Ferrari Portofino Review 2018

It's not often that the rest of us have to look down on Ferrari owners, and sadly, with the arrival of the new and truly gorgeous Portofino four-seat convertible, that time is over.

It used to be possible to openly taunt people in the car's predecessor, California, for buying a "cheap" Ferrari, or even an ugly, bland one if you felt especially cruel.

Launched ten years ago, the Cali brand was seen as a desperate attempt to woo the brand's American and global poseurs. People who liked the idea of ​​a Ferrari but were scared by the reality.

No one will argue that this big, bulging car was the most beautiful thing ever to come out of Italy - even Silvio Berlusconi is more attractive - but Ferrari can claim to have had the last laugh.

Cutting prices and creating a new, livable entry-level model was the panacea they were looking for, as 70% of buyers in California were new to the brand.

The success of its replacement, the Portofino, which is more Italian in style and name, seems almost assured because it will still be available - in relative terms, priced under $400,000 - but now that's what its predecessor is (even after design- makeup 2014) never had; stunningly beautiful.

But is driving as good as it seems? We flew to Bari, in southern Italy, to find out.

Ferrari California 2018: T
Safety Rating	-
engine's type	3.9 L turbo
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	10.5l / 100km
Landing	4 Places
Price from	$287,600

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10

How can you assess the value of a brand like Ferrari? Frankly, people are almost willing to pay too much for such a car, because buying one is often more about showing off your wealth than having a particular passion for Italian engineering, especially at this entry level level.

What buyers get for the $399,888 asking price in Australia is more than just a car.

This ability to cheat its customers with impunity has made Ferrari one of the most profitable companies in the world. Its adjusted earnings (before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) accounted for 29.5% of total sales in the first quarter of 2017, according to Bloomberg. 

Only Apple, with a 31.6 percent margin, and fashion brand Hermes International, with a 36.5 percent margin, can top that.

So cost is relative, but what buyers get for the asking price of $399,888 in Australia is more than just a car and the ability to complain repeatedly about the expensive options.

Specifications for our vehicles arriving in July have yet to be set, but you can expect to pay extra for everything from carbon fiber trim to seat heaters and even a nifty "passenger screen" that puts a digital instrument cluster and touchscreen in front of the co-pilot. . However, Apple CarPlay is standard.

Is there anything interesting about its design? 10/10

Okay, call me down if you want, but I just don't understand how they could make a car this size and shape, with two plus two seats and a convertible hard top, prettier than it is.

This is a huge step up from the previous California.

It's such a huge step up from heavy-handed California that the only things they have in common are a Ferrari badge and four round wheels.

From the rear, it looks stunning, with the roof up or down, and its vents, intakes, and air ducts are perfectly proportioned and, if the engineers are to be believed, practical as well.

This large scallop in front of the doors helps draw air through the headlight surrounds, which is used to cool the brakes and reduce drag, for example.

It looks amazing from behind.

Huge efforts have also been made to reduce the weight of this car (it's 80kg less than the California T) by using everything from magnesium seats to an all-new aluminum underbody that not only improves airflow and downforce, but and adds structural rigidity.

Sure, it looks pretty in pictures, but in metal, it's really worth seeing. Ferrari doesn't always get it right, and it's not as wonderful as the 458, but considering it's a GT and not a supercar, it's pretty damn impressive whether it's a coupe or a convertible. The interior should also be expensive in both looks and feel.

The interior should also be expensive to look and feel.

How practical is the interior space? 6/10

Considering that the company's own customer research shows that California owners use the rear seats in their cars on 30% of their trips, it's pretty surprising that the Portofino comes without padding for the spikes of those small enough to crash into the back.

Obviously, there is 5 cm more legroom than before, but this will never be enough for an adult (there are two ISOFIX attachment points).

Even though California owners use the rear seats on 30% of their trips, the Portofino doesn't have much padding in the back.

It's a 2+2, of course, not a four-seater, and in fact that back seat is where you store bags that you can't fit in the trunk when the roof is down. Ferrari claims you can get three-wheeled travel cases, but they have to be small.

On a positive note, the front seats are very comfortable and I had plenty of headroom, but taller colleagues looked squeezed with the roof up.

Yes, there are two coffee cup holders and a beautifully lined tray for storing your phone, and the central 10.25-inch touchscreen is nice to look at and use. 

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10

While Ferrari says it all started with a completely blank sheet of paper for the Portofino, someone clearly wrote on that sheet: "No new engine blocks for you."

It may not be brand new, but the award-winning 3.9-liter V8 has all new pistons and connecting rods, new software, improved twin-scroll turbochargers, new intakes and exhaust.

The updated 3.9-liter V8 develops 441 kW / 760 Nm of power.

The result is, as you'd expect, more power than ever, with a whopping 441kW/760Nm, and the ability to hit a new sky-high 7500rpm. Ferrari says it's a class leader and we tend to believe them.

Shifts from the also unchanged "F1" seven-speed gearbox have also apparently been improved, and they do feel absurdly harsh.

