Five Reasons Why We’re Looking Forward to the Ferrari Portofino Release
Ferrari’s California was the best-selling Prancing Horse ever. But the Portofino is even better. In every way.
It almost goes without saying that the all-new Ferrari Portofino is one of the brand’s most important releases in some time. After all, this is a car designed to be the successor to the Ferrari California, which just so happens to be the best-selling Ferrari of all-time. This, despite the fact that some enthusiasts were indifferent to its styling and departure from traditional Prancing Horse driving attributes. Regardless, the California was an unmitigated commercial success, bringing in a slew of new customers with its affordable $200k price tag.
Thus, Ferrari chose not to stray too far from the California’s positive attributes when it designed the Portofino. But this time around, they sought to correct criticisms with edgier styling, sharper handling, improved performance, and well, more grittiness. From the looks of things, they accomplished all of that and more, setting the Portofino up to smash even the California’s impressive showroom performance. This car is truly a game-changer, so it’s no surprise that Ferrari Bentley Lotus of Denver and Algar Ferrari of Philadelphia are already taking orders for this incredible new machine. Here are the top five reasons we’re so excited about the new Portofino.
1. It Raises the Bar for ‘Entry Level’ Cars
Stand back and take a look at this thing. Typically, drivers of “entry-level” cars are pretty easy to spot. But nobody is going to accuse you of taking the cheap way out by securing a new Portofino. We’ll touch on the many reasons why soon, but this is a dynamic machine in both design and performance. While the California looked bulbous, the Portofino presents an edgy, sleek style. The Portofino is a car that looks and performs like a proper exotic, not just a car built to a price point.
2. It Looks Even Better than the California
Some folks simply couldn’t get used to the dynamic new look of the California, and we understand their apprehension. When you own a Ferrari, people should be able to look at it and immediately know that it’s something special. And the California, well, it just didn’t seem to project that image to some enthusiasts.
The Portofino is a car that looks and performs like a proper exotic, not just a car built to a price point.
The Portofino, on the other hand, most certainly looks special, despite the fact that it’s nearly identical, dimension-wise, to the California. Ferrari simply took the California and sharpened it with the precision of fine cutlery. This is a car that looks angry, and it backs up those looks with performance.
3. It Has a Lust-worthy Drivetrain
OK, so the California wasn’t exactly a slouch. After all, it did bow with a twin-turbo V8 producing a healthy 552 hp and 557 lb-ft of torque. But more is always better, and the Portofino raises the bar with updated pistons, connecting rods, engine management software, freer-flowing intake manifold, and bigger exhaust.
The result is an additional 39 hp and 4 lb-ft at a lofty redline of 7,500 rpm. The 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission has also been tweaked with revised ratios and new calibration. And all that power is now delivered to an E-Diff differential capable of sending power to whichever rear tire has optimal traction. Ferrari conservatively estimates a 3.5-second 0-60 time, which is pretty laughable since the less powerful and heavier California did it in 3.3.
4. It Rides on a Much-improved Platform
Weight reduction, more than anything else, improves overall performance. And Ferrari really put the Portofino on a diet, removing a full 176 pounds from the California. Everything from pressed-aluminum underbody aero pieces to more efficient welds extract as much poundage as possible.
The Portofino raises the bar with updated pistons, connecting rods, engine management software, freer-flowing intake manifold, and bigger exhaust.
Despite this, the Portofino is also 35% stiffer than its predecessor. Springs are 15.5% and 19% stiffer in the front and the back, respectively. And if you really want to maximize cornering performance, Adaptive magnetorheological dampers and electrically assisted steering are available as options.
5. That Folding Hardtop Is Pure Magic
A folding hardtop gives drivers the best of both worlds — a quiet, dry cabin when you need it, and open-air exhilaration when the weather is fair. Thus, Ferrari spent a great deal of effort making the Portofino’s folding top even better than before. Amazingly, it’s actually lighter than the California’s despite being larger in size and stronger. This time around, you can actually open and close it at speeds up to 25 mph. And the car looks fantastic either way.
Evolution has truly been kind to the Ferrari Portofino, a much-improved car over its predecessor. And personally, we can’t wait to get behind the wheel and feel those improvements for ourselves.
Top U.S. luxury car dealerships are currently taking orders for the new Ferrari Portofino, with some, like Ferrari Bentley Lotus of Denver, and Algar Ferrari of Philadelphia, offering to schedule time with a Ferrari Brand Specialist to configure and personalize the Portofino.
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