Taking the beautiful and adding more muscle
The new 2021 Ferrari Portofino M is an evolution of the popular Portofino 2+ GT Spider
The Portofino M uses a powertrain from the same V8 family that has won the International Engine of the Year Awards. Four years in a row. And it has added more power. 20hp more now brings the numbers up to 620hp at 7,500 rpm. This happens because of some very heavy work in a lot of small areas. Because they now have a speed sensor on the turbocharger turbine, for example, they can get 5,000 rpm more our of the spinning little thing. New cam profiles allow increased valve lift and optimized combustion chamber filling. Lots of little things work together to allow significant improvements.
A completely new 8-speed gearbox is there to take the power from the heart of the new Ferrari out to the world. The Portofinos had 7-speed boxes. The new box uses dual-clutch oil bath architecture with longer gear ratios and the introduction of a mechanical reverse gear. Steeper torque curves allow much quicker runs up through the power while towards the top longer gear ratios help with cruising consumption. A new clutch module delivers 35% more torque while also being 20% smaller. A more powerful ECU allows next-level transmission software strategy to be used and, honestly, almost thought of and prepared before you ask for it. And the size and weight drop allowed the engineers to put the center of gravity a little lower, which of course helps improve handling. This is a big deal, you will see these advantages in more Ferraris soon.
The Manettino on the Portofino M has Race Mode. This is a first for a GT spider from Ferrari. Race Mode gives you settings that they say “maximize driving pleasure” thanks to the introduction of the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer. Ideally, this means you can crank the car sideways like we did in, say, the Pista. So yes, a big deal when you realize that this started as the stylish, comfortable, accessible Portofino.
So yes it has to look a bit more…serious that the pretty Portofino while still having that twin should of being both a real coupe and a real spider depending on whether the Retractable Hard Top is up or down. At the front, the Portofino M has more imposing and more sculpted air intakes. The air that comes from the front is now shaped and extracted more quickly thanks to a new air vent at around the height of the wheel arches. Towards the back, the rear diffuser is now separate from the bumpers. This means you can order it in something like carbon fiber if you want yet more individuality to the car. Everything is pulled together visually with details such as a front bumper slash that continues its flow towards the flanks. A nod to the side scallop of the original Portofino.
And M? It stands for Modificata. Ferrari uses it for cars that have “undergone an evolution that has significantly boosted their performance.”
One extra. The Ferrari online launch of the new Portofino M was awesome. If they put the whole thing out online, check it out. Particularly the welcome of Enrico Galliera They make you want to go out and feel the world again. This video isn’t it, but it is still cool.
The in-Italy price is just over 200,000 Euro. It is expected to arrive in left hand drive European markets in the second quarter of 2021.
Ferrari Portofino M
Technical Specifications
ENGINE
Type V8 – 90° turbo
Overall displacement 3855 cc
Bore and stroke 86.5 mm x 82 mm
Max. power output* 456 kW (620 cv) at 5750 – 7500 rpm.
Max. torque 760 Nm at 3000 ÷ 5750 rpm.
Max. rpm 7500 rpm.
Compression ratio 9.45:1
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTS
Length 4594 mm
Width 1938 mm (2020 with wing mirrors open)
Height 1318 mm
Wheelbase 2670 mm
Front track 1633 mm
Rear track 1635 mm
Kerb weight** 1664 kg
Dry weight** 1545 kg
Dry weight/power 2.49 kg/cv
Boot capacity 292 litres
Fuel tank capacity 80 l
TYRES AND WHEEL RIMS
Front 245/35 ZR20; 8J x 20”
Rear 285/35 ZR20; 10J x 20”
BRAKES
Front 390 mm x 34 mm
Rear 360 mm x 32 mm
TRANSMISSION AND GEARBOX
8-speed F1 dual-clutch gearbox
Electronic controls EPS, VDC, ABS con EBD, F1-TCS, E-Diff3, SSC 6.0, FDE, SCM-E Frs
Performance
0-100 km/h 3.45 s
0-200 km/h 9.8 s
Max. speed` > 320 km/h
FUEL CONSUMPTION AND CO2 EMISSIONS
Undergoing homologation (WLTC cycle)
* With 98 RON fuel
** With optional content