Ferrari Portofino Review 2019

Forget California! Ferrari is an Italian brand, so when it came time for the brand to redesign its entry-level model and also rename it, the geographical course was finally rightfully shifted to its home country.

Step into the all-new 2019 Ferrari Portofino.

If you have traveled the Italian coast, you may know Portofino. It is located on the picturesque Italian Riviera, on the Ligurian Sea, between the Cinque Terre and Genoa, and is known for attracting wealth and celebrities to its exclusive coastline.  

It's gorgeous, classic, timeless; all terms also fit this new convertible that looks so much better than California. And, to be honest, it looks more Italian, which is important. Machine, truth Italian sports car. 

Ferrari California 2019: 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	$313,800

Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10

It's a more sinister-looking entry-level car for the iconic Italian brand, but not ugly. 

Of course, some evil faces are ugly. But I bet if Elle MacPherson or George Clooney got mad at you, you'd still find them attractive. Same with the Portofino, which has a slightly menacing front end, a few glittering curves on a taut metal frame, and a pair of high-set hips with flashy taillights. 

He is undeniably more muscular than the old California. And the wheel arches are filled with 20-inch wheels eight inches wide at the front (with 245/35 tires) and ten inches wide (285/35) at the rear.

Filling the wheel arches - 20-inch wheels.

It's not a compact car - at 4586mm long, 1938mm wide and 1318mm high, the Portofino is longer than some midsize SUVs. But boy, he handles his size well. 

And like many waterfront estates in the seaside town the new model is named after, you can close to fight bad weather. The folding electronic roof system raises or lowers in 14 seconds and can operate at speeds up to 40 km/h.

I think it's better with a roof. You don't often say that about a convertible...

I really think Portofino looks better with a roof.

How practical is the interior space? 6/10

You don't buy a Ferrari if you want the most practical car for the money, but that doesn't mean the Portofino lacks any semblance of pragmatism.

There are four places. I know it's amazing to think it makes sense to make the Portofino 2+2-seater, but according to Ferrari, owners of the outgoing California used those rear seats about 30 percent of the time.

I wouldn't want to sit in the back row so much. It is designed for small children or small adults, but anyone approaching my height (182 cm) will be very uncomfortable. Even tiny adult males (for example, a fellow autographer like Stephen Corby) find it cramped and not very pleasant to be there. (link to existing review). But if you have children, there are two ISOFIX child seat attachment points.

The back row is designed for small children or small adults.

Cargo space is small, but with 292 liters of cargo with the roof up, there's plenty of room for luggage for a couple of days off (Ferrari says it can fit three carry-on bags, or two with the roof down). ). And - a tidbit for real customers - it has more luggage space than the new Corolla hatchback (217 l). 

In terms of cabin comfort, the front seats are luxurious and there are a few nice touches, like the 10.25-inch infotainment screen, which is pretty easy to use, although it does load a bit slowly when you switch between screens or try to find key locations. to the satellite navigation system.

The front seats of the Portofino are luxurious.

There are also two 5.0-inch digital screens in front of the driver, mounted on either side of the tachometer, and the front passenger can have their own display with speed, revs and gear. This is a neat option.

While it may have some pretense for long-distance travel, the Portofino is no beacon for storing loose items. It has a pair of cup holders and a small storage tray that will fit a smartphone.

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 6/10

It would be foolish to think that people who can afford a Ferrari don't understand finances. Most people who can buy a car like this are very clear about what they will and won't spend their hard-earned money on, but according to Ferrari, about 70 percent of prospective buyers in Portofino will buy their first Prancing Horse. Lucky them!

And at $399,888 (list price excluding travel), the Portofino is as close to an affordable new Ferrari as possible. 

Standard equipment includes this 10.25-inch multimedia screen that runs Apple CarPlay (an option, of course), includes sat-nav, DAB digital radio, and acts as a display for the rearview camera with parking guidelines, and there's front and rear parking. sensors as standard.

Standard equipment includes this 10.25-inch multimedia screen.

The standard wheel package is a 20-inch set, and of course you get leather trim, 18-way electronically adjustable front seats, as well as heated front seats and dual-zone climate control, and touchless unlocking (keyless entry) with push button starter on steering wheel. Automatic LED headlights and automatic wipers are standard, along with cruise control and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. 

Speaking of the fantastic Formula 8300-inspired Ferrari steering wheel (with shift paddles), the carbon fiber trim version with integrated shift LEDs found on our car cost an extra $6793. Oh, and if you want CarPlay, it'll be $6950 (which is more than the best Apple computer you can buy) and that rearview camera will add to the $XNUMX price. WHAT???

The Formula 8300-inspired Ferrari steering wheel with carbon fiber trim and built-in shift LEDs fitted to our car cost an extra $XNUMX.

Some of the other options fitted to our vehicle included Magneride adaptive dampers ($8970), passenger LCD ($9501), adaptive front lighting ($5500), Hi-Fi audio system ($10,100) and folding rear seat. backrest ($2701), among many other interior elements. 

