Ferrari Portofino M Makes a Match For Your Dreams

Was there ever any cooler toy than a hot wheels matchbox race car. Zooming around the bends, letting loose on the straightaways and escaping like James Bond in a little grey convertible sports car – our imaginations easily provided the RPMs. But the truth is the dream of adventurously cruising along in such sleekness never goes away. So, lucky for us, the Portofino M by Ferrari corners that thrill, putting the horsepower into the palms of our grownup hands and the soles of our actual feet.

The V8 turbo engine gets along on more than its name brand. Voted International Engine of the Year on four consecutive occasions, the gyration can gallop at 620hp, and does so at a clip that is 20 times greater than its Portofino predecessor.

The updated cams profile and the introduction of speed sensor on the turbocharger can take a lot of the credit, and thanks to a new gasoline particulate filter, breakneck doesn’t have to give in to Europe’s progressive anti-pollution standards. The Eight Speed Transmission gearbox with 20% less size, and 35% more torque gives the car plenty of vroom. But you don’t have to worry about the specs, because by the time the vehicle goes from 0-100km/h in 3.45 seconds, the details will be a blur just like the scenery.

Not to worry, the optics will quickly come into focus on the brake. Thirty-two meters registers a full stop (from 100kn/h), and since all roads are not created equal, Ferarri’s famous Manettino continues to adjust at the flip of a switch. Feeling like a tailored suit, according to the company, the new fit has five options. Wet provides stability and control in slick conditions, Comfort is computer control for normal conditions, Sport secures the off-road, and Race means you’re looking to optimize the fun.

You can push the car to the limit, while the intuitive software systems make sure the abandon goes off as safely as possible. On the Was there ever any cooler toy than a hot wheels matchbox race car. Zooming around the bends, letting loose on the straightaways and escaping like James Bond in a little grey convertible sports car – our imaginations easily provided the RPMs. But the truth is the dream of adventurously cruising along in such sleekness never goes away. So, lucky for us, the Portofino M by Ferrari corners that thrill, putting the horsepower into the palms of our grownup hands and the soles of our actual feet. BY RICH MONETTI other hand, you still might want to go it alone without an all knowing CPU, and ESC Off provides the free wheel.

Still, there’s plenty of failsafe in place, because no driver should ever be completely on their own and Ferrari delivers. High beams activate automatically with the receding sunlight and drivers are never in the dark in regard to blind spots. Computer monitoring alerts the driver to unseen incursions of adjacent traffic, and in case your Ferrari strays into someone else’s space, a Lane Departure Warning is signaled.

In tandem, the Predictive Emergency Brake System stays a step ahead of potential collisions with autonomous emergency braking, and readies the car to lessen any frontal impacts. A good look around isn’t a bad thing either. Surround View provides a 3D display, and the Rear Cross Traffic Alert warns drivers what’s behind when in reverse.

But the information, which includes a 10.25” touchscreen control, is all front and center on the two tiered multilevel dashboard. An intermediate gap was inserted with the intention of divvying up the mass of information and the subsequent control that is available to the driver. “This breaking up of the dash into different levels helps organize the in-car devices to very rational effect,” while simultaneously defining its signature full-width architecture,” states the literature.

A bridge is also provided and visually connects the instrument panel to the central tunnel. Thus, the set up keeps the passengers involved with the onboard experience.

Comfort does not diminish in accordance with the command structure. The seats of the Ferrari Portofino are a result of a diligent special research project, and the findings are distributed within an innovative magnesium structure of the seats.

At the same time, the posterior has plenty of room to breathe and expand. Density padding optimized, the ultra compact seats maximize the space, and everyone ends up having legroom that goes on forever.

Being in the driver’s seat demands a little something extra, and that comes in the form of a neck warmer with a mind of its own. “The system constantly adapts the speed of the warm air flow from the headrest to ensure it is proportional to the car’s speed, outside temperature and the position of the retractable top,” says the Ferrari discourse.

Up or down, the aggressively-styled convertible streamlines the sportiness, while not sacrificing the elegance Ferrari has long been known for. In addition, a large radiator grille opening is complemented by new full-LED headlights, and an innovative air intake system exits the oxygen to reduce drag.

In the rear, the tail design says all sport and spaced out brake lights double the sleekness. Finally, the elimination of two rear silencers adds a soundtrack to a dream that you no longer have to be awakened from.

The Ferrari Portofino M is available in Edison, NJ at Ferrari of Central New Jersey. For a closer look and more information, please visit FerrariofCentralNJ.com .