-Replacement for the California T
-New chassis, gearbox
-Convertible with hardtop
-Expected to be priced around Rs 4 crores
There’s a new Ferrari in town and this time around it’s the Portofino which will be launched here tomorrow. Call it, if you will, an entry-level Ferrari as it replaces the decade old California T, which was the entry-level model till date.
A decade is a long time for any car and is almost an eternity in terms of high priced, high powered rocket ships on wheels which is why Ferrari has really upped the game with the Portofino.
There’s a new chassis, usage of advanced materials for constructions and lighter components for normally heavy items like the seat motors. In all, Ferrari has managed to shed 80kgs over the California T which, in supercar terms, is the equivalent of dropping a whole BMI level.
Sitting in front and powering the rear is a 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 591bhp/760Nm. There’s a seven-speed F1 derived dual clutch transmission and enough driver aids of all kind to keep you pointing in the right direction all the time.
In the looks department, the car always looks like it is always doing 200kmph thanks to the swoopy long slung design, wide face that stretches over the sides and slightly wider rear track. The party piece is, of course, the retractable hardtop that can be brought up or down at speeds of up to 50kmph.
It’s standard Ferrari fare in the cabin with the addition of a 10.2-inch touchscreen display in the centre console. Also, this being Ferrari, you can customise the car right down to the last stitch on the seats, which means that no two Portofinos will ever looks the same (unless the owners choose to do so).
It’s expected to be priced around Rs 4 crores and this would put it in league with the Bentley Continental GT in the Indian market.
