Business Traveller (Middle East)
A sports car for all occasions
The all-new Ferrari Portofino M, a reinvention of a classic sports coupe, promises comfort, performance, style and surprising versatility
Before I start, let’s get one thing straight; I’m no Jeremy Clarkson, so when I was asked to review the new Ferrari Portofino M, I thought long and hard about what I could bring to the table. After I’d pictured myself cruising along Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road (SZR), hair blowing in the wind, I did some quick research. The Portofino M guarantees an “unprecedented combination of authentic GT performance, driving pleasure, agility and exceptional versatility in everyday driving context”. Now, this appealed. While I am certainly not a petrol head who rattles off brake horsepower and torque comparisons like there’s no tomorrow (yawn), I have been lucky enough to have driven a variety of so-called ‘luxury’ cars during my time and have learned very quickly what to look for – and what to avoid – in a sporty little number.
Everyday drivability and versatility is certainly up there, so too are style, but not over substance – it’s got to look good, but above all, quality of build and engineering counts. Fast acceleration, agility and reactive steering for precise driving are crucial (to make a fast getaway from undesirable drivers), so too are a comfortable drive at all speeds and of course, user friendliness – there are so many buttons and levers to get to grips with these days, right?
Well, I’m happy to report that the Ferrari Portofino M ticks all of these boxes, hence why it is pitched as a touring car, designed for ‘en plein air’ driving. It’s a car that you drive for pleasure, whether you are embarking on a long journey, popping to the shops or really have nowhere to go in particular, but want to enjoy the experience.
In essence, it’s a practical sports car that adapts to all occasions and is comfortable in all circumstances. The Portofino M is just as happy in Comfort mode, navigating streets and highways at lower speeds during the Dubai rush hour as it is in Sports mode, which simply put, is designed for sporty driving.
The seats are comfortable, and the sensors/radars not only make it easy to park, but make it perfectly clear when not to change lanes – which is rather handy when you are cocooned in the sumptuous classic Ferrari red seats, so low you are an inch from the tarmac, surrounded by Land Cruisers double your height. The controls are really easy to use too. We’re talking a click on the right lever to drive, a click on both levers to hit neutral and a press of the R button to reverse. The parking brake is also an easy-to-reach switch.
In terms of practicalities, the Satellite Navigation is good, the air-conditioning is super efficient and almost instant when you switch on the engine, the boot fits a
BACKGROUND
The Ferrari Portofino M, the evolution of the Prancing Horse’s 2+ GT spider, the Ferrari Portofino, was launched in September 2020. In a move unprecedented in the Maranello marque’s 70-year-plus history, the new car’s premiere took place entirely online and as the first Ferrari to be presented in the wake of the company’s temporary closure due to COVID-19, it became a symbol of a voyage of rediscovery. It marked the (re)starting point for Prancing Horse’s pursuit of innovation while fully respecting its heritage, passion and constant search for perfection. All of these values are reflected in the new Portofino M. In fact, the ‘M’ in its moniker stands for ‘Modificata’, which in Ferrari nomenclature refers to cars that have undergone an evolution that has significantly boosted their performance.
There is no shortage of technical innovation in the evolution of the Ferrari Portofino, the most notable being its redesigned powertrain, a brand-new eight-speed gearbox and the fiveposition Manettino that includes a Race mode, an absolute first for a Maranello GT spider. Sportier in character than its predecessor, it also delivers superior handling, yet on-board comfort has been enhanced, courtesy of specific new optional features such as ADAS, and ventilated and heated seats.
THE POWERTRAIN
The Ferrari Portofino M’s 3855cc engine belongs to the V8 turbo family voted ‘International Engine of the Year’ on four consecutive occasions (2016-2019). The power unit can punch out 620 cv at 7,500 rpm, 20 cv more than the Ferrari Portofino. To achieve these performance levels, the Ferrari engineers used new cam profiles to increase valve lift and optimise combustion chamber filling. A speed sensor was also added to the turbocharger assembly to measure the turbine revolutions. This in turn allowed the maximum revolutions per minute of the turbine to be increased by 5,000 rpm. Lastly, to comply with the strictest pollution emissions standards, a Gasoline Particulate Filter has been included in the exhaust system. The GPF allows the car to comply with the strictest European anti-pollution standards (Euro-6D) without compromising driving pleasure.
THE FIVE-POSITION MANETTINO
The aim of the five-position Manettino, a first on a Prancing Horse GT spider, is to make the Ferrari Portofino M’s handling and grip even more accessible by extending the setting ranges still further with the introduction of the Race position. Supported by the introduction of the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer, that position focuses on maximising driving pleasure. The five positions and their performance goals are:
large suitcase, and the M is easy to park, even with a low wraparound front bumper, which has been sculpted to accentuate its dynamic profile, and for performance (air intakes), of course.
At the flick of another switch, you activate the the Retractable Hard Top (RHT), the signature feature of all the Prancing Horse’s convertibles, so you can actually let your hair blow in the wind as you glide, with grunt, on the aforementioned SZR.
And let me tell you, it’s a head turner, if that’s what you’re into. It also guarantees you a VIP parking spot outside any hotel you might visit. But be warned, the valet parking team will fight amongst themselves to park it and find any excuse to move it, even if it’s not convenient for you, because when you drive a Ferrari, everyone wants to get their hands on it. Don’t be surprised to see people you don’t know draped on the bonnet taking selfies for their Instagram account when they think you’re not looking.
For all the technical details, check out the opposite page. There’s plenty there to impress, but I do have to point out two reasons why I might be reticent to purchase the Portofino M. Actually, there are three reasons, the first being that at AED895,000 (US$244,000), I can’t afford one. Secondly, this car was not made with petite women in mind. I’m about 157cm, which made it difficult to see over the wheel in certain situations, including steering in restricted/narrow spaces such as multi-story car parks with ascending and descending bends. I did wonder if Ferrari makes a booster seat, or perhaps they could re-design the seat, so it pops up a little higher next time?
Lastly, and this is the real deal maker or breaker for me. There was no cup holder, so where would I put my skinny flat white while driving to work? A car this versatile and designed for touring needs to think about driver refreshments. Just sayin’.