The raw performance numbers are far from bland too, with 3.3 seconds for a 0-100 km/h dash or 10.8 seconds for a 0-200 km/h burst.   

Будьте в курсе carsweekly guide newsletter

How much fuel does it consume? 7/10

That 80kg weight saving is also good for fuel economy, with a claimed combined cycle figure of 10.7L/100km and CO245 emissions of 2g/km. 

Good luck ever getting close to that 10.7 figure in the real world, because the performance is just too tempting.

What is it like to drive? 8/10

Obviously, there are people who buy Ferraris in spite of the noise they make, not because of it. They probably plug their houses into Bang & Olufsen stereos and never turn up the volume above three. To be honest, wealth is spent on rich people.

To satisfy customers who drive their Portofinos daily and don't want to go deaf, it features an electric bypass valve that means it's "pretty moderate" at idle, while in Comfort mode it's designed to be quiet. for "urban conditions and long-distance trips". 

In practice, in this mode, he seems a bit schizo, switching between complete silence and the disturbing roar of a donkey.

Ironically, even in Sport mode, it has a start-stop, which - if you know Ferrari's reliability history - is also a concern. Every time you stop, you think you may have broken.

On the plus side, more of the V8's great noise is unleashed in Sport mode, but you still have to slow down a bit to get it to sing properly. Some of my colleagues simply hated the sound in general, arguing that the transition to turbocharging ruined the Ferrari scream the way Axl Rose ruined AC/DC.

Personally, I could live with it, because at anything above 5000 rpm it still makes your ears cry tears of joy.

In terms of driving, the Portofino is well ahead of the California in pace, punch and poise. The chassis feels stiffer, the new "E-Diff 3" borrowed from the great 812 Superfast allows for less power out of corners, and the car, as you'd expect, gets ugly sometimes when provoked.

The Portofino is well ahead of the California in pace, punch and poise.

Ferrari funny guys decided to launch the car in southern Italy because they thought it might be warmer in the middle of winter. This was not the case, and they, too, discovered too late that the roads in the Bari region were made of a special kind of sandstone, which had all the qualities of grip on ice filled with diesel fuel.

This meant that any enthusiasm at or near the roundabout would result in slippage at both ends as all that force vies to buy. Cheerful from the passenger seat, while driving it was less joyful.

However, this car has one big and possibly controversial drawback. Ferrari engineers, a passionate team, insist they switched to electronic steering with the Portofino because it's simply better than hydraulic systems.

One of them also admitted to me that they are now working in a world where people usually get behind the wheel of a PlayStation for the first time, and therefore they need lightness, not weight.

In a GT car that many owners will use every day, it is perhaps unrealistic to expect the kind of powerful, manly and amazing steering you will find in the Ferrari 488.

For me personally, the EPS setup for the Portofino is too light, too disconnected, and too disruptive for the sense of oneness between man and machine that you would expect to feel when driving a Ferrari fast.

It's like almost everything about the experience is fantastic, but something is missing. Like a Big Mac without special sauce or champagne without alcohol.

Will it bother the people who actually buy this car rather than the whining of old car magazines? Probably not, to be honest.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

3 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 7/10

Ferrari doesn't like to spend money, so they don't submit cars for Euro NCAP testing, which means they don't have a star rating. A host of smart stabilization and traction control systems protect you, as well as four airbags - one front and one side for the driver and passenger. AEB? Most likely not. The sensors will look ugly.

Frankly, this is important for safety when you would be so upset if you crashed a Ferrari that you would probably want to die anyway.

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 9/10

We won't joke about Italian reliability, thank you very much, because Portofino owners have nothing to worry about thanks to the company's seven-year "Genuine Maintenance" program that improves Kia.

Owners who buy from an authorized Ferrari dealer receive free scheduled maintenance for the first seven years of the car's life. 

If you sell the car within seven years, the next owner will get all the remaining coverage. Generous.

“Genuine Maintenance is a Ferrari-exclusive program that helps ensure that vehicles are maintained at the highest level for maximum performance and safety. The program is unique as it is the first time a car manufacturer has offered such coverage worldwide and is a testament to the dedication Ferrari places on its customers,” Ferrari tells us.

And if you sell the car within seven years, the next owner will benefit from what's left. Generous. The program includes original parts, labor, engine oil and brake fluid. 

It's not often you see the words "value for money" and "Ferrari" in the same sentence, but this is true.

Verdict

The Ferrari Portofino comes with a ready market for wealthy people who are desperate to spend a lot of money on a car and tie themselves to one of the world's most respected luxury brands. And this is now the most affordable way to do it.

A slightly ridiculous and rather unappealing car hasn't hindered the California's success, so the fact that the Portofino looks so much better, is faster and handles better means it should be a hit for Ferrari. 

Indeed, it deserves to be, just a little embarrassing for the steering.

Would you take a Ferrari Portofino if you were given one, or would you demand a more serious Fezza like the 488? Tell us in the comments below.