Ferrari Portofino Is, In Ferrari Terms, An "Entry-Level" Droptop

Ferrari has revealed its latest convertible, and you know when the storied Italian automaker cuts the roof off that it's going to be something special. The Ferrari Portofino replaces the Ferrari California T as the company's most affordable GT, naming it after an Italian town that it says "has become internationally synonymous with elegance, sportiness and understated luxury." Indeed, Ferrari was so keen on it, it even named the new red paint-job of the car after it.

Of course, it takes more than a sweet red to impress us. The Portofino packs a 3.8-liter V8 turbocharged engine capable of 598 horsepower, up almost 40 HP over the California T's engine. Torque is up, too, now at 560 lb-ft.

Thanks to a lighter curb weight, too, performance is up as well. The 0-62 mph run will take you a mere 3.5 seconds, with Ferrari partially crediting the engine's new pistons and con-rods, and new intake system design, for that. Meanwhile a one-piece-cast exhaust header helps cut turbo lag by reducing pressure loss.

Variable Boost Management tweaks the torque delivery per which of the gears are selected, both improving performance and cutting fuel consumption, should the latter be of concern to you. A third-generation electronic rear differential – which Ferrari has dubbed E-Diff3 – has been added, integrated with the F1-Trac system, while it's also the first of Ferrari's GT's to get electric power steering. It has a 7-percent lower steering ratio.

Under the skin, there's a magnetorheological damping system (SCM-E) now with dual-coil technology for reducing roll. Ferrari says the result is a smoother car whether being pushed hard or transporting the family. Still, those two rear seats practically count as punishment, and probably won't be much use if you have anything more than a couple of toddlers to transport.

It's because Ferrari wanted to keep a fastback-style with steeply sloped rear glass. Good looking, certainly, though not great for headroom in the back. The cabin gets some more comfort-focused features, like a new AC system intended to do better with the hard-top up or down, 18-way electrically-adjustable seats with a new backrest shape to improve rear legroom, and a new wind deflector that promises 30-percent less air flow when fitted.

There's also a 10.2-inch touchscreen display and a new steering wheel with the usual cluster of Ferrari controls. A passenger display offers quick-glance feedback on speed and other information, so they don't have to pester the driver.

No word on pricing at this stage, but it's worth remembering that the Ferrari Portofino is considered the automaker's entry-level car. That means no, it won't be cheap, but neither will it be sky-high like some of the company's exotica. We'll know more when it makes its official debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show 2017, which takes place in September.