posts

46 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all


I like his cheeky little smile.

Six Potter

5,983 posts

212 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
It might only be the entry level Ferrari but more than enough car for me, I'd love one. Could imagine cruising about in that in summer with the lid down, or on some Euro road trip, nice. Looks good without being OTT, and 620 brake seems more than ample.

Fishlegs

2,981 posts

138 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
Entry level or not, it's far nicer looking than the top end stuff.

Electronicpants

2,623 posts

187 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
Looking forward to the more affordable on the monthlies, M Sport Portofino.

Vee12V

1,328 posts

159 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
British Beef said:
I wonder why Ferrari have not cashed in on the manual gearbox value being placed on cars. Like a 599 GTB with a manual gearbox is worth 300%-400% of a regular GTB.

If they started offering it an option, would people buy it for "nostalgic motoring" ?

If I was in the market for this sort of car, top down open gate gearbox would be heaven.

The geartrains are now so efficient, fast and flawless, that adding some human interaction back in now, seems to me a logical step. I suspect I might be in the minority, hence no business case (but Porsche is catering for it with manual as GT3 option).
Even if they would want to do this (which they won't), their engines don't suit a manual setup. Even those that drove one of the manual 599s said this.

LaurasOtherHalf

21,429 posts

195 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
Number9 said:
Does it come with a Ferrari cushion so that driver can see over the steering wheel?
I was gonna say, if as in the article that's a low scuttle it must be a dwarf driving it!

Six Potter

5,983 posts

212 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
LaurasOtherHalf said:
Number9 said:
Does it come with a Ferrari cushion so that driver can see over the steering wheel?
I was gonna say, if as in the article that's a low scuttle it must be a dwarf driving it!
I noticed that too, in the image from the front his eye level seems to be barely above the top of the steering wheel! In another image he seems to be tilting his head back in a bid to raise his eye level and get a better view of the road ahead.

SturdyHSV

10,082 posts

166 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
Radec said:


I like his cheeky little smile.
Following on from the 'cushion required' comments earlier, I thought this was going to be a comment about the bald midget driving it in this shot, turns out it's just the seat hehe

RSchneider

215 posts

163 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2021
quotequote all
That thing has so much metal in the back that in reality it looks like a sideboard on wheels. Especially funny if a smaller person drives it - also visible on the photos above. In short it is totally unsexy.