Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE | 47

P

utting “Ferrari” beside
“ugly” just isn’t done.
So let’s not mention the
California, the car the lovely-
looking Portofi no replaces
in Ferrari’s line-up. The
newcomer sticks with the same
2+2 seating, folding hardtop
and front-engine format, but
adds welcome elegance and
grace to the formula.
Despite the way it looked, the
California worked just as Italy’s
best-known and most-revered
car maker intended it should.
For 70 per cent of buyers, it was
their fi rst-ever Maranello-made
car. Through its decade-long
production life, the California
served as the gateway drug to
full-blown Ferrari addiction.
Price was one of the reasons.
Even at $400,000 or so, it was
always by far the least costly
Ferrari. California customers,
Ferrari found, used their car
more frequently than owners of
the brand’s sportier models. They
appreciated its practicality, most
especially the pair of tiny rear
seats and its “sporty but socially
acceptable” exterior design.
With the Portofi no, Ferrari’s
objectives were to deliver
a little more versatility and

performance along with truly

coupe-like roof-up looks.

Wearing a $399,888 price tag,

it’s the same size as the California

yet Ferrari has engineered an

entirely new aluminium body

structure for the Portofi no.

The engine is an upgraded

version of the 3.9-litre twin-

turbo V8 introduced in the fi nal

version of the California. It spins

a little higher, to 7500rpm, and

delivers 441kW. That’s an extra

26kW. The rear-mounted seven-

speed double-clutch automatic

that’s the only transmission

option is carried over from the

Portofi no’s predecessor.

Performance is brilliant,

as expected from anything

wearing a Ferrari badge. It rips

from rest to highly illegal in a

handful of seconds, aided by

snappy shifting by the superb

double clutch. But the V8 is also

surprisingly fl exible and quite

happy to be driven sedately.

There’s just one problem: the

sound. The Portofi no has bypass

valves in both its muffl ers and

their operation is controlled by

software that can’t be overridden

by the driver. Too often they

open at low revs to emit a loud,

droning rasp. It’s not the kind of

noise a Ferrari should ever make.

Fortunately, the exhaust sounds

fi ne at higher revs.

Although the Portofi no is

around 80kg lighter than the

California, according to Ferrari

engineers, it doesn’t feel

especially nimble. While grip

levels are high, this car doesn’t

have the steering precision or

handling fi nesse to create a truly

intimate sense of connection

between driver and machine.

Where the Portofi no does

excel is ride comfort. Switching

the steering wheel manettino, a

Ferrari trademark, to Sport mode

from softer Comfort doesn’t

make the suspension stiff and

jiggly, but neither does it bring a

marked improvement in agility.

There’s a little more boot space

and rear-seat legroom in the

Portofi no than the California, while

the all-new electric roof takes the

same time — 14 seconds — to

go up or down. Driving with the

roof retracted, there’s little air

buffeting to cause discomfort.

The bubble of calm in the topless

Portofi no is impressive.

Even more striking is the

completely new interior design,

which includes new infotainment

tech, though without Apple

CarPlay or Android Auto. The

craftsmanship is impeccable and

the materials have been picked

strictly from the A-list.

That said, the Portofi no’s

remote driving character and

sometimes annoying exhaust

make it a B-grade Ferrari.

By John Carey

THINGS WE LIKE

 Smokin’ twin-turbo V8

 Slick seven-speed double-clutch

transmission

 Comfortable ride

 Lovely exterior

 Premium-quality interior

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

Breathy exhaust note at low revs

Disappointing handling

Tiny rear seats

SPEX

Made in Italy

3.9-litre V8 turbopetrol/seven-

speed twin-clutch/rear-wheel drive

441kW of power at 7500rpm/760Nm

of torque from 3000-5250rpm

0-100km/h in 3.5 seconds (claimed)

10.7L/100km combined; 98

premium; CO2 emissions are

245gkm

Warranty: Three years/unlimited km

Standard: Four airbags, stability

control, parking sensors, carbon-

ceramic brakes, tyre repair kit,

alarm, 20-inch alloy wheels,

adaptive suspension, 10.3-inch

touchscreen, navigation, Bluetooth,

digital radio, power-adjustable

front seats, leather upholstery.

Redbook future values: (California)

3yr: 59%; 5yr: 46%

Safety

Not tested

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money

Overall

STARS

compare with ...

Aston Martin DB11 Volante,

Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster,

Porsche 911 Turbo cabriolet