Ferrari Unveils Portofino Entry Model

Ferrari NV is replacing its lowest-priced ($202,700) model, the California T, with the Portofino, a hardtop convertible with a 592-hp turbocharged V-8 engine.

The 2+2 GT (with two jump seats suitable only for short trips) features an all-new chassis that is more rigid but lighter that the platform that carried the 3-year-old California T convertible. The body is sleeker and more aerodynamic.

Ferrari will announce pricing when it presents the car publicly at next month’s Frankfurt auto show.

The engine has been modified with new pistons, connecting rods and intake system to deliver an addition 39 hp, enabling the Portofino to zip from zero to 100 kph in 3.5 seconds and achieve a top speed of 198 mph. Ferrari says a new one-piece exhaust header reduces backpressure losses and provides zero turbo lag.

The car boasts the supercar company’s first use in the GT series of electric power steering and a third-generation electronic rear differential. The suspension has bene upgraded with a dual-coil magnetorheological damping said to reduce body role while better adjusting to road surface unevenness.

Interior updates include a 10.2-inch touchscreen display, revised air conditioning system, new steering wheel and 18-way electrically adjustable seats. A new wind deflector reduces air flow in the cockpit 30% when the top is down.