Ferrari Portofino makes exclusive SA debut!
Special clients were treated to a private launch of the all-new Ferrari Portofino at an exclusive event held at the official Ferrari dealership in Johannesburg. The name, Portofino, was inspired by a fishing village on the Italian Riviera.
The highlight of every new Ferrari is the engine, and the Portofino is no exception. The grand-tourer is powered by a 441kW fire-breathing turbocharged V8 engine, with all of the power sent to the rear wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Add 760Nm of torque into the mix and the Portofino will blast from 0-100km/h in 3.5-seconds.
The dynamics of the car have also been heavily reworked, with the third generation of Ferrari’s electronic rear-differential working hand-in-hand with the latest version of F1 Trac to improve mechanical grip and control. There’s also Electric Power Steering and the latest version of Variable Boost Management software, which adapts torque delivery to suit the exact gear selected.
Design-wise, the Portofino is a lot more aggressively styled than its predecessor, the California, and makes use of what Ferrari calls a ‘two-box fastback configuration’ and is the first hard-top convertible car to ever use this setup. The end result is a sportier, sleeker character that is able to completely retract its roof in just 14 seconds. The interior of the Portofino has also been meticulously crafted to meet the levels of form and function, as set-out by the exterior design, by reducing weight and creating more space for occupants.
“We are thrilled to introduce our latest addition to the Prancing horse family in South Africa. The Portofino is a benchmark in its segment and surpasses all expectations of a V8 grand tourer. We believe this exceptionally versatile drop-top embodies the perfect combination of design excellence, supreme performance and unmatched technology”, concludes Mervyn Eagles, CEO of Scuderia South Africa.
