Ferrari California News

Waiting for a new car is never easy. It could be a week or it could be a year — even longer — but a delivery hold-up still means delayed satisfaction.

More than 350 Ferrari sports-cars recalled in Australia due to faulty Takata airbags

The trend now is for silver and grey, with bright custom colours and a growing number of matt choices, even at Ferrari. The Italian company has customarily sprayed the vast majority of its cars in its signature "racing red", Rosso Corsa, but the percentage is falling fast. Ferrari has revealed the first pictures of

Ferrari and California: fast cars and fat wallets. The link between the Italian luxury sports car maker and the film-star state goes back a long way - to the 1950s, in fact.Taking inspiration from the 250 Testa Rossa, particularly in profile, the latest in a long line of Ferraris, the California T, made its Down Under debut this week in Melbourne. Introducing the GT destined to become a classic, Herbert Appleroth, President and CEO of Ferrari Australasia, said: "With its retractable hard top and 2+2 seating set-up, the Grand Tourer is supremely versatile – an everyday GT."Heart and, some would say soul of the California T, is its 3855 cc turbocharged V8 engine which calls on technology fine tuned by Ferrari in iconic models such as the 1984 GTO and the F40 of 1987, and now the latest F1 flyer.Four years of development have resulted in maximum power output of 412 kW at 7500 rpm and top torque of 755 Nm at 4750 revs. Hitting 100 km/h from rest in 3.6 seconds, the surge from zero to 200 km/h takes just 11.2 seconds. Top speed is 316 km/h.At the same time, engineers have pared the car's fuel consumption to 10.5 litres per 100 kilometres and carbon dioxide emissions to 255 grams per kilometre in the combined urban / highway cycle thanks in part to extensive use of lightweight aluminium alloy in the bodyshell and chassis.The mid-front-mounted engine and all main components are confined within the car's wheelbase, making for an ideal weight distribution of 47 per cent front and 53 per cent rear. The engine is 40 mm lower in the chassis than in the previous California to further bring down the centre of gravity.Within 14 seconds the restrained yet sporty coupe converts to an extroverted convertible, secreting its metal hardtop in the boot, which is far from cramped even with the top stored.Luggage space can be further increased by folding the rear seat backs down giving storage access for bulky items such as golf bags or skis. Seating is strictly 2+2 with rear seat comfort restricted to children or smaller than average adults for short trips.The cabin is a combination of handcrafted surroundings such as semi-aniline leather trim housing the latest automotive technology accessed by ergonomic controls and well positioned instruments.Typical of this is the Human-Machine Interface which has been made more driver friendly than before.There are now steering wheel-mounted controls and paddles set closer, giving faster access.Also on hand is the Turbo Performance Engineer, a sophisticated instrument on the central dashboard that consists of a digital display with touch surround scrolling providing pointers, such as response and torque on tap, to the most effective way of using engine performance.Infotainment, including satellite navigation with 3D mapping, is via a 6.5-inch touch screen, or alternatively by using buttons. USB ports in a compartment under the armrest ensure occupants' devices are at hand.Penned by the Ferrari Styling Centre in conjunction with Pininfarina, the California T has retained the dimensions of the previous model with additions to the styling bringing it in line with the latest design aspects of the GT format.The car rides on 19-inch Starburst design alloy wheels, while 20-inch optional wheels are available with the addition of further weight savings. Improved aerodynamics means the drag co-efficient is down to Cd 0.33.Under the skin the car is replete with kit to ensure ride and handling match the potential of the V8 turbo power plant. Particular detail was paid to there being less steering wheel activity for swifter steering; reduced body roll; improved handling and better control on the limit; and heightened chassis dynamics without reduction in ride comfort.Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes feature new pad material producing constant performance in all conditions and less prone to wear. This, plus the latest ABS anti-skid system, has the car stopping from 100 km/h in just 34 metres.An upgrade to the traction control system enables the car to accelerate out of corners more than 8 per cent faster Customers who are happy to shell out $409,888, plus on-road costs, can be flown to Italy to watch their California T being put together at the factory and make sure some of the million or so custom design features they have chosen are being attended to.The first year's offerings are already spoken for but once delivered their California T can be covered by a seven-year maintenance programme which involves an exclusive service every 20,000 km or once a year without distance restrictions.     The California T is a prime example of Ferrari's sporting DNA, calling on all the Italian car maker has to offer in leading-edge automotive technology, while at the same time penning a Grand Tourer with the best design attributes of a luxury sports car. Now for a drive.

Ferrari gives an overview of the first turbocharged California, arriving in showrooms later this year.

 Australia gets preview of updated Ferrari California T with new turbocharged engine.Ferrari seems to have an annual program for launching exciting new models.  Eighteen months ago it was the Ferrari F12,  more recently they rolled out the stunning and super-fast hypercar, the LaFerrari, and now it's the turn of the California.  Australia got an early look at the updates 'in the metal' this week, with customer cars dues to start arriving in November.But unlike many updates that are just light or at best evolutionary facelifts, the changes for the Cali are revolutionary -- including a substantial price drop of almost $50,000. The California T -- 'T' standing for turbo -- is the first Ferrari road vehicle to be engineered with a turbocharger since the legendary F40 in 1987. The California is an integral part of Ferrari's business selling some 10,000 units since it was introduced in 2008 – and bringing new people  to the brand.  Ferrari Australasia president and CEO Herbert Appleroth says a staggering 70 per cent of all California owners are first-time Ferrari buyers, they travel 30 per cent further than owners of other Ferrari models and used their vehicles 50 per cent more often, making the California a true 'everyday' Ferrari.The California T arrives with a new high revving 3.9 litre V8 twin-turbo charged engine that produces an impressive 70HP more than it's naturally aspirated predecessor and generates a staggering 50 percent more torque.   Maximum power output is now 412kW at 7500rpm and produces 755Nm at 4750rpm. Maximum speed has increased by 6km/h to 316km/h thanks to the new twin-scroll turbo arrangement, while 0-100 km/h arrives in 3.6 seconds, a reduction of 0.2 and 0-200 in 11.2, a reduction of 2.1 seconds, scintillating performance from the Italian open top grand tourer.  The exterior has truly come of age with a sporty – but still elegant --  aerodynamic flair that salutes the depth of the company's heritage by incorporating past cues like flanks inspired by the 250 Testa Rossa. Working with Pininfarina, the Ferrari Styling Centre has created a sophisticated style that gives the 'Every Day' California T, an authentic Ferrari Grand Tourer look.New 19" starburst designed wheels hide the carbon-ceramic brakes which now feature a upgraded pad that's designed to work in all conditions, resulting in reduced braking distances from 100 km/h – 0 in 34 metres. There are only two features carried over from the previous model, the retractable hard top roof that opens and closes in 14 seconds, and the chassis with its 47:53 front/rear weight distribution. Spring stiffness has been increased by 11% to reduce body roll and pitch with a steering rack that is now 10% quicker and offers more direct turn in giving the California T true sports car agility.The 2 +2 interior has received subtle upgrades that make the California T more ergonomic and comfortable for the driver and passengers.   The dash looks to be more compact and is slightly lower to aid visibility, larger and wider front seats with integrated headrests add appeal to the growing and diverse list of buyers.Interior style and materials have also received a fresh update with the launch version showing off a well-appointed black and tan two-tone leather combo that looked stunning under the lights.  Ferrari boasts they have 15 million different colour combