Part of progress is the ability to identify your successes and renew them for the future. This philosophy is the bedrock for many car manufacturers – often centering on significant improvements to a vehicle’s specs – some call it an evolution, others call it a face-lift. Ferrari call it Modificata and grace the updated model with an ‘M’.
Previous models to have received the M treatment include the endurance racer 512 M and, more recently (and personal favourites) include the Testarossa and the 575 M Maranello. Now there is a new prancing horse to sport the fabled suffix – the Portofino.
Introduced in 2017, the all-new Portofino is considered to be the replacement to the California T – which never quite hit the mark in the Ferrari range – and therefore was received with open arms. The Portofino has become so popular that the Italian marque couldn’t wait to welcome it to the Modificata line.
More than a mere appendage – the M treatment means that the engineering department at Maranello have tasked their best men to tinker with the original Portofino model. A new bumper design for a sportier and more aggressive look and subtle-yet-significant changes on the exterior make the car a lot more attractive.
Performance-wise the new eight-gear dual clutch transmission has shortened gear ratios, and is paired with an 3.9 litre twin turbo V-8 with the near zero response time of the turbo, an improved exhaust system and an additional 21 horsepower that brings the Portofino M to a total of 612 HP. That means zero to 100kph is taken care of in 3.45 seconds – and the time from still to 200kph has been shaved off by an entire second. This great all-rounder entry level Ferrari with a retractable hard top will take you all the way up to a top speed of 320 km/h.
Ferrari’s ‘less is more’ approach comes into the fore with the interior, giving it a more airy feel compared to the predecessor. Personally, our highlight is the five-position ‘Manettino’ (Italian for rotary switch) which adds an additional race mode to the car, giving that desirable Formula 1 feel to the steering wheel.
The combination of technology, performance, every day usability and pure majestic Italian styling comes together to make this one of the best cars ever produced by Ferrari starting at AED 940K before optimal extras. This is truly a comfortable super car for the 21st century.
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