Ferrari reveals Portofino V8 GT

Ferrari has chosen a particularly evocative moniker for the Ferrari Portofino V8 GT, referencing one of Italy’s most beautiful towns.

Portofino is renowned for its charming tourist port and, over the years, has become internationally synonymous with elegance, sportiness and understated luxury.

The launch colour of the new Ferrari has also been dedicated to this marvellous town: Rosso Portofino.

The 3 855cc engine is capable of unleashing 441kW and 760Nm is said to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds, while the Ferrari Portofino convertible combines the advantages of a retractable hard top, a roomy boot and generous cockpit space plus two rear seats suitable for short trips.

The Ferrari Portofino’s allnew chassis features a significant weight saving over the California T it replaces.

Thanks to the extensive use of modern production technologies, all the chassis and body-in-white components have been redesigned with a consequent reduction in weight despite an increase in torsional rigidity.

The renowned Ferrari V8 turbo produces 29kW more than the California T’s power unit thanks to the adoption of new components and specific calibration of the engine management software.

The characteristic Ferrari V8 soundtrack has also been further enhanced and can be fully appreciated, particularly in top-down driving.

All aspects of the 8-cylinder’s efficiency have been honed with the adoption of new pistons and con-rods, and a new intake system design.

The geometrics throughout the exhaust system have also been revolutionised.

The new one-piece-cast exhaust header reduces losses, an important factor in ensuring Ferrari’s characteristic throttle response with zero turbo lag.

These improvements, combined with the Variable Boost Management which adjusts torque delivery to suit the gear selected, enable the Ferrari Portofino to offer even higher levels of acceleration in all gears and lower fuel consumption compared to the outgoing model.

The Ferrari Portofino’s vehicle dynamic characteristics have been completely revised.

The Ferrari Portofino is also the first GT in the range to be fitted with EPS (Electric Power Steering). This allowed the engineers to reduce the steering ratio by seven per cent for even more responsive steering.

There was also a particular focus on board comfort which is guaranteed by a slew of new features, not least an infotainment system with 10.2” touchscreen display, a new air-conditioning system, a new steering wheel and electrically adjustable seats with a new backrest design that boosts legroom for rear seat passengers.

Occupants will appreciate the new deflector which, when the top is dropped, cuts air flow inside the cabin by 30%.