Ferrari Portofino. Made for enjoyment
In 2020, the first generation model was restyled.
Ferrari Portofino is a sports car of the Gran Turismo class of the Italian brand Ferrari, which is the part of the Italian-American Fiat Chrysler Automobiles concern. It has been produced since 2017 in a 2-door ‘convertible’ body with 4 seats. You could buy the first generation of this unique sports car in Israel in 2020.
The car got its name ‘Portofino’ because of the famous Italian resort. Ferrari received the Red Dot Design Award from Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia Design Center for the innovative design of the Portofino in 2018. An international panel of judges said the car ‘embodies impressive evolutionary progress’ and ‘mesmerizes with an exciting design language, ” while the elegance of the sports car “is further enhanced by the uncompromising quality of materials and workmanship”.
First generation
It has been produced from 2017 to the present. (data for 2020). The first Ferrari Portofino was the successor to the company’s previous Gran Turismo, the V8 Ferrari California T. It was presented on the Italian Riviera in Portofino on 7 and 8 September 2017. The new sports car aimed to strike a balance between the easy-to-drive GT and the typical Ferrari sports car, similar to the successful V8-powered California predecessor.
The official world premiere took place at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. The new Portofino has a more refined and flexible appearance, and its body has a drag coefficient of 0.312. The chassis of the car was made from 12 different aluminum alloys combined into a single piece. The rigidity of the structure has been significantly increased (35% compared to the California T chassis). Ferrari engineers have managed to reduce the weight of the Portofino through the powertrain, dashboard design, air conditioning and heating systems, and electronic systems in the car. The weight of the car was 1664 kg, which is 80 kg lighter than the California T.
The Portofino convertible features California-derived magnetorheological dampers with improved software to maintain a good ride quality even with a stiffer suspension than the California. As with the 812 Superfast, 2017/2018 Portofino features electric power steering (first found on Ferrari models) as well as an electronically controlled E-Diff3 differential. Both the suspension system and the steering become more responsive when the car is in the sport mode.
Exterior
Externally, the new Ferrari Portofino 2018/2019 resembles its predecessor, although the exterior design is completely different. The supercar retained the long hood with the cabin pushed back, air intakes in the hood and on the side fenders, muscular rear arches, typical lighting technology, and a folding hard roof from Webasto.
Interior
Portofino interior has been designed according to the wishes of various customers. The rear seats have increased legroom and the infotainment system is more advanced and easier to use. The 10.2-inch center console display features Apple CarPlay. Plus, an LCD screen for the front passenger appeared on the glove box lid, and sports seats with 18-way electrically adjustable sports seats are installed as standard. The air conditioning system has also been improved and now it is 25% faster and 50% quieter than the California.
The company notes that with the roof down, the Portofino’s cabin became 30% quieter than in its predecessor, and due to the other backs of the front seats, it was possible to carve out a little extra space for the knees of the second row because the car has a 2 + 2 landing formula.
Engine and speed characteristics
The Ferrari Portofino 2018/2019 engine is a 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 petrol engine producing 600 hp. at 7500 rpm and 760 Nm of torque at 3000-5250 rpm. It is complemented by a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission equipped with new software for faster gear changes.
Engine changes include a 10% increase in combustion chamber pressure, redesigned connecting rods and pistons, and one-piece cast exhaust manifolds. The exhaust system has been redesigned to give the vehicle its distinctive sound. The acceleration from 0 km/h to 100 km/h for the Portofino is 3.5 seconds, from 0 km/h to 200 km/h is 10.8 seconds, and the top speed is 320 km/h.
