Ferrari finally debuted the Ferrari Portofino at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show after teasing us earlier. The Portofino is Ferrari’s newest V8 GT car that has 592hp and can sprint from 0 to 200 km/h in just 10.8 seconds. It is Ferrari’s most powerful convertible which has a retractable hard top and also two rear seats at the back.
The name Portofino is derived from one of the Italian villages along the Italian Riviera which boasts a comfortable, yet stylish lifestyle which the utmost charm. In order to enjoy the amazing weather for a village facing the Mediterranean, the retractable hardtop opens or closes in just 14 seconds at low speeds. You get a luggage compartment which can hold two cabin luggage and probably squeeze in another one with the roof up.
How is it different compared to the California T? It has 38hp more than the California T and 80kg lighter overall. Part of Ferrari’s goal is to have zero turbo lag, the Portofino is designed with that in mind such as having a throttle response in under 1 second. As with Ferrari’s traditions, each Ferrari is designed to have their own engine sound as with the Portofino.
The Ferrari Portofino features Variable Boost Management, a control software developed by Ferrari that adjusts torque delivery to suit the gear selected. As the car goes up through the gears (from 3rd to 7th), the amount of torque delivered by the engine increases all the way up to 760 Nm. This has allowed Ferrari to adopt longer gear ratios in the higher gears, which helps keep fuel consumption and emissions down on the one hand, while adopting different torque curves through the rev range in the lower gears for a feeling of strong, continuous pick-up.
The Ferrari Portofino is the first Prancing Horse GT to boast Electric Power Steering which plays a pivotal role in the feel of the car in the driver’s hands. Steering wheel responsiveness has been improved with a smooth, natural feel to the assistance and feedback, while re-centring of the wheel is dynamic and consistent with the speed of the car when the manoeuvre is being executed.
As a GT car, don’t expect it to be at supercar levels because what it is designed for is to cruise the Italian Riviera in a comfortable car but yet, striking and powerful. Ferrari has done right with the California T and now with the Portofino, it shows where its target market is meant to drive it, a place where the weather is amazing and that having the top down means a lot more fun with the top up.
In Malaysia, I can safely say that this car is perfect for a quick getaway and when the weather is perfect, having the top down whilst driving through the B-roads of the Malaysian peninsula would be surreal.
