Ferrari Shuns California For Portofino

New 320km ph 2+2 roadster to replace underwhelming California T

- Stuart Gallagher

BEING GENEROUS, YOU might say that the Ferrari California of 2008 onwards is far from our favourite product to have slipped through the gates at Maranello. To call it the modern-day equivalent of the Mondial would be a touch harsh, but even so it’s never looked like a thoroughbred Italian supercar and the current ‘T’ version doesn’t drive as well as its stablemates – or most of its rivals. There is hope, then, that its replacement, the Portofino, will be far more worthy of the badge so many pay so much for.

Certainly, first impressions are good. It actually looks like a Ferrari for one thing: there’s a hint of F12 mixed with 488 GTB about its nose and a pair of tightly tucked-in hips ahead of the rear arches. Ferrari’s design team has also managed to remove much of the bulk that blighted the California’s back end with the roof down. With the roof (still a metal, folding affair) raised, there’s more of a junior-F12 look about the car.