Buying Guide · June 6, 2026 · 6 min read
Ferrari Roma vs Portofino: Which Front-Engine Ferrari Is Right for You?
The Ferrari Roma and the Portofino (now Portofino M) are the two front-engine, V8 grand tourers in the modern Ferrari range, and they're cross-shopped constantly. They share the same basic engine family and a similar mission — usable, elegant, everyday Ferraris — but they answer two different questions. One is a coupe built around design; the other is a folding-hardtop convertible built around open-air touring.
The short answer
- Choose the Roma if you want the purest design statement, a fixed-roof coupe feel, and the more contemporary cabin.
- Choose the Portofino M if you want a retractable hardtop, open-air grand touring, and a slightly more practical everyday convertible.
- Mechanically they are close cousins — this is a character and body-style decision more than a performance one.
Engine and performance
Both cars use Ferrari's 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 — the multiple-award-winning F154 family — driving the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Output and acceleration are very close, and on the road both feel effortlessly fast rather than intimidating. The Portofino M added the eight-speed gearbox and a five-position manettino (including Race) to narrow the gap to the Roma. If you're choosing purely on numbers, you'll be splitting hairs.
| Roma — body | 2+2 coupe, fixed roof |
|---|---|
| Portofino M — body | 2+2 retractable hardtop convertible |
| Engine | 3.9L twin-turbo V8 (both) |
| Gearbox | 8-speed dual-clutch (both) |
| Character | Roma: design-led coupe · Portofino M: open-top GT |
Design and interior
The Roma is the more design-forward car — a clean, understated shape Ferrari pitched as 'la nuova dolce vita,' with a fully modern dual-cockpit interior. The Portofino M is handsome but more conventional, and its trump card is the folding hardtop: coupe security and refinement with the roof up, true open-air touring with it down in about fourteen seconds. If you live somewhere the top will actually come down — and Northeast Florida qualifies — that matters.
Which holds value, and how to buy the right one
Both are desirable, and on either car spec drives value as much as mileage: color, interior, carbon options, and wheels all move the number. The smart play is not to settle for whatever is listed publicly, but to source the exact specification you want. Opulent Exotics sources both the Roma and the Portofino privately, including cars that never reach a public listing, with inspection, paperwork, financing, and white-glove delivery handled. Tell us the exact car at opulentexotics.com/exotic-cars-jacksonville or call Jhonny Garcia at (305) 922-5380.
Looking for an exotic? See how the private model works or call (305) 922-5380.