Ferrari surprisingly cut its cheapest model, has a more expensive replacement for it

It only sold well for five years, so it wasn’t out of place to expect it to stay on sale for a while, but it didn’t. The more expensive novelty of the Italian brand is headed for the same waters, and so it is with Portofino.

Last week, Ferrari revealed a new model, the Roma Spider convertible. The Italian automaker thus created indirect competition for its own Portofino M model. Both cars share a technical basis, whether it is the platform or the 3.9-liter eight-cylinder F154. In their case, the wheelbase is also the same, as are the two emergency rear seats. It differs mainly in the roof, as the Roma Spider got a canvas, while the Portofino M relies on fixed folding panels. And the novelty will also be more expensive.

For this reason, the Portofino was expected to remain on sale for a while, although Ferrari is not a brand that is used to keeping two similar roosters in one hen house. After all, the arrival of the Roma coupe already led to the departure of customers from the open car, which was originally presented in 2017 and went on sale at the beginning of 2018. Three years later, the modernization came, in which the automaker added the letter “M” to the name, referring to modifications . At the same time, the output rose from 600 to 620 hp.

It was with the identical flock that the Roma coupe arrived in 2019. Its design caught people’s eye far more, as it referred to the brand’s iconic models from the 1950s, among other things. The Portofino, in contrast, has always felt more like an imitation of the larger 812 Superfast. As a result, it actually sent a message to the world that the owner had always wanted a Ferrari, but he didn’t really have the money, so he took a substitute of sorts. And this is probably the main reason why the Portofino is ending, even though it has only been in production for five years.

How many people will mourn him is a question. The Roma Spider is not only more attractive, but also lighter thanks to the conversion to canvas. And even though it has the same powerful engine under the hood, it can accelerate to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds, i.e. a tenth faster. Ferrari used the canvas for a convertible with a front engine for the first time in 1971, when the 365 GTS4 model was introduced to the world. At that time, however, the legendary twelve-cylinder Colombo was doing its job under the front hood. It was paired with a five-speed manual, while the new model only offers a seven-speed automatic. With this system, the car should be able to overcome the target of 320 km/h.

Replacing fixed panels with canvas also contributed to practicality, as the car can hold 255 liters in the trunk. That canvas then folds in 13.5 seconds, revealing both the digital instrument panel and the 8.4-inch multimedia screen and the 8.8-inch narrow display in front of the passenger. While customers have this technology as standard, they already have to pay extra for neck heating integrated into the seats.

The Ferrari Roma Spider will represent the basic offer of the Italian brand alongside the related coupe, although it will be more expensive than the current Portofino. Photo: Ferrari

This is why it is saying goodbye to the world, even though it has only been on sale for 5 years. Photo: Ferrari

Source: Road & TrackFerrari

Petr Prokopec

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