The 2021 Ferrari Portofino M is everything a Ferrari should be: sexy, powerful, and fast. Its twin-turbo V-8 churns out 612 horsepower—up from 591 in last year’s model—and it should hit 60 mph in the low three-second range. The small back seat and trunk won’t fit much, but practicality has never been a Ferrari selling point.
In 15 seconds, you can stow the retractable hardtop and listen to the roaring exhaust fight the wind for your attention. If open-air driving isn’t your thing, Ferrari offers a Portofino-based coupe in the sub-$250,000 range that might be more to your taste.
ENGINE AND IMPLEMENTATION
Beneath the 2021 Ferrari Portofino M‘s elongated hood sits a twin-turbo 3.9-liter V-8 making 612 horsepower—that’s 21 horses more than the 2020 car managed. As before, the engine sends 561 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels, but it routes it through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission instead of last year’s seven-speed.
The claimed 199-plus-mph top speed and a 60-mph time that we estimate to be in the low-three-second range are actually not what’s most impressive; it’s the unmistakable howl that erupts from the exhaust tips as the Portofino’s tach needle charges toward the engine’s 7500-rpm redline.
We drove the 591-hp Portofino in Italy, where the convertible provided a comfortable ride and remarkable body control thanks to its adaptive dampers.
While its electrically assisted steering delivered satisfying feedback, the setup isn’t as engaging as what Porsche‘s sports cars deliver. Every 2021 Ferrari Portofino M also features carbon-ceramic brakes that ensure this hefty grand tourer can stop in a thrice.
However, we had to get used to the brake pedal’s initial softness. Ferrari limited the pedal travel on the M in an effort to help improve its iffy feel. We’ll let you know if it’s effective once we have the opportunity to drive one.
ENERGY AND REAL-WORLD MPG
This 2021 Ferrari Portofino M will manage 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA. These figures fall short of those of the V-8-powered Aston Martin DB11, which achieves 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway.
The big Bentley Continental GT sees the same city average as the Portofino M but beats it on the highway, with 26 mpg. Should we get the chance to test this vehicle’s real-world fuel economy, we’ll update this page with results.
INTERIOR, CONVENIENCE, AND BOOTH
Ferrari covers the 2021 Ferrari Portofino M‘s interior in sumptuous leather, and the 18-way power-adjustable front seats—newly available with ventilation and neck-warming tech—provide adequate comfort and support. Plus, a handy wind deflector helps keep the cabin quiet at speed when you have the hardtop roof down.
With its pair of small bucket seats behind the front passengers, the convertible Ferrari can technically transport up to four people, but we wouldn’t recommend anyone spend time back there.
We’d use those seats to carry our stuff, as the Portofino’s trunk won’t fit much and in-cabin storage is scant. A useful tray at the front of the center console will hold small items, and there’s even a place to store a beverage nearby, but that’s about it.
IN-VEHICLE INFOTAINMENT AND INTERCONNECTIONS
The infotainment system on a Ferrari is like a spare tire on a Buick: It’s nice to have when you need it, but it’s not something anyone will ask about. Still, the 2021 Ferrari Portofino M’s tech setup looks adequately modern, with a 10.3-inch touchscreen mounted in the center of the dashboard.
We found the unit to be responsive during our limited exposure to it. Ferrari also offers an optional 7.0-inch touchscreen that faces the front-seat passenger and allows him or her to view performance data and operate the car’s navigation system.
PROTECTION AND DRIVER-ASSISTANCE ASPECTS
Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has performed crash testing on the 2021 Portofino M, and we don’t expect either agency will. The sultry Italian convertible offers driver-assistance technology, but none of it is offered as standard.
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