The article was originally produced on November 27, 2018, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

Ferrari Portofino

The California T convertible model has been replaced by the name Portofino and I took a ride along the Route Napoleon in this new roofless Ferrar.

The successor to Ferrari's California metal convertible is now here and the name Portofino comes from the picturesque and luxurious fishing and summer resort in Liguria, Italy. The predecessor's name, California, was derived from an iconic model called the 250 GT California Spyder, which was built between 1958-1963 in 104 copies. Conditions today staggering prices at auctions, upwards of $18 million…

The unveiling of the Portofino last year was fittingly held at the place where the model got its name. The presentation was held on a specially built floating dock placed in the harbor where the luxury yachts are normally moored. The Ferrari Portofino is a so-called 2 + 2 cabriolet where the rear seats are more intended for children or bags. Under the front hood, we find the same turbocharged V8 engine that sits in the 488 GTB and GT4 Lusso T. We're talking 600 horsepower and zero to one hundred in 3.5 seconds. Top speed is reached when the meter needle shows 320 kilometers per hour. Ferrari has put an incredible amount of work into the feeling of acceleration, where so-called "tube lag" must absolutely not occur. They have also put a lot of work into the engine sound and strived for a sound image similar to that of a large orchestra where you can enjoy everything from bass to soprano. Externally, a lot has changed since the predecessor California. The Portofino feels smaller and tighter in its rock but both cars actually have the same wheelbase. On the other hand, Portofino has gone on a diet and shed 80 kilos, which must be considered very good, especially in combination with the 40 more horses the engine provides.

During this year's trip to Europe with Gran Turismo Events, I had the opportunity to test drive the Portofino that Olav Medhus from the Norwegian Ferrari dealer Autoxo brought with him. The road available was the final leg of the event between Monaco and Cannes spanning the classic Route Napoleon. The road, which is actually called Route Nationale 85, is named after Napoleon Bonaparte when he landed in Golfe-Juan on 1 March 1815 from his exile on the island of Elba to regain the throne and wanted to quickly reach Lyon without having to face the troops of the new regime in the Rhône valley. The road runs north of the French Riviera and contains incredible stretches of winding mountain roads and challenging driving. In other words, absolutely perfect for the Portofino that takes every curve with joy. You quickly notice the work Ferrari has put into not feeling how the turbo unit works, the power is always available right from the bottom. On the steering wheel there is a knob which in Ferrari language is called "Manettino" and on this knob there are three different modes, "Comfort", "Sport" and "ESC OFF". These modes change the character of the car for different situations. The latter is intended for you who really know what you are doing as the anti-skid system is switched off completely and you will not get any help from the car if you lose control. So the mode to prefer on those curvy roads but when you still want the car to be on its toes is Sport. Throttle response, the gearbox and the nature of the steering change and in this mode you also get a stiffer chassis to feel what is happening under the tires more clearly. Nowadays, the Portofino has received an electronic power steering and an electronic diff brake at the rear. This of course positively affects the performance on the road and it feels like you have incredibly good control even at high speeds and on the winding road despite 600 horses on the rear tires.

 

Inside, the Portofino has of course been updated a lot since its predecessor, but you can still see clear similarities. A big news is that you as a passenger now get the small screen that shows a lot of engine data such as speed, rpm, G-force and more. The screen first came in the FF model and is a fun detail. The leather work in Ferrari cars is always something extra and Portofino is no exception. At the top of the dashboard runs a leather strip that brings to mind luxurious bags in the same material. The fan exhausts are forged in thin metal and feel extremely luxurious. Instead of regular carpets where your feet are, there are plates of perforated aluminium. Extremely neat and similar to those sitting in racing cars. As on other Ferrari models, there is no regular gear lever but a console in the middle with three buttons, "R" for reverse, "Auto" to go back to automatic mode if you chose to start shifting manually with the paddles on the steering wheel, and "Launch" which says for launch-control and gives you an optimal start from a standstill. 

Thanks to its metal roof, the Portofino is also very pleasant even with the roof up. However, something I do not explore on this warm and sunny day. But I have more than enough time to experience that the Ferrari Portofino is a car for those who enjoy life. This is the Ferrari model you should choose if you both want to enjoy driving without a roof but at the same time also want a car that works even when the weather is worse. You want to be able to pack a little more but also retain the sportiness when the road becomes more challenging. In a way, you can say that the Ferrari Portofino is the perfect everyday Ferrari. Whether this makes Enzo Ferrari turn in his grave or applaud in his grave, I will leave it unsaid.