Forged in history: The super Ferrari Portofino

The new Portofino is the embodiment of this ability to capture beauty and performance with one product.

FERRARI IS A word synonymous with iconic sports cars. It is a brand that has motorsport coursing through its veins, courtesty of the legacy of their founder Enzo Ferrari, yet is still capable of delivering versatile products that are just at home on the world's most fashionable streets we have in the UAE as they are on the race-track.
The new Portofino is the embodiment of this ability to capture beauty and performance with one product. This new V8 GT looks set to dominate thanks to a perfect combination of outright power and versatility in addition to a level of driving pleasure and on-board comfort. Capable of unleashing a massive 600hp and sprinting from 0 to 200 km/h in 10.8 seconds, the Ferrari Portofino is the most dynamic convertible to combine the advantages of a retractable hard top, a roomy boot and a generous cockpit space complete with two rear seats suitable for short trips.
How has it achieved all this? The Ferrari Portofino enjoys an illustrious V8 GT lineage and is the descendant of the popular California family, one of the most famous names associated with the Ferrari brand - a model name that oozes heritage from every vent. With their soft curves, room for a small amount of luggage and easier-going nature of the chassis for those long inter-continental journeys, the California family are some of the most sought after Ferraris ever built.
250 California
The first Ferrari to bear the name California was the original V12-engined 250 California, an exquisitely designed 2-seater spider produced in 1957, which has become renowned as being one of the greatest examples of automotive design of all time. Scaglietti built around 100 of these, some with aluminium bodies, and examples now fetch millions at auction. Long-wheelbase versions were built between 1958 and 1960 before being replaced by the short-wheelbase version.
365 California
Following in its footsteps was the equally impressive 365 California, less than 20 were ever built between 1966 and 1967. The exclusive nature of these Ferraris ensured that California became a hallowed name.
California T
The Italian company unveiled a modern day reiteration of the California at the 2008 Paris Motor Show which evolved into the California T, launched in 2014. This incarnation of the hard-top convertible boasted a new turbocharged V8, joining models such as the 1984 GTO and 1987 F40, hence the 'T' in the moniker.
The Ferrari California T's modern design gave it a powerful personality in which sportiness and elegance meld in the classically seamless way of every Prancing Horse ever built. The design, an elegantly balanced interplay of convex and concave surfaces epitomizes the sublime elegance, sportiness, versatility and exclusivity that have distinguished every California model since the 1950s.
California T HS
In January 2016, Maranello launched a brand-new Handling Speciale (HS) option for the California T, designed for owners looking for an even sportier driving experience, particularly on challenging, twisty routes.
The Ferrari Portofino
The new car, which takes its name from one of the most charming villages on the Italian Riviera, an eponym for stylish elegance, is the most versatile model in the current-day range. A Ferrari designed to be driven every day that also effortlessly converts from an authentic 'berlinetta' coupé to a drop-top capable of delivering a unique Ferrari soundtrack and superb driving pleasure even in day-to-day situations.
The retractable hard top (RHT) has been completely redesigned and can now be opened or closed in just 14 seconds on the move at lower speeds, making the car even more practical. Careful modelling of the RHT housing now allows the luggage compartment to hold two cabin trolleys with the roof down and three with the roof up. Ideal for any occasion, the Ferrari Portofino represents the perfect combination of design, performance and technology.
The Ferrari Portofino is significantly lighter with the adoption of new components featuring innovative designs made possible by the use of cutting-edge production techniques. This, combined with a 40hp higher power output than the California T, has resulted in a significant hike in performance and a corresponding drop in emissions.