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2021 Ferrari Portofino M revealed with more power, new gearbox and a sportier personality

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Sam JeremicThe West Australian
Ferrari Portofino M.
Camera IconFerrari Portofino M. Credit: Supplied

Ferrari has unveiled its new Portofino M in Maranello overnight, with the entry-level drop top gaining more power and other technological upgrades.

The brand says it’s more an evolution of the outgoing Portofino than a radical overhaul, hence adding an M for ‘modificata’ (modified) to its name rather than creating a new moniker.

It gets a new eight-speed dual clutch automatic which is 20 per cent smaller than the box in the outgoing Portofino, while the 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 has been tweaked to bump up power to 456kW — a 15kW jump.

Ferrari Portofino M.
Camera IconFerrari Portofino M. Credit: Supplied

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Torque remains at 760Nm.

Drawing more power from the engine is impressive, given new emission standards meant the fitment of a gasoline particulate filter which affected pressure and overall power.

Ferrari’s engineers had to rework the exhaust system, profile of the cam shafts and more to recover power and — importantly for the Prancing Horse — sound.

Though the 0-100km/h time is essentially unchanged from the Portofino (3.45 seconds compared to 3.5), the Portofino M can hit 200km/h in 9.8 seconds: a whole second faster.

Ferrari Portofino M.
Camera IconFerrari Portofino M. Credit: Supplied

The famous Manettino dial now offers five modes rather than three, including a race and wet mode.

The infotainment system is largely a carry over from the Portofino, as it the hard top roof which takes 15 seconds to open and close.

At the back is a 292 litre boot Ferrari says will fit a golf bag, though the rear seats — which Ferrari says make the Portofino M a great family car — can be folded to improve cargo space.

The overall exterior design doesn’t change too much, save for more aggressive front air intakes and a reworked rear diffuser.

It all helps to make the Portofino M a more sporty proposition than its predecessor, which will help differentiate it from the upcoming Roma coupe.

Ferrari Portofino M.
Camera IconFerrari Portofino M. Credit: Supplied

Ferrari executives stressed the two weren’t the same car with different roofs, pointing out 70 per cent of the duo’s platforms were different and the different suspension tunes between the pair.

The Portofino M is the seventh of Ferrari’s 15 planned new models by 2022, a target the brand says is still on track despite COVID-19 interruptions, with the eighth model launching before the end of this year.

Portofino M deliveries will start in Europe in the second quarter of next year priced from €206,000 (roughly A$333,500), with left-hand markets getting the first look in.

Australian details and pricing will be revealed closer to its local arrival.

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