Ferrari Portofino Improves Upon California T Formula
One of the last cars made under the late Sergio Marchionne, the Portofino is a daily driver perfect for new Ferrari customers.
Things haven’t been as sunny for Ferrari since its leader, FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne, passed away in late July of 2018. However, his spirit remains in the form of boosted profits (thanks to Marchionne spinning-off the legendary marque from the rest of FCA a few years ago), and in the last few Ferraris to be made under his watch.
One of those Ferraris is the successor to the California T, the Portofino. Bloomberg stepped away from its famed Terminal and the stock market to spend some time with the newest gateway into the world of Ferrari.
The Portofino starts at around $215,000, while the one Bloomberg drove came in at nearly $296,000. Whatever you do spend, though, you’ll get a car that’s 176 pounds lighter than the California T, powered by an updated twin-turbo V8 good for 591 prancing black ponies and 561 lb-ft of torque. That power can push you and a friend from zero to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds, zero to 124 mph in 10 seconds, and a top speed of 198 mph. That can be too much power for some if they’re not careful, as the financial publication discovered when they received a traffic infraction during the review.
The Portofino’s top retracts into the trunk area in 15 seconds, and said area can accommodate a few bags for the weekend or a brief business trip. The car rides a bit higher than most other exotics (though it’s lower than the California T), ensuring the front splitter doesn’t split on the curb. It’s also a balanced, quiet ride, something that impressed Bloomberg quite well.
Overall, Bloomberg found the Ferrari Portofino a wonderful daily driver, making the bet that the car “will be the brand’s next best-seller.” We think so, too.
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