NAZA Italia, the official importer and distributor of the Ferrari brand of vehicles in Malaysia, has unveiled the Italian marque’s new V8 grand tourer (GT), the Ferrari Portofino, with a starting price of RM948,000 excluding duty and customisation options.
The Portofino made its debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show last year and is set to dominate the GT segment. It took its name from one of the most attractive villages on the Italian Riviera in Liguria.
“The Portofino is the most powerful convertible car in the GT segment that the Ferrari has ever produced and Naza Italia is thrilled to present this dynamic model in Malaysia. Combined with versatility, it offers a level of driving pleasure and on-board comfort unparalleled on the market.
“This versatile V8 GT delivers sporty elegance, performance, high-tech innovation and lavish comfort in a combination that is ideally suited to our customers’ desires,” said Naza Corporation Holdings group chief executive officer for automotive group Datuk Samson Anand George at the launch.
Powered by a 3.9-litre V8 twin-turbo engine and paired with a seven-speed F1 dual-clutch automated transmission, it produces a maximum of 600hp at 7,500rpm and 760Nm of torque between 3,000rpm to 5,250rpm in the seventh gear. The engine has won the International Engine of The Year Awards in 2016 and last year consecutively.
Ferrari claims that the Portofino can sprint from zero to 100kph in 3.5 seconds, and a top speed of over 320kph. It has an average fuel consumption rating of 10.7 litres per 100km and an emission rating of 245g CO2 per km.
The Portofino measures at 4,586mm in length, 1,938mm in width, 1,318mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,670mm. It weighs 1,664kg and it has a 292 litre of boot space, as well as a 80 litre of fuel tank capacity.
Its vehicle dynamic characteristics have been revised and optimised. The vehicle’s third generation electronic rear differential (E-Diff3) has been integrated with the F1-Trac, which improves its mechanical grip and the control.
The Portofino is the first GT in this (price) range to be fitted with an electric power steering system (EPS). The integration of the EPS and E-Diff3 reduced the steering ratio by 7 per cent for a more responsive steering without a trade-off in stability at high-speed driving.
According to Ferrari, with the adoption of the dual-coil technology, the magnetorheological damping system (SCM-E) has been upgraded, helping to reduce the body roll while contributing to improve absorption of the road surface unevenness, thus making it an even more dynamic, responsive car.
The GT also focuses on the on-board comfort, and this is achieved by a slew of new features — an infotainment system with a 10.2-inch touchscreen display, a new air-conditioning system that improves passenger comfort either with the top up or down, a new steering wheel, 18-way adjustable powered seats with new backrest design that increases rear seat passengers’ legroom.
A new wind deflector, which can cut air flow inside the cabin by 30 per cent, reduces aerodynamic noise during open-top driving. The redesigned retractable hard top can be opened or closed in 14 seconds while on the move at lower speed, making it more practical for use in day-to-day situations.