The Ferrari California has been around for almost a decade and Ferrari has replaced it with an all-new V8 convertible GT, the Portofino. The new Ferrari has been built from the ground-up and gets an all-new chassis. The use of new production technologies has helped Ferrari reduce its weight while not compromising on the rigidity of the frame. The styling is completely different and we can safely say that this is one of the most elegant Ferrari designs amongst the current cars.
It gets the classic coupe lines with a long hood, a raked windshield and a sloping roofline with minimal overhangs both fore and aft of the two axles. The hardtop retracts into the tail at the flick of a switch to reveal the beautiful roadster lines.
Under the hood, the Ferrari 3.9-litre turbocharged V8 from the 488 GTB develops 600bhp of power at 7500rpm and a whopping 760Nm of torque from 3000rpm. The engine power is sent to the right set of wheels through an automatic gearbox which catapults the car beyond 100kmph from zero in 3.5 seconds. With the roof up, the Portofino is capable of clocking over 320kmph and is one of the first GTs to get the new electric power steering. The magnetically controlled suspension damping and the latest electronic differential ensures that it holds on to fast corners just like it does on straight roads.
Inside, the Ferrari is equally luxurious with exquisite leather trims and now gets a 10.2 inch touchscreen display, 18-way adjustable front seats and a new climate control system. It does have rear seats but they are best reserved for toddlers or luggage. The Portofino will make its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show and Ferrari is likely to begin deliveries of the MY2018 car by the end of this year.
