Ferrari recently released details of the new Portofino that’ll be hitting shelves in 2018. The new convertible hardtop will be replacing the Ferrari California T from their lineup. Named after the small fishing village of Portofino in Italy where “elegance, sportiness and understated luxury” abound.
The new V8 GT droptop will produce an impressive 441 kW (600 cv) at 7500 rpm, that’s about 40cv more than the current California T. Ferrari says this will allow the Portofino to go from zero to 100kmh in 3.5 seconds, which is more than sufficient for a Sunday driver with the top down! It’ll also do more than 320km/h.
I’ve never been completely sold on the styling of the Ferrari California although it has improved over the years. But from the pictures released of the new Portofino I’m liking it a whole lot more. And it looks just as good with the top up or down! So many convertibles just look wrong with the roof on, like it was an afterthought.
Ferrari Portofino profile view with the top down. It’s also in the new red paint for the launch called “Rosso Portofino”
Ferrari Portofino side view with the hardtop up. A hardtop that looks good up!
The Ferrari California replacement of the Portofino has been one of the best selling models of all time for Ferrari and that’s with it’s ugly styling and all! So to replace it with something similar that looks beautiful should make this a winner for sales at Ferrari. Pricing hasn’t been released by the company but it’s said to be similar to the California. Ferrari will reveal more in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show when they show the new grand tourer off to the world at it’s world debut.
Here’s the Ferrari Portofino hardtop in all it’s roofy glory.
If I had to complain about the styling of the Portofino at all I would point to the front view. It looks like it was inspired by the Mazda3 smiley face. What’s up with that?! Who wants their car looking like a smiling clown? It’s not as extreme as the Mazda smiley face frontend but there’s definitely elements of it there. It’s probably more smiling gentleman than smiling clown though. It could also look like a snake’s head if you squint your eyes and use your imagination 😉
The Gorgeous interior of the Ferrari Portofino with the prancing stallion proudly displayed on the new infotainment system with 10.2” touchscreen display.
Another interior view of the Ferrari Portofino
Some technical specifications of the new Ferrari Portofino
- V8 – 90°
- 3855 cm3
- 441 kW (600 cv) at 7500 rpm
- 760 Nm from 3000 to 5250 rpm
- Body length 4586 mm
- Body width 1938 mm
- Body height 1318 mm
- Weight distribution 46-54% front/rear
- Maximum speed >320 Km/h
- 0 to 100km/h in 3.5 seconds
Would I buy a Ferrari Portofino?
I would if I was after a grand tourer with a retractable hard top but that’s not the type of car I’m after. Aside from the fact that I’m still living a life of poverty and couldn’t afford one, I wouldn’t buy a Portofino until I owned an everyday driver (Mercedes C63 S Coupe), an in your face- ridiculous car (like a Lamborghini Aventador), and an offroad car (like a Land Rover Range Rover). So it would be my fourth or fifth car option! Which is crazy for me to think about right now as I can barely keep my Holden Commodore Ute on the road. This blog is where I dream out loud though, so anything’s possible. Deliveries of the Ferrari Portofino will start in the fourth quarter of 2018 here in Australia. Probably sooner in the US and Europe.
More attractive styling than the new Ferrari 812 Superfast don’t you think?
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