SimplyAbuDhabi XXXIII

2 2 6 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I find the open road, it morphs into a high-pitched shrill that signals its intention to press on, daring you to challenge its capability, knowing you’ll never get anywhere near its 320kmh top speed. ride comfort is a nice balance between boulevard cushy at slow speeds and sure-footed when you’re on the gas and it’s remarkably good, especially for a convertible and a fun car to hustle on back roads. The secret to its road compliance is a 54 percent rear weight bias with the engine pushed as far back as possible to balance the weight from the rear-mounted, seven-speed gearbox mounted as part of the transaxle. So instead of plough understeering out of turns like some other big, front-engined GTs, this one’s light and nimble with more tail action thanks to the rearward bias. Priced from AEd850,000, it’s 3.9-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 produces 591bhp at 7,500 pm and a welcome 760nm of torque from 3,000rpm which the company claims will return a moderately okay 11.3 litres per 100kms in average fuel consumption for both the city and highways. inside, passengers get 18-way electrically adjustable seats wrapped like nearly everything else, in nappa leather, while a large 10.2-inch screen looks after the infotainment duties. To stop the front seat passenger from peering over to check on the speed, Ferrari have also introduced a second instrument binnacle just for them above the glovebox, showing speed and revs what gear you are in among other things. The mission from Ferrari was to create something different with the Portofino that continues the legacy of the California yet writes its own chapter in Ferrari’s history. it’s a genuinely useable, everyday car that satisfies the weekend beach cruisers as much the track day warriors while showing up for duty for the weekday commutes to the office. next time the dinner party conversation raises the question that if you could only have one car in your garage, you now have the answer.