The Ferrari Portofino is the spiritual successor to the erstwhile California T. The new entry-level Prancing Horse was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2017, and just like its predecessor, the Portofino is also a hard-top convertible grand tourer. To develop this new model, Ferrari borrowed the basic architecture from the California T, and underwent making extensive modifications to its platform. Thanks to their close scrutiny over its weight, the finished product now weighed nearly 80 kgs less than the older model. As for its rivals in the UAE, the 2019 Ferrari Portofino goes up against the Aston Martin Vantage Roadster, Jaguar F-Type Convertible, and Maserati GranCabrio.
Exterior
In typical modern Ferrari fashion, the new Portofino is a stunning looking automobile. The front of the Portofino features an ultra-wide grin, with sleek LED headlamps and aggressively-sculpted hood that newer members of the Maranello-based brand have become famous for. The long, low, and chiseled nose looks striking, while the large centre grille is flanked by two smaller air intakes. Further down, there’s a front splitter and up top, the hood incorporates dual air vents for the engine. Along the sides, the main highlights come in the form of the steeply-raked windscreen, magnificent 20-inch alloy wheels, 488 GTB-inspired side sills, pronounced wheel arches, and haunched hindquarters.
The back of the new Portofino gets Ferrari’s new and spectacular circular LED taillight design, while the sporty bumper integrates a couple of air vents, quad exhaust pipes, and a serious diffuser kit. Whip out a scale, and the Portofino will measure 4.586 meters in length, 1.938 meters in width, and 1.318 meters in height (with the roof up). Meanwhile, the distance between the front and rear axles is 2.670 meters, and the trunk volume is 292 liters.
Interior
Compared to its predecessor, the interior of the new Ferrari Portofino looks decidedly more upscale and posh. The design and layout of the dash, center console, and instrument cluster all appear up-to-date. Ferrari has also improved upon the material and build quality, apart from thoroughly revising the cabin’s ergonomics and fit & finish. This means the Portofino not only looks but also feels like a proper Ferrari should in this day and age. And while it’s advertised as a 2+2 seat GT, getting into the rear buckets for adults is as impossible a feat as it’s for someone to get inside Fort Knox. With that being said, I must admit that the front seats absolutely sublime.
Things are just as positive on the equipment front, as the Portofino can be had with adaptive LED headlights, sports exhaust, adaptive dampers, launch control, a leather upholstered interior, heated & cooled front seats, automatic AC, a 10.25-inch touch-infotainment system with navigation, and a premium audio system. The Portofino’s vital safety features include four airbags, traction and stability control, a limited slip differential, and four-corner parking sensors with a rear camera.
Engine and performance
The Portofino uses a heavily reworked version of the F154 engine found in the California T - a 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8. In the new Portofino, this beauty of an engine belts out 600 hp and 760 Nm of maximum torque. A responsive and snappy 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox means that the acceleration from naught to 100 km/h is completed in just 3.5 seconds, while top speed is a lofty 320 km/h. Despite its powerful V8 engine and manic performance, the Portofino could manage up to 10.7 L/100 km.
Verdict
In the UAE, the latest offering to wear the tag of the ‘most affordable Ferrari ‘- the new Portofino, starts at a mere AED 850,000. Meanwhile, financing deals are available from just AED 13,248.
