Ferrari California Italian stallions

The new convertible Ferrari California certainly has its heart in the right place, and set more than a few into palpitations when it was revealed in the flesh this morning for the first time in Australia.

The California’s all-new 343kW 4.3-litre V8 engine is mounted mid-front, or aft of the front axle, which is a first for Ferrari, and this allows for both luggage space and storage of its unique folding hardtop roof. With 260L top-down, 360L top-up, and the ability to switch from coupe to cabriolet in just 14 seconds, it is surely the most liveable Ferrari yet. And many would be happy to call it home.

However, the California is not just a pretty face. Both chassis and bodywork are aluminium, like the 430, and it has a similar but new F1-seven-speed F1 paddle-shift sequential transmission and Trac traction control system. Its Brembo brakes clamp onto standard carbon-ceramic discs, which are quite necessary to haul in its sub-four-second 0-100km/h abilities. The California also reaches a top speed of 310km/h.

Ferrari says the California has attracted a large number of new acquisition– around 50 percent of its pre-orders are from new Ferrari customers, and many are female.

The GT beauty will go on sale here next year, and pricing is expected to be on or around the 599 GTB at $650,000. The show stand will no doubt procure a few more sales, but buyers will have to join a slow queue for the fast Ferrari – there is already an 18-month wait list.

Another pair of feisty Italians, which share a Ferrari heart and lungs, also debuted today. The Maserati GranTurismo S coupe’s sleek body hides a 323kW 4.7 litre V8 engine, Ferrari F1 MC Shift gearbox, and surprisingly, room for four people. And it can take the foursome to 295km/h, which is the highest speed seen by a production Maserati dial. Maserati has priced the vehicle at $328,500.

It debuts alongside its stately sedan sibling, the timeless Quattroporte S luxury saloon, which shares the uprated V8 but matches it to a more sedate (or ‘luxurious’) six-speed ZF auto for $328,500.

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