Ferrari has confirmed it will discontinue the Portofino M hardtop convertible and replace it with the recently revealed Roma Spider.
Speaking to Road & Track, a Ferrari spokesperson has confirmed the Italian marque will end production of its ‘entry-level’ Portofino M hardtop convertible.
The Roma Spider, revealed last week, will be powered by the same 457kW twin-turbo V8 engine as the Portofino M but will feature a soft-top instead of a retractable hardtop.
This latest announcement is part of Ferrari’s ongoing evolution of its drop-top GT offering, which began in the 1950s with models such as the 250 California and 365 California.
The California T was introduced in 2008 as a modern-day rendition of Ferrari’s classic convertibles and was designed by Ken Okuyama, who also designed the Enzo.
In 2016, the California T HS (Handling Speciale) performance option was introduced for owners seeking an even sportier driving experience with a new turbocharged V8 engine.
The Portofino, gaining its name from the village on the Italian Riviera, replaced the California T in 2017.
It gained 30kW of power from an updated powertrain, as well as a refined design language, but kept the retractable hard-top concept of its predecessor.
Ferrari launched the Portofino M, with the M standing for Modificata (modified), in 2020 as a more powerful version of the Portofino.
2018 Portofino
It boasted revised front- and rear-end styling and improvements in power and performance, becoming the first Ferrari drop-top to have Race mode.
The Portofino M can go from 0 to 100km/h in just 3.45 seconds, on its way to a top speed of over 320km/h.
Despite being a lighter soft top than the Portofino, Ferrari claims the new Roma Spider’s five-layer fabric roof “boasts acoustic comfort on a par with retractable hardtops”.
Roma Spider
The Roma Spider’s fabric soft-top can be lowered in 13.5 seconds, even at speeds up to 60km/h.
Under the bonnet, the Roma Spider is equipped with a 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 engine which produces 456kW between 5750 and 7500rpm, and 760Nm between 3000 and 5750rpm.
The first deliveries of the Roma Spider in Australia will begin in late 2023 or early 2024.
