Naza Italia 2018 Archives

Ferrari’s Turbocharged V8 Voted “Best Engine Of The Last 20 Years”

The 3.9-litre V8 takes the International Engine of the Year Award for the third year running. A record number of six awards! The latest iteration of Ferrari’s turbo-charged V8 that equips, in various forms, all Ferrari’s V8-engined cars, has been nominated the best engine in the world for the third year running in the 2018 International Engine of the Year Awards.

In this, the award’s 20^th anniversary edition, Ferrari took no fewer than six awards, the highest number for any manufacturer in any one year, bringing the total of Ferrari’s trophies up to 27, a record number of wins for any sports car company.

Along with the overall Engine of the Year honour, the 720-cv 3.9-litre V8 that powers the new 488 Pista (below) also took the 3-litre to 4-litre class, the Performance Engine category and the special nomination for the ‘Best of the Best’, with the 68 international judges asked to vote for the top engine from among all the winners over the last 20 years.

“In the 488 GTB, the 3.9-litre eight-cylinder was a near-perfect example of a high-performance turbocharged engine, setting the bar so high that it swept aside rival powertrains,” said Dean Slavnich, co-chairman of the IEOTY Awards. “But redeveloped and tweaked for the 488 Pista, the best engine in the world just got better. Without doubt, we’re looking at an engineering masterclass from Ferrari. No turbo lag, beautiful delivery, raw emotion, a furious growl and so much power – this Ferrari V8 is a work of art.”

Crowning Ferrari’s record-breaking year, the naturally-aspirated 800-cv 6.5-litre V12 powering the 812 Superfast also won two awards: the Above 4-litre class and, due to it being comprehensively re-engineered from the 6.3-litre unit that equipped the F12berlinetta (below) with 75% new components, the Best New Engine category.

The New Ferrari Portofino – More Details! [+Video, Full Photo Gallery & Tech Specs]

Naza Italia, official importer and distributor of the Ferrari brand in Malaysia, has unveiled the brand’s new V8 GT, the Ferrari Portofino, in an exclusive event held at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort in Kuala Lumpur today. The Portofino, which debuted at the Frankfurt International Motor Show last year, is a perfect combination of luxury, versatility and on-board comfort. This new GT is set to dominate its segment.

The Ferrari Portofino takes its name from one of the most attractive villages on the Italian Riviera in the Liguria Region. Like its namesake, the Ferrari Portofino is a stylish symbol of scenic beauty and elegant daily living. It effortlessly converts from an authentic ‘berlinetta’ coupé to a drop-top that delivers the characteristic Ferrari V8 soundtrack for superb driving pleasure. The specially redesigned retractable hard top can now be opened or closed in a quick 14 seconds whilst on the move at lower speeds, making it even more practical for use in day-to-day situations.

Powered by the Ferrari V8 turbo, a member of the engine family that won the International Engine of the Year Award in 2016 and 2017 consecutively, the new car boasts an ability to unleash a tremendous 600cv and sprint from 0-100km/h in just 3.5 seconds. Due to the adoption of new components and the calibration of the engine management software, the power output is 40cv greater than that of the car’s predecessor, the California T. The Portofino’s lighter weight means overall the result is a significant hike in performance and a corresponding drop in emissions.

“The Portofino is the most powerful convertible car in the GT segment that Ferrari has ever produced and Naza Italia is thrilled to present this dynamic model in Malaysia. Combined with versatility, it offers a level of driving pleasure and on-board comfort unparalleled on the market. This incredibly versatile V8 GT delivers sporty elegance, extreme performance, high-tech innovation and lavish comfort in a combination that is ideally suited to our customers’ automotive desires,” said Dato Samson Anand George, Group Chief Executive Officer, Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings Sdn Bhd (above, right).

The Ferrari Portofino is also an aggressively-styled car with a two-box fastback configuration – unprecedented in a coupe-convertible with a retractable hard top. This successfully adds extra sleekness to its silhouette, highlighting a sportier character.

Its vehicle dynamic characteristics have been completely revised and optimised. For the first time on this type of Ferrari model, third-generation electronic rear differential (E-Diffs) has been integrated with the F1-Trac, improving both mechanical grip and the control of the car to the limit. The Ferrari Portofino is also the first GT in this range to be fitted with EPS (Electric Power Steering). The integration of the EPS and the E-Diff3 reduced the steering ratio by 7% for even more responsive steering without a trade-off in stability at high-speed driving.

Thanks to the adoption of dual-coil technology, the magnetorheological damping system (SCM-E) has been upgraded, helping to reduce roll while contributing to improving absorption of road surface unevenness, thus making it an even more dynamic, responsive car.

The new car also focuses on on-board comfort and this is achieved by a slew of new features – an infotainment system with a 10.2” touchscreen display, a new air-conditioning system that improves passenger comfort either with the top up or down, a new steering wheel, 18-way adjustable electric-powered seats with a new backrest design that boosts legroom for rear seat passengers, and the passenger display. All passengers will highly appreciate the new wind deflector which can cut air flow inside the cabin by 30% and reduces aerodynamic noise in open-top driving.

Presenting a brilliant marriage of design, performance, and technology, as well as various advantageous features – retractable hard top, spacious trunk, ample passenger space, and two rear seats suitable for a short trip – the new model is perfect for any occasion.

Damien Woo, National Brand Head – Ferrari of Naza Italia Sdn Bhd, Dato’ Samson Anand George, Group Chief Executive Officer, Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings Sdn Bhd and Marco Sambaldi, Head of Sales, Ferrari Far and Middle East Hub

Ferrari’s much-awaited Portofino is being introduced at the base price of RM948,000.00 (excluding duty and customization options). Technical specifications appended after the gallery. Here’s a walk-around video from our friend Bobby Ang @ EVO/Aurizn: