Ferrari has chosen a particularly evocative name for this exceptionally versatile GT car, referencing one of Italy’s most beautiful coastal towns, synonymous with elegance, sportiness and luxury. The Ferrari Portofino fully captures the intangible characteristics of this romantic locale, whilst appealing to a new breed of driver; those who strive to embrace the Italian pinnacle of performance and Gran Turismo desire.
To echo the name Portofino, the launch was staged in The Lobby of the prestigious The Peninsula Hong Kong. Blackbird Concessionaires delivered a memorable experience for all guests and enthusiasts. The iconic fountain and historic façade of the hotel’s main towers were illuminated in Ferrari Rosso Corsa with a Cavallino to mark the occasion, along with a display of the current range of cars. It was a rare occasion for The Peninsula to host such a lighting installation for an outdoor event/external party, which signifies the importance of the Ferrari Portofino.
Mr. Paul Smyth, President of Ferrari Greater China, said, “The Ferrari Portofino strikes the perfect balance between performance and versatility. It is designed for daily driving and effortlessly converts from an authentic ‘berlinetta’ coupé into a drop-top, delivering a unique Ferrari soundtrack and superb driving pleasure. This new member of the Cavallino Rampante family is set to become a new dream car for Ferrari owners and fans.”
Jon Chester, General Brand Manager of Blackbird Concessionaires, explained, “It has been a time of tremendous growth and excitement for Blackbird Concessionaires. Since July 2017, we have invested enormously in both facilities and people in order to truly represent Ferrari at a world class level. The Ferrari Portofino is a landmark model for the marque and signifies a whole new experience in dynamic driving ability paired with everyday usability, along with Ferrari’s bold new design language. It is the perfect GT car to launch the new age of Ferrari in Hong Kong.”
The Ferrari Portofino is powered by a V8 twin-turbo, a member of the Ferrari engine family that won the overall International Engine of the Year Award in both 2016 and 2017. The new car is capable of delivering 600 cv, or 40 cv more than the last Ferrari V8 GT offering, boasting best-in-class power and sprinting from 0-100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds thanks to the adoption of new components and calibration of the engine management software. The characteristic Ferrari V8 soundtrack has also been further enhanced and can be fully appreciated, particularly in top-down driving. These improvements, combined with its Variable Boost Management which adjusts torque delivery to suit the gear selected, enable the Ferrari Portofino to offer even higher levels of acceleration in all gears. All of this, coupled with a lower fuel consumption compared to the outgoing model means that the new Portofino V8 GT offers extraordinary day-to-day usability.
The Ferrari Portofino has also been crowned for a series of “firsts”, with completely revised vehicle dynamic characteristics benefitting from the introduction of new technological solutions. For the first time in this configuration, the third-generation electronic rear differential (E-Diff3) has been adopted and integrated with the F1-Trac, improving both mechanical grip and the control of the car on the limit. The Ferrari Portofino is also the first GT in the range to be fitted with EPS (Electric Power Steering). Thanks to integration with the E-Diff3, this allowed Ferrari engineers to reduce the steering ratio by 7% for even more responsive steering without a trade-off in stability. The magnetorheological damping system (SCM-E) has been upgraded with dual-coil technology, helping to reduce roll while improving absorption of road surface unevenness. The result is an even more dynamic and responsive car that also delivers superior ride comfort.
The Ferrari Portofino is an aggressively-styled car, with a two-box fastback configuration – unprecedented in a coupé-convertible with a retractable hard top. This adds style and sleekness to its silhouette, giving it a sportier character without compromising its elegance or understated front-to-rear balance in profile.
Further building on overall capabilities, there is a particular focus on on-board comfort; the key to creating a truly masterful GT. This is guaranteed via a range of new features, not least an infotainment system with a 10.25” touchscreen display; a new air-conditioning system that improves occupant comfort both with the top up or down; a new steering wheel; 18-way electrically adjustable seats with a new backrest design that boosts legroom for rear seat passengers; and the passenger display. Occupants will particularly appreciate the new wind deflector which can cut air flow inside the cabin by 30% whilst simultaneously reducing aerodynamic noise.
A brilliant marriage of design, technological content and performance, the Ferrari Portofino is the perfect car for any occasion, delivering exhilarating driving experiences only possible from a Maranello creation, with a starting price from HKD3.5 million in Hong Kong.