Ferrari Portofino - The Smiling New Ferrari Breaks Cover

Ferrari has unveiled their all-new hard-top convertible sportscar - the Ferrari Portofino. Has quite a nice ring to it, doesn’t it. Named after a fishing village on the Italian Riviera, the Portofino will replace the California T, the current entry-level model. Though the new convertible doesn’t look too different when compared to the California, the sharper angles and creases do make it look more appealing and happy than before. What is important here is that the Portofino is more powerful than the outgoing sportscar and, quite naturally, quicker as well.

At the centre of the new body, you’d find the same 3855cc twin-turbocharged V8 heart that powers the California T. But this time around, the power has been bumped up by 40 PS to produce 591.5PS. And thanks to twin turbocharging, the Portofino can churn out a peak torque of 760Nm helping it shave 0.1 seconds from the California T’s 0-100kmph time of 3.6 seconds. Top speed is now rated at “>320kmph”.

It's not just the additional power which helps the Portofino shave off that tenth of a second, but also the lower kerb weight. The all-new chassis is built using modern production technologies that not only saves weight but also improves torsional rigidity. Another aspect which was closely looked at while designing the Portofino was drag reduction. Starting at the front, there is a large radiator grille which stretches from edge to edge. The new all-LED headlight assemblies have a more horizontal shape with the outside edge featuring air intakes which direct air into the front wheel arches and then flushed out through vents on the side. Ferrari says this reduces drag by a great margin. We believe them.

Step inside the cabin and it is apparent Ferrari has focused quite a bit of attention on pampering the Portofino’s occupants. There is a new steering wheel, a 10.2-inch infotainment unit and a new air-conditioning system which promises to improve cooling when the hard-top is folded down. The front occupants get 18-way electrically adjustable seats and the rear passengers get more legroom thanks to a new backrest design. To reduce wind turbulence inside the cabin, the Ferrari Portofino gets a new wind deflector which cuts air flow inside the cabin by 30 per cent and also reduces wind noise.

The Ferrari Portofino will make its world debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in September and should arrive in our country next year. We will be covering the Frankfurt International Motor Show live, so stay tuned.

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