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The Ferrari California is an exceptionally innovative car whose philosophy takes its inspiration from the spirit and emotions of one of the great Ferraris of the past, the 1957 250 California, a superbly elegant open top car designed for the track, which has, over the years, come to symbolise not only superior sportiness and performance but also exclusivity, craftsmanship and faultless sophistication.
This new car joins Ferrari's 8-cylinder range, so far consisting of the mid-engine models like the F430 only, as the first 8-cylinder Gran Turismo. The Ferrari California is available exclusively as a convertible with retractable folding hard top in either a two-seater version with a traditional rear bench or in the 2+2 version which sees the rear bench equipped with seating for one to two passengers.
In addition to its retractable hard, the California also offers a new direct injection V8 engine, a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox with steering wheel-mounted F1-style, an evolved F1-Trac traction control system, and standard Brembo brakes with CCM (carbon ceramic material) discs.
Styling
The California's sleek aerodynamic styling is, like the rest of the current Ferrari models, the result of Ferrari’s longstanding collaboration with Pininfarina and offers a host of signature Ferrari styling cues. Viewed from the side, the aerodynamic sweep of the bonnet beautifully contrasts with the compact tail volume and the pulled-back cabin.
The front continues some of the themes hinted at on the flanks, harmoniously alternating concave and convex volumes. Seen head-on, the grille and slender air intake at the centre of the bonnet remind of the now model’s namesake, the 1957 Ferrari 250 GT California.
At the rear, the sides and the muscular tail section are both familiar too. As at the front, the single round LED taillights are inset directly along the edge of the boot. The California's vertically stacked twin tailpipes are an original flourish, as is the boot which sweeps right down to the bumpers to improve functionality.
Of course, the interior also reflects the same level of design sophistication, exuding a sense of refined luxury, comfort, and bespoke quality. Situated between the front seats, the new aluminium-trimmed centre console is another distinctive touch that goes beyond the merely aesthetic, beautifully combining functionality and design.
Aerodynamics
The Ferrari California's aerodynamics were, of course, developed in tandem with its styling. This allowed Ferrari to keep the coefficient of drag (Cd) down with respect to the downforce required for optimal vehicle dynamics. In the coupe configuration, the California has a Cd of 0.32. A desire to achieve perfect balance between vertical load and drag influenced the shape of the rear diffuser and the spoiler incorporated into the front bumper.
A 10% reduction in drag compared to the other Ferrari models not only makes the California a more aerodynamically efficient car, but also reduces fuel consumption. The air intake on the bonnet ensures highly efficient cooling of the engine compartment.
The new 8-cylinder engine
This is the first V8 in the history of Ferrari road-cars to be mid-front mounted. Built entirely from aluminium, it retains the typical Ferrari architecture with a 90° angle between the two cylinder banks and a 180° angle between the cranks.
The engine has a total displacement of 4,297 cc and a maximum power output of 445 hp at 7,750 rpm. With a specific power of over 105 hp per litre, its maximum torque is 358 lb-ft at 5,000 rpm, 75% of which is available at just 2,250 rpm. The Ferrari California takes less than 4 seconds to accelerate from 0 - 60 mph and delivers a blistering 192 mph top speed.
The new V8 features direct fuel injection and variable timing (on both intake and exhaust) to guarantee superb performance, exceptional handling, and fuel consumption and emissions that easily comply with the toughest Euro 5 and Lev2 standards.
Gearbox and transmission
In addition to a 6-speed manual with Ferrari’s traditional gated shifter, the Ferrari California sports a new dual clutch gearbox (7-speed + reverse) with steering wheel-mounted F1-style paddles. This is an innovative system that guarantees a superb combination of performance and ride comfort. With the dual clutch, one clutch is used for even-numbered gears and the other for odd-numbered ones, and allows the pre-selection of the next gear required. The gears are changed by overlapping the opening and closing stage of both clutches, resulting in gearshifting times that are close to zero and with no "torque interrupt".
