The auto world got its boxers in a serious bundle over the release of the Ferrari California T.
It was not well received.
Some even went so far as to call it the “Rodney Dangerfield of Ferraris.”
Chill.
Because sure, compared to the marque’s lofty it was a bit of a wet washcloth, but, hell, it still handled like road-loving, neck-breaking Ferrari.
Regardless, the manufacturer seems to have heeded the salty response, as is apparent with the recent reveal of the forthcoming Ferrari Portofino.
(5 images)
Named for lovely little Euro coast town, the Portofino has taken the California T’s place as Ferrari’s poster child for entry level rides.
It’s packing nice 592 ponies and a legitimate 561 lb-ft of torque. And with a 3.9-liter V8 under the bonnet, it’s darting 0-62 in a very respectable 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 199 mph.
The Portofino is the second car to get electric power steering and is built off of an aluminum chassis with a form that’s all over lighter and creates less drag.
Plus, hands down it just passes the eye test in a way that the California T did not.
The surprising news is that it’ll be sporting a 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment display on the dash, a departure from Ferrari’s otherwise quite tactile interiors.
She’ll make her official grand debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. No prices were announced, but one can expect it to be comparable to the California T’s $200,000 range with a slew of spendy $10,000+ options. Which, for a majority of the planet, makes entry-level, eh, a subjective term to say the least.
But for our part, no complaints here. It’s still spendy enough to make you terrified to touch anything that might bring it harm, but “reasonable” enough that it can be driven every damn day. And that’s where Ferraris belong after all — on the open road.
This article was featured in the InsideHook newsletter. Sign up now.