Is The Ferrari Portofino More Than A Tweaked California T?

The California T has been replaced by the Portofino, which was launched by Ferrari at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show.

It still is the brand’s entry-level supercar, and it continues to be offered with a front-engine and rear-wheel drive layout, and an open top cabin in between. However, thanks to the updated design, both outside and inside, and with an improved powertrain, it should be more exciting to drive.

The familiar 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 makes 600PS (592hp) and 759Nm (560lb-ft) of torque, so it’s more powerful than its predecessor. With a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) sprint time of 3.5sec, it’s also 0.1sec faster than the California T, and its top speed is up by 5km/h (3mph), to 320km/h (199mph).

Inside, the new Ferrari Portofino adds some technological updates and more space for the rear passengers. It may be an interesting daily driver, but don’t expect to take your family on vacation with it.

So, is it better overall than the California T, or does it feel basically the same, albeit with a few improvements made here and there? Well, let’s check out the first reviews of the car, shot during the media launch in the Italian country roads, to find out what it’s really like to sit behind the wheel of the Portofino.