Portofino M

The M stands for Modificata — and one run along the coast road between Arzachena and Baja Sardinia tells you exactly what that means: 620 horsepower of twin-turbo V8, the roof stowed behind you, and air scented with myrtle and helichrysum drifting into the cabin at every bend. The Costa Smeralda is its natural habitat: leave the villa, drop down towards the sea and arrive with a Ferrari in Porto Cervo just in time for an aperitivo on the piazzetta.

Sardinia, after all, was made for discovery: a long season, generous light, coastal roads that beg to be driven with the sky overhead. Little wonder the Portofino M features among the convertibles best suited to the coast: it pairs the character of a genuine sports car with the easy manners of a grand tourer you can use every single day of the holiday, from the San Pantaleo market to dinner at Cala di Volpe.

With the roof down, the 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 reaches you unfiltered: a rich burble at low revs, then an increasingly urgent crescendo as the needle climbs and the exhaust opens up and changes its voice. The eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox strings the ratios together with startling speed, and the manettino's Race mode — new over the first-generation Portofino — unlocks a temperament you simply do not expect from a four-seat convertible.

The steering is light and direct in the best Ferrari tradition, while the chassis strikes a rare balance: it soaks up harbour cobbles and the imperfections of provincial roads without losing its precision the moment the tarmac turns interesting. Zero to 62 mph in 3.45 seconds is pure sports car territory — experienced here with the wind in your hair and the sea filling your mirrors.

The Portofino M's defining feature is its retractable hardtop: it folds away in around fourteen seconds, even on the move at low speed, turning a hushed, air-conditioned coupé into a full open spider. In Sardinia that means setting off in cool comfort in the morning, opening everything up along the coast road, and closing it again in moments if the mistral decides to pick up in the afternoon.

Two rear seats and a genuinely usable boot make it the most versatile of the luxury convertibles for hire in Sardinia: there is room for the soft luggage of a long weekend and, when needed, for two guests on shorter journeys. We deliver it wherever suits you, from Olbia Airport to your yacht's gangway: the service covers 27 destinations and 3 airports across the island.