Ferrari, baby!
Of the ten models Italian sports car icon Ferrari has available, the Portofino is the one to put the smallest dent in your wallet at a cool $210,000 for one without optional equipment. But, just because it’s the entry-level Ferrari, don’t call it an entry-level sports car.
Not simply a redesign of its predecessors the California and California T, both somewhat underwhelming by exotic car standards, the Portofino starts with an all-new lightweight aluminum chassis. Thanks in part to that and other weight reductions in the powertrain and electronics, the seats and interiors structures, the car weighs 177 pounds less than both Golden States did.
What kind of power does the Portofino put down?
A 3.9-liter turbo V8 stables the Portofino’s 591 horsepower. That’s a host of prancing horses. Objectively, this car is fast. Variable boost management controls the Portofino’s twin turbos, and if lag rears its head, its undetectable. This stallion’s also got great juice thanks to its 561 lb ft of torque between 3,000 and 5,250 rpms. Redline hits at 7,500 and you go from zero to speeding ticket on most streets in 3.5 seconds. Veloce. For these reasons, among others, Ferrari’s V8 fetched the “International Engine of the Year” award at the 2018 International Engine of the Year Awards. Do you think the carpet was Rosso Corso?
While the Portofino’s V8 doesn’t have the ferocious chortle of the infamous Ferrari V12, she sounds appropriately explosive. Of course, with the top down, it’s even better. With total unit shipments up 10.2% in 2018 over the previous year, in spite of some key personnel migrations to competitor Aston Martin, to Ferrari that sounds even better than the V12.
Performance matters
The ride quality in this baby-Ferrari feels suburb. Optional adaptive magnetorheological dampers are adjusted with Harry Potter-esque wizardry and the Portofino’s springs are appropriately stiff without being brain rattling. This is a grand touring car, after all. On quick acceleration it does tend to jump about a bit, more proof that this is a sports car, which by nature can be quite talkative participants in the driving process. A spirited steed is a good thing.
Steering on the Portofino is electronically powered, and its ratios fixed meaning you won’t see any adjustments when changing drive modes on the steering wheel manettino from Comfort to Sport to ESC off. While it’s effortlessly light and got razor-sharp response, almost hyperactively at first, adding to that sports car skittishness previously discussed, you get absolutely zero feedback from it.
The seven-speed automatic transmission gets to seventh gear pretty quickly and stays there, even when driving at lower speeds, which does feel a bit too reserved in a quick power burst situation. The paddle shifters work well to assist here. Manually downshifting will temporarily disengage automatic shifts, offering an extra boost of muscle (not to mention that epic engine noise). If control freak is more your speed, press the Auto button again on the gear shifter and the job becomes yours.
Body control and balance are unparalleled on the Portofino thanks in part to where the front engine mounts forward of the front axle. Turn in is sharp, so this bellisima convertible takes corners on its 20-inch Pirelli P-Zeros with confidence. All the elements of the Portofino are put together expertly. For reassurance, Ferrari employs a world class e-diff system that keeps it all heading in right direction.
One quibble on the brakes. The standard carbon ceramics are excellent but feel tightly wound at slow speeds when maneuvering out of driveways or tight spots. Initial pedal feel is exceedingly sticky and makes for difficult control if the driver doesn’t employ a perfectly light touch. However, at speed they are phenomenal and have insane stopping chops, appropriate when flogging the Portofino through the winding roads during California’s super bloom. As it’s supposed to be.
What are the interior and safety features like on the Portofino?
The Portofino comes with few optional safety features like parking sensors and a killer surround view camera system for a $6.075.00 premium. Its images are crystal clear and help with crippling visibility when the top’s up. This being a driver’s car, anyone in control should be paying close attention to the road, however, a basic blind spot warning would be a sage addition, Ferrari, for this quarter-of-a-mil on wheels.
The interior boasts a 10.2-inch display touchscreen with an interface that’s passable, if a bit layered. If not for a short cut button by the seat adjustments getting to the heaters would take three steps on the touchscreen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available as an option but a $4,000 one. You won’t find one stalk coming off the Portofino’s steering column. Thankfully, there are enough shortcuts on the steering wheel for such tasks as turn signals and windshield wipers to make you feel like you’re driving a mini F1 car.
Interior highlights include racing-inspired leather seats in colors like Cuoio and Cioccolato, which support in all the right places, allowing the driver to spend hours behind the wheel without feeling punished. While the Portofino is technically a four-seater GT, the back is more for your bags from Whole Foods. With the top up, even for a small person, comfort doesn’t come standard.
Good looks are everything
Exterior styling on the Portofino is improved from its predecessor the California. The grille is wider, more open. The rear end is properly robust and athletic without being thickly oversized, and the flanks have been gracefully sculpted as though from the chisel and hammer of Bernini.
So well-integrated is the retractable hard top, it could easily pass for a coupe when up. Ferrari claims the additional weight over a soft-top option is negligible. When weather clears, the top retracts while you’re driving, as long as you’re going below 25 miles an hour.
If you’ve got a hankering for some Italian droptop delight, the Portofino makes a seriously legitimate sports car claim. Porta fuori la spazzatura. That means take out the garbage. Everything sounds good in Italian.