The result is not only enhanced performance but truly thrilling driving pleasure. The traditional transaxle layout (engine to the front and gearbox to the rear) contributes to the California's perfect weight distribution (47% front - 53% rear) and reduced vibration to the bodyshell. In manual mode, the new gearbox guarantees great sporty driving pleasure while extra comfort is assured in automatic.
Chassis and suspensions
The Ferrari California's chassis and bodyshell are both made entirely from aluminium. Thanks to the use of different aluminium technologies (extrusions and shell casts), the car's exceptional versatility, onboard comfort, and driveability have not increased chassis weight or the dimensions of the structural sections. Furthermore, static rigidity (torsional and flexional) has been improved in regards to average figures for a Spider to ensure exceptional handling in any kind of road conditions and to guarantee GT-standard comfort both with the top up and down.
The Ferrari California retains the traditional double wishbone suspension to the front while a new multi-link system has been specially developed for the rear. The multi-link system improves longitudinal flexibility of the suspension, keeping transverse rigidity values high. What this means in practice is that the car beautifully absorbs any unevenness, while noise and vibration are efficiently damped for exceptional ride comfort well on a par with the car's nimble handling.
The SCM Magnetorheological Suspension Control System, debuted on the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, is also available on request.
Retractable Hardtop
The Ferrari California's signature feature is its retractable hardtop (RHT). The roof is made from aluminium panels and has a cast aluminium weight-bearing structure to reduce its overall weight and the moving masses involved. The entire opening/closing cycle is completed in just 14 seconds and thanks to the original stowage system, the California's boot space at 8.5 cu-ft remains relatively generous with the top down.
The GT Manettino and F1-Trac
Already a common feature on other Ferraris, the manettino integrates the gearbox, stability and traction control systems (CST and F1-Trac), and the SCM suspension system.
The settings are as follows:
COMFORT: maximum safety in all conditions, particularly ideal for low grip situations (wet or slippery road surface). Best everyday driving setting.
SPORT: maximum performance and stability in perfect grip situations. Recommended for sporty, high performance driving.
CST-OFF: this setting gives the driver complete freedom and control of the car. There is no electronic intervention whatsoever apart from ABS.
The Ferrari California also sports the F1-Trac traction control system which assures the best can be made of the car's available grip at any time. According to Ferrari, the F1-Trac offers a 20% improvement in acceleration coming out of corners with respect to a traditional traction and control systems.
Safety equipment
The Ferrari California boasts an ejectable roll-bar to ensure that its occupants are protected should the car overturn. The system is installed behind the backrests of the rear seats and is hidden by the trim of the same. Ejection time is under 190 ms. The onboard safety equipment is completed by front retractable airbags (driver and passenger sides), side retractable air bags in door panels, bi-xenon headlights, and LED rear lights. New generation adaptive headlights, known as AFS (Advanced Frontlighting System), are also available on request, and offer improved visibility on the road. The headlamp beam angles are automatically adjusted in line with steering, angle, speed, and lateral acceleration, offering a wider area of illumination when cornering.
Interior and standard equipment
Particular attention has been lavished on the design and in-car comfort standard of the California's cabin. The new Ferrari is available in a choice of two configurations, a two-seater plus rear bench equipped to take two roller suitcases or two golf bags, or a 2+2 configuration that sees the rear bench sporting two seats, Isofix attachment points, and two seat belts.
In both versions, the rear backrest folds down to allow the stowage of longer items such as golf bags or skis. At 12 cu-ft with the top up and 8.5 cu-ft with the top down, the boot capacity is also impressively generous.
The California gets new electrically adjustable, magnesium-framed seats. Another new feature is the instrument panel with analogue instruments (tachometer and rev counter) and four-screen TFT Multidisplay.
The Ferrari California also boasts a new infotainment system with 6.5'' touchscreen, Sat Nav, USB connection, Bluetooth, hard disc, voice commands, and IPOD connector.