At the end of August, Ferrari surprised us with the introduction of the Portofino and the discontinuation of the California T. The Portofino is an aggressively-styled car with a two-box fastback configuration – unprecedented in a coupé-convertible with a retractable hard top - that adds extra sleekness to its silhouette, lending it a sportier character compared to the outgoing California T. The Portofino made its official debut at the IAA in Frankfurt.
There are not just cosmetic changes with the Portofino, it is a completely new car. Starting with the V8 power unit, which has won the outright International Engine of the Year award for two consecutive years in 2016 and 2017, Ferrari’s engineers worked on several different fronts to deliver a power output of 600 cv at 7500 rpm, the equivalent of 156 cv/l, introducing new mechanical components as well as specific engine management software.cOne of the Portofino’s most impressive new features is that it is significantly lighter than the California T. All the body-in-white and chassis components were redesigned and integrated to an even greater extent. The A-pillar, for example, now consists of just 2 pieces compared to 21 different components in previous models. Modern production technologies, most notably sand-casting which allows the creation of hollow components, allowed designers to create innovative forms that are lighter.
The car’s vehicle dynamics were optimized by working on its suspension set-up through the introduction of stiffer springs and by adopting the latest evolution of the magnetorheological damping system to guarantee superb ride comfort. The result is improved body control and reduced roll, enhancing the sporty driving feeling, particularly when the Manettino is in ‘Sport’ mode. In ‘Comfort’ mode, on the other hand, ride comfort is superior to the previous model on rough or uneven road surfaces. 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.
While the Portofino’s exterior exudes a stylish compactness and instantly marks out its GT vocation, its cabin too has also been carefully designed and developed. The Ferrari Design team pinpointed certain specific essential requirements, the foremost of these being formal and functional coherency between the car’s exterior and its interior, weight reduction and creating more space for both the driver and the passenger.
