The Portofino made its way to South Africa in 2018 and after just two short years, Ferrari announced the Portofino M, the M meaning modificata or modification. Ferrari designates this M moniker onto models that they have made changes to, not just visually but also in terms of performance and handling.
This is also the case with the Portofino M as the Italian marque not only made changes to the exterior styling but increased the power output of the engine and replaced the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with the 8-speed dual-clutch automatic unit out of the Roma. Now it is not only Ferrari that can make some changes to the model, customers can specify optional extras from a wide collection of accessories on offer, let us take a look at our top seven.
1. Wheels
Starting on the exterior of the vehicle, Ferrari offers its clientele a variety of optional wheels for their Portofino M. The wheel options are designed in-house by the Ferrari Styling Centre and comes in a 20-inch size. The Ferrari Genuine wheels are created through a forging process to reduce the weight of the wheels and ultimately the overall weight of the vehicle. This reduced weight results in better driving feel and better response from the steering and suspension systems.
2. Exterior carbon trim
Ferrari has developed a variety of exterior trim pieces in carbon fibre. The trim pieces include the front spoiler, fender vents, under door kit and the air ducts next to the taillamps. Not only is the carbon fibre units stronger and more durable than the standard items, but it is also lighter which once again brings down the overall weight of the vehicle and bolsters the driving dynamics. The exposed carbon weave also transforms the styling from a sophisticated GT cruiser to a more aggressive and sporty theme.
3. AFS headlights
Another exterior improvement customers can opt for is the AFS headlights. The Advanced Front-lighting System incorporates clever technology which reads the wheel direction and will then adjust the headlamps in real-time to point in the same direction. This results in better illumination around corners which will allow the driver to spot any obstacles or dangers earlier.
4. Passenger display
While the driver of the Portofino M will get the full experience behind the steering wheel, the front passenger might feel a little left out. Ferrari has specifically developed the passenger display to include the front passenger in all the excitement. The display allows the passenger to gain access to information such as the engine speed, vehicle speed, gear selected, manettino setting, navigation and the trip computer.
5. Interior carbon trim
Like with the exterior carbon trim pieces, Ferrari created a variety of interior pieces out of the same material. The trim pieces that can be exchanged for the lighter, stronger and more sporty carbon fibre items are the dashboard trim, centre console, F1 shift paddles, headrest inserts, steering wheel, kickplates and even the floor mats.
6. Smartphone integration
While you might think, who would want to listen to music if you can listen to that turbocharged, V8 engine, the smartphone integration kit offers a lot more than just accessing the playlists on your phone. This item allows you to connect your smartphone to the car's infotainment via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. With this connection, you can access your favourite navigation apps, stream music on longer trips and even receive and send messages and check appointments via the built-in voice commands.
7. Parking camera
While you can expect parking sensors on your Portofino M, why not get a clear view of what is happening in front or behind the vehicle while you are parking. The system works in conjunction with the front and rear park distance control and overlays a helpful grid over the camera footage for the driver to accurately and visually judge the distance to an obstacle while parking.
