Ferrari Portofino (2022) Review

Ferrari has nailed its marketing. It goes without saying that ‘The Prancing Horse’ is up there with the likes of Coca Cola, Nike and Apple in regard to brand awareness and positive product perceptions.

Of course, like most other international consumer brands, Ferrari has had to perform marketing tactics that beguile its publics...creating a sense of desire and fascination which differentiates and ultimately sets the marque apart as the crème de la crème of the automotive industry.

But unlike those other global brands, Ferrari seems to have carved out its own place in contemporary popular culture as a distinctive marker...no...THE distinctive marker of power, sophistication, cultural superiority and romance all arising from a perceived authentic Italian passion.

Merely uttering the word ‘F-E-R-R-A-R-I’ amongst petrolheads, whatever their allegiances may be, generates a knee trembling childlike excitement, turning even the most austere individuals into sugar-high toddlers.

On the face of it the Ferrari Portofino is not the most exciting Ferrari. Compared to the arresting aerodynamic carbon fibre sculpture of the 488 or the preeminent V12 howl of the 812 GTS, the Portofino’s smaller 3.9l V8 and flabby 1,664kg kerb weight send warning signs that this might not be a proper Ferrari. Not the start you were expecting, I’m sure.

However, take a step back and one begins to evaluate the Portofino for what it is – a genuinely useable cross continental Grand Tourer. You see, for all their stripped-out, lightweight, carbon fibre-bodied, high revving abilities, the more track-focused metal that comes out of Maranello is, for some, a tad ferocious, raw and unnerving for the road.

Hop in the driver’s seat of the Portofino and everything feels just right. Both the seat and the steering wheel have plenty of adjustment, whilst the central 10.25 inch touchscreen sat atop the dash is legible and easy to operate on the move, and with Apple Carplay support you can rack up the miles without compromising on comfort or the mod cons we’ve all come to expect in 2022.

Carbon fibre paddles are fixed to the steering column; inviting the driver to flick effortlessly between gears as the twin clutch box manages the torque in combination with a trick electronic diff which combine to keep you out of the hedgerow and firmly on the tarmac.

The example I’m driving is finished in beautiful Tour De France Blue. It sparkles in the sunshine and generates approving glances as I cruise down the road. As breathtaking as this paintwork is though, at an additional cost you can always dip into the Ferrari back catalogue of special order paint colours – Rosso Fuoco, Blu Swaters and Verde Germoglio are distinctive, rich and beautiful.

My destination is Grantley Hall. Built in the 18th Century near the Cathedral city of Ripon and recently renovated at a cost of £70 million, this five star hotel is the very definition of opulence. I swing into the entrance, the Pirelli P Zero tyres crunching on the gravel as I make my way to the front of the hotel.

A stab of the red starter button silences the hot V8 and the flick of another button triggers the origami-like roof mechanism, morphing the Portofino into a super sleek coupe. I step out and take a look around, my polarized sunglasses subtly distorting the familiar profiles of various modern day Bentleys, Rolls-Royces, Lamborghinis and Porsches.

The Portofino may not thrill like its race car inspired cousins, but it has its own style – depending on your mood you can cruise in “bumpy road” mode or dial it up via the steering wheel mounted manettino, changing into “sport” or “race” for a livelier, more engaging drive.

Ferrari is a renowned manufacturer and global brand but it is also a feeling, a myth, and an aesthetic that we cannot help but be marvelled by. The Portofino is a passport. It doesn’t just get you from A to B but allows you to live a dream. Ferrari is magical, mysterious and enigmatic; and it’s certainly more than just a manufacturer of fast cars.

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