The Ferrari California was unlike a lot of Ferraris before it. It was more of a Sunday cruiser rather than an angry yet precise corner-carver. It was also the first hard-top convertible from Ferrari, targa roofs notwithstanding. Moreover, it was also the most affordable car from the prancing horse's stable and provided the 'less' affluent a ticket into the coveted Ferrari owners club.
The one we got was the turbocharged California T, which was launched just three years ago. Today, however, Ferrari has launched the its replacement, the Portofino, in India with prices starting at Rs 3.5 crore sans customisation.
Aesthetically, the Portofino doesn't look dramatically different from the car it replaces. Just like the California, it features a long bonnet, a stubby rear that houses the roof, and a smiling front grille. It does, however, sport sharper design lines and a more aerodynamically optimised body, which gives it a sportier stance than the California.
The engine, too, is the same 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 as the California T. But here it develops 600PS of max power and 760Nm of peak torque, which is nearly 50PS and 5Nm more than the outgoing car. The engine is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch F1 transmission, which is placed at the rear and gets an E-Diff for btter power distribution. 0-100kmph comes up in just 3.5sec while 0-200kmph comes up in 10.8 seconds and the top speed is rated in excess of 320kmph. It also employs a new aluminium chassis, which is stiffer and 80kg lighter than the California, and a new aerodynamic package for torsional rigidity and aerodynamic efficiency. The Portofino also gets EPS (Electronic Power Steering), which is a first for a GT car. Other changes include the addition of Ferrari's SCM 3 magnetorheological damping system with stiffer spring rates.
The cabin is as luxurious as one would expect, with the whole space draped in the finest leather and Alcantara. All driver controls are still attached to the steering wheel, which looks like it's straight out of an F1 car. There is a new steering wheel, a 10.2-inch infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay, a 5-inch TFT instrument cluster along with traditional analogue dials and a new air-conditioning system, which promises to improve cooling when the hard-top is folded down. The front occupants get 18-way electrically adjustable seats and the rear passengers get more legroom thanks to a new backrest design. To reduce wind turbulence inside the cabin, the Ferrari Portofino gets a new wind deflector which cuts airflow inside the cabin by 30 per cent and also reduces wind noise.
Rs 3.5 crore is a bit much to ask for an 'entry-level' anything, but we guess when you're Ferrari, you can ask that amount of money for anything without batting an eyelid.
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