Ferrari Portofino

Portofino and Portofino M compared

By our calculation, the Portofino carries about 3.8 kg per kW and the Portofino M about 3.6 kg; the power-to-weight calculator compares them with any rival. Its engine produces 114 kW per litre in the original version and 118 kW per litre in the M.

From California T to Portofino

The California, launched in 2008, had brought many new buyers to Ferrari, and the California T of 2014 added turbocharging. The Portofino kept the formula of a front-mid-engined V8 convertible with a folding hard top and occasional rear seats, but almost every part was new. Ferrari's Styling Centre under Flavio Manzoni designed the body, which is sharper and lower-looking than the California's, with narrow LED headlamps and air channels next to them that guide air through the front wings to reduce drag.

The new chassis uses 12 aluminium alloys. Ferrari reduced the A-pillar from 21 parts to one casting and used hollow castings elsewhere, gaining 35 per cent in torsional stiffness. With savings in the powertrain, dashboard structure, air conditioning and electronics, the kerb weight fell by 80 kg to 1,664 kg. The car is 4,586 mm long, 1,938 mm wide and 1,318 mm high on a 2,670 mm wheelbase. Its predecessor is covered on our Ferrari California T page.

The Portofino was shown on the waterfront at Portofino on 7 and 8 September 2017, then at Maranello, and in July 2018 it received the Red Dot "Best of the Best" design award.

Engine, gearbox and chassis

The F154 V8 has a flat-plane crankshaft and twin turbochargers sitting inside the V. For the Portofino, Ferrari raised the combustion pressure by 10 per cent, fitted new pistons and connecting rods and replaced the exhaust manifolds with one-piece castings. The original car used a seven-speed Magna dual-clutch gearbox with revised software, and an exhaust bypass valve changes the sound with the driving mode. Ferrari said the revised exhaust system almost eliminated turbo lag.

Power goes to the rear wheels through the third-generation electronic differential, E-Diff3. It also adopted electric power steering, first used on the Ferrari 812 Superfast, tuned to sharpen in Sport mode. Magnetorheological dampers (SCM-E) were carried over from the California with new software, so the ride stayed comfortable even though the springs were stiffer. Ferrari quoted a weight distribution of 46 per cent front and 54 per cent rear, and carbon-ceramic brakes were standard.

Roof, cabin and everyday use

The two-piece hard top folds into the boot in about 14 seconds and can be operated at low speed. With the roof up, the Portofino is a quiet coupé. Ferrari claimed the air conditioning was 25 per cent faster and 50 per cent quieter than in the California.

Inside, the driver faces a large central rev counter flanked by two screens. A 10.2-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard handles navigation and media, with Apple CarPlay as an option, and buyers could add a passenger display that shows speed and engine data. Rear legroom grew by 5 cm. The rear seats are still best for children or short trips, and with the roof down the boot shrinks considerably.

Portofino M: what the 2020 update changed

Ferrari revealed the Portofino M on 16 September 2020; "M" stands for Modificata. The changes went further than a facelift:

• Engine: new cam profiles and a turbine speed sensor that lets the turbos spin faster raised power to 456 kW (620 PS), the same as the Roma coupé.
• Gearbox: an eight-speed dual-clutch unit derived from the SF90 Stradale, with a mechanical reverse gear.
• Emissions: a gasoline particulate filter to meet the Euro 6d rules; the rear silencers were removed.
• Electronics: the sixth-generation Side Slip Control and a five-position Manettino that includes a Race mode, which also enables the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer brake-based stability system.
• Design: a new grille with aluminium slats, larger side intakes, a redesigned diffuser and new wheels.

Road tests quoted CO2 emissions of 224 g/km and fuel economy of 28.5 mpg (UK), about 9.9 l/100 km.

Prices and the end of production

At launch the Portofino cost from 215,000 US dollars in the United States (about €182,000 in 2018) and from 25.3 million yen in Japan. In the UK, a Portofino M was listed at 175,345 pounds sterling in 2021, about €204,000 at that year's exchange rate. Ferrari confirmed in March 2023 that production would end soon, and the Ferrari Roma Spider, unveiled that month, became the brand's open V8 grand tourer. It uses a fabric roof, the first on a front-engined Ferrari since 1969.

Rivals and which Portofino to choose

Of this group, the Portofino is the only one with a folding metal roof, while the Bentley offers the most usable rear seats. Our Aston Martin DB11 page covers its closest British rival, and the size comparison tool shows how the Ferrari's length and width compare with others in the catalogue.

Which one to buy:

• Best value: an early Portofino with full Ferrari service history; the seven-speed car is still quick, and the hard top makes it a true all-year car.
• Best to drive: the Portofino M, for the eight-speed gearbox, extra power and Race mode.
• For regular rear passengers: consider a Bentley Continental GTC or a GTC4Lusso coupé instead.

On any used car, check the roof mechanism through several cycles, the condition of the carbon-ceramic discs and the service book. The Ferrari history and the Ferrari catalogue give more background.