So the verified price of our Ferrari, worth just under four hundred thousand dollars, was actually $481,394. But who is counting?

The Portofino is available in 28 different colors (including seven blues, six greys, five reds and three yellows).

Portofino is available in 28 different colors.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 9/10

The 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine develops 441 kW at 7500 rpm and 760 Nm of torque at 3000 rpm. That means it has 29kW more power (and 5Nm more torque) than the Ferrari California T it replaces.

Plus the 0-100 acceleration time is also better; it now hits highway speed in 3.5 seconds (was 3.6 seconds in the Cali T) and hits 200 km/h in just 10.8 seconds, according to Ferrari's claim.

The maximum speed is "more than 320 km/h". Unfortunately, it was not possible to check this, nor the acceleration time to 0 km/h.

The Portofino has a curb weight of 1664 kg and a dry weight of 1545 kg. Weight distribution: 46% front and 54% rear. 

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How much fuel does it consume? 8/10

The Ferrari Portofino with a twin-turbocharged V8 engine uses a claimed 10.7 liters per 100 kilometers. It's not that fuel costs are a big deal if you're spending $400 on a car. 

But that's more than, say, a Mercedes-AMG GT (9.4 l/100 km; 350 kW/630 Nm), but not as much as a Mercedes-AMG GT R (11.4 l/100 km; 430 kW/700 Nm). And the Ferrari has more power than both of them, and it's also faster (and more expensive...).

The fuel tank capacity of the Ferrari Portofino is 80 liters, which is enough for a theoretical run of 745 km.

What is it like to drive? 9/10

Compared to the California T it replaces, the new model is stiffer, has a lighter all-aluminum chassis, gets a redesigned powertrain, and also includes an electronically controlled limited slip differential. 

It's faster, it has more technology - like electronic bypass valves to improve the sound - and it's great. 

So is it fast and fun? You bet. It has electronic power steering, which may not be as tactile in terms of road feel as a car with a hydraulic steering setup, but it is quick to respond and arguably offers better point-and-shoot capability as a result. The old diminutive Corby criticized it for being very light and somewhat clunky, but as an entry point to the brand, I find it serves as a very controllable steering setup.

Compared to the California T it replaces, the new model is stiffer.

The adaptive magneto-rheological dampers do their job superbly, allowing the Portofino to handle bumps in the road, including potholes and potholes. It almost never seems to be ruffled, although the windshield shakes a bit, as is often the case in convertibles.

The most amazing element of this Ferrari is that it is agile and reserved at times, but can turn into a manic car when you want it to.

When the Manettino mode switch on the steering wheel is set to Comfort, you'll be rewarded with a smooth ride and road cushioning. In sport mode, things are a bit rougher and tougher. I personally found that the transmission in this mode, when left in automatic, tended to upshift to save fuel, but still responded fairly quickly when I pressed the pedal hard.

Turning Auto off means it's you, the pedals and paddles, and the car won't override your decisions. If you want to see how realistic this 10,000 rpm tach is, you can test it on first, second, third… oh wait, do you need to keep your license? Just keep it first. 

The adaptive magneto-rheological dampers do their job superbly, allowing the Portofino to overcome the bumps in the road.

Its braking is amazing, with aggressive application resulting in reaction to seatbelt tension. In addition, the ride was comfortable, the balance and handling of the chassis were predictable and controllable in corners, and grip was good even in wet weather. 

When the roof is down, the sound of the exhaust is exhilarating under hard throttle, but I found it to hum a bit under less hard acceleration, and in most "normal driving" situations, it actually just sounded loud, not lush. 

Things that annoyed you? Throttle response is sluggish in the first part of the pedal stroke, which creates some moments of testing in traffic. It doesn't help that the engine start system is exceptionally overactive. And that there is no fuel consumption data on the screen of the digital trip computer - I wanted to see what the car claims fuel consumption, but I could not.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

3 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 6/10

There are no ANCAP or Euro NCAP crash test results for any Ferrari, and it's fair to say that safety technology is not the reason you buy a Ferrari. 

For example, the Portofino has dual front and side airbags, as well as an advanced stability control system… but that's about it. 

Things like Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are not available. 

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

Servicing a Ferrari won't cost you a cent for the first seven years, and whether you keep it or sell it, the new owner will have access to additional maintenance for what's left of the original seven year period.

Ferrari's standard warranty offer is a three-year plan, but if you sign up for the New Power15 program, Ferrari will cover your car for up to 15 years from the date of first registration, including coverage for major mechanical components including the engine, transmission, suspension and steering. These V4617 models are reportedly priced at $8, a drop in the financial ocean at this price point.

Verdict

The overall score doesn't necessarily reflect how good this car is, but that's because we have to consider the safety kit and equipment. These things matter, of course. But if you really want a Ferrari Portofino, you'll probably read the ride impressions and look at the photos, both of which should be enough to push you to hell if you're not quite there yet.

The 2019 Ferrari Portofino is not just Lovely see, this is also a more Italian proposal. And this Very good. 

Do you think the Portofino is Ferrari's best offering? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.