By Clive Funizwe

Unveiled a few sunsets ago, the Ferrari Portofino M, which is not short of innovation, is a versatile machine that boasts a 620 cv (456 kW) V8 turbo that is paired to a new 8-Speed gear box. The M stands for “Modificata” and to quote the people at Ferrari… refers to cars that have undergone an evolution that has boosted their performance

What exactly has undergone an evolution?

Performance

The Portofino’s M 3855 cc engine has been optimized to push out 20 cc (15kW) more than the Ferrari Portofino. This means the engine’s output has gone from 441 kW to 456 kW and 760 Nm. The 8-Speed gearbox has also been completely redesigned from the previous 7-Speed version. This is, in fact, the first eight-speed to be installed on an open-top Ferrari and is based on a dual-clutch oil bath architecture with a 20% smaller clutch module and 35% higher torque delivery. The engine and transmission combination sees the Portofino M reach 0-100 km/h in 3.45 seconds before reaching a top speed of 320 km/h.

The promised driving machine

As a result of the innovation and technical updates, the Portofino M guarantees a completely unprecedented combination of authentic GT performance, driving pleasure, agility and exceptional versatility in everyday driving contexts, Ferrari claims.

Said updates also make the Portofino M sportier in character, delivers superior handling and improved comfort thanks to optional features such as ADAS, ventilated and heated seats.

Its design also means that it is the only car on the market that can be rightfully described as an authentic coupe with its top closed and a genuine spider when its open. This is thanks, of course, to the Retractable Hard Top (RHT), the signature feature of all the Prancing Horse’s convertibles