Ferrari Portofino
Eurovalues? It looks like they don’t belong here. After all, California can be anything: there are districts and worse than Biryulyovo. And the Italian resort of Portofino is a quite glamorous place, and to call the new Ferrari coupe-cabriolet this way is not only fresh, but also pathetic.
However, the most affordable model from Maranello will certainly be sold overseas just as cheerfully as the former Ferrari California. Moreover, there are not so many changes in technology. The motor is the same 3.9 biturbo-eight of the F154 model with a flat crankshaft that appeared on the California T version three years ago. True, he changed the pistons and connecting rods, changed the control program and conjured with the exhaust tract to reduce the turbo lag. The result is an increase of 40 “horses” at once and the achievement of the coveted maximum power of 600 hp. Although the torque has grown quite a bit: from 755 to 760 Nm.
How the mass of the car has changed, the company has not yet reported, but it is known that it is now distributed in the proportion of 46:54 instead of the previous 47:53. And the increase in power allowed me to lose only one tenth in acceleration to “hundreds”: now this exercise takes 3.5 seconds.
Other announced technical innovations include the third-generation E-Diff3 electronically controlled differential, improved magnetorheological fluid dampers and (for the first time for the model) electric power steering: Maranello claims that the steering wheel has become 7% sharper.
But, of course, the new Ferrari must look bright and unexpected! Therefore, the designers took a bold step: with the Webasto hardtop raised, the silhouette of the Ferrari Portofino looks almost like a fastback – without a pronounced step between the roof and the trunk. Although the dimensions of the machine have not changed much: plus 16 mm in length (4586 mm) and 28 mm in width (1938 mm). The height has decreased by only 4 mm (1318 mm), and the company is modestly silent about the size of the wheelbase: apparently, the Portofino chassis has remained “Californian”.
Changes in the cabin are rather evolutionary. The front part of the previous architecture has become stricter, with more straightforward forms of the front panel, a wide (10.2 inches) screen of the multimedia system, an analog tachometer with displays on the sides, and an additional screen on the glove box lid. But the ever-shrinking inhabitants of the second row (the landing formula is still 2 + 2) are promised a little more space due to the changed shape of the front seat backs.
It is expected that the Ferrari Portofino will not add much in price compared to California: in Europe, the car will be estimated at 190-200 thousand euros. Exact figures will be announced in a couple of weeks during the public premiere of the convertible coupe at the Frankfurt Motor Show.