Ferrari

Ferrari

Ferrari

Ferrari

Ferrari

Ferrari

Ferrari

The Frankfurt International Motor Show is fast approaching, and while more than a few car makers have chosen to skip this year's event, Ferrari has something new in store for us. It's replacing the California T with a newer, lighter convertible—the Portofino. It's a more aggressive look for the company's entry-level model, and the looks have been heavily influenced by the aerodynamics department, something that's fast becoming a Ferrari calling card.

We were pleasantly surprised by the California T when we tested one last year; the car has an undeserved reputation, probably because it's not mid-engined or doesn't have a massive V12 up front. It's no out-and-out sports car, for even Ferrari describes it as a GT (grand tourer), but we imagine the Portofino is going to offer a noticeable performance bump over the outgoing car.

The heart and soul of any Ferrari is its engine, and in this case that's a development of the twin-turbo V8 that now powers most of its model lineup. As you might expect, the Portofino gets a power boost over the outgoing car—an extra 40hp for a maximum output of 591hp (441kW). Torque remains almost exactly the same, though. The engine upgrades amount to new pistons and con-rods, a redesigned intake system to feed it with cold, fresh air, and changes to the exhaust to minimize the dreaded turbo lag.

Perhaps more significantly, this is no warmed-over California chassis. Ferrari says it's a completely new platform that provides "significant weight saving," although in the pre-Frankfurt release it declined to give an exact weight for the car. (For context, the outgoing car weighs 4,064lbs/1,834kg.) The retractable hard top is also lighter, which should have a beneficial effect on handling if it has lowered the car's center of gravity.

We're most glad to see there's an all-new infotainment system, something that has been a notable low point in each of the Ferraris we've tested. It might seem churlish to point that out, but this is Ars Technica and it's something we care about. It's also probably something Ferrari owners will care about now that the cars are turbocharged and have lost that wonderful naturally aspirated soundtrack from the engine. Other tweaks include a newer version of the electronics that control the rear differential, electric power steering that's now even quicker from lock to lock, and upgraded magnetorheological dampers.

Listing image by Ferrari