Prod the starter button on the Ferrari Portofino’s steering wheel and something rather wonderful happens. For a split second everything remains calm, but then the stillness is broken by the 3.9-litre twin turbo V8 bursting into life. In a world of synthesised exhaust notes, the Ferrari’s is the real deal; rich, cultured and reassuringly expensive.
What marks this particular Ferrari out, however, is that it’s designed to be used every day. There’s a usable boot, a pair of small seats in the back and a folding metal hard top that promises to combine the indulgence of a convertible with the refinement of a coupé.
UNDER THE BONNET
The Portofino is based on the old California T, but the changes under the skin are significant. For a start, the power output is up by 40PS, taking the total to an impressive 600PS (592bhp in old money). That’s enough to give the Portofino true supercar pace, with a 0-to-62mph time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed in excess of 199mph.
Denne historien er fra November 2019-utgaven av Somerset Life.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra November 2019-utgaven av Somerset Life.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Up on the Down
Try this easy-to-follow Exmoor walk with SIMONE STANBROOK-BYRNE
Shop until you drop
It’s Somerset’s county town, it’s the place to go for the big shops, but Taunton is also home to a thriving independent scene, discovers CATHERINE COURTENAY
Creatures of the night
Have you ever had something swoop past your ear, almost unseen? You may have had a brief encounter with a bat, says BERNARD BALE
Bowled over
Now that we can return to skittle and bowling alleys - albeit with new rules BERNARD BALE reveals that the sport of bowling has many Somerset links
Trackway through time
In the Somerset Levels SIMONE STANBROOK-BYRNE discovers a place where our Neolithic heritage rubs shoulders with the present day
SAVING THE SPLENDOUR OF EXMOOR
The splendour of Exmoor National Park may appear timeless and untroubled, but a new book reveals the long and often bitter struggle conservationists faced to save the landscape from the twin threats of afforestation and the plough
Decorative art
Not simply functional, treat your walls like an extension of your personality
Charity starts at home
How do we teach our children the importance of giving back?
Blooming brilliant
Will and Lauren Holley purchased a four-acre field in Somerset, converted it into a nursery, opened during lockdown and now their perennial plants are flying off the shelves. JULIE HARDING meets the go-getting couple
Age-old advice
Just become a grandparent for the first time? Perhaps you need a little guidance, so here are some top tips about how to embrace your new family role
