Everyone in my circle knows how hardcore a Tifosi I am, and every new Ferrari is a moment of excitement for me. But I never really took a liking to the California when it came out over a decade ago. It just didn’t look Ferrari to me. I kind of heaved a sigh of relief when the California T came out and I did get a chance to drive it. It was a nice car but even the Cali T wont make it into my favourite Ferraris list. But the California did well for Ferrari as the car maker said that 70 percent of California customers were first time Ferrari buyers. It actually ended up the best selling Ferrari ever.
And now its time to say hello to the new Portofino, Ferrari’s new entry level model that replaces the California. It was launched in India in September last year and I got a chance to drive the Portofino for a few hours. What did I think of it? Read on for my impressions.
The Portofino gets its name from a quaint little village of the same name on the Italian Riviera knowing for its beautiful waterfront, small cafes and colourful buildings. And just as beautiful you can imagine the Portofino village to be, the same goes for the car. Its just achingly beautiful and unmistakably Ferrari. The long swooping bonnet and short boot looks just perfect and the L shaped LED headlamps remind you of the 488 GTB and the 812 Superfast. And Ferrari incorporates aerodynamics into the design just beautifully. The air vents next to the headlamps channel air through the wheel arches to generate more downforce. The vents in the front bumper ensure maximum engine cooling and there are even vents in the front fenders to reduce pressure around that area. The side profile is proper GT car and the Portofino comes with a retractable hard top that can be opened or closed in 14 seconds at speeds of up to 20 kph. The rear is equally gorgeous with design elements reminding you of the 458 Italia. The round tail lamps are trademark Ferrari and there is a subtle rear lip spoiler on the boot as well. Quad exhaust pipes and a large diffuser complete the lower half of the rear bumper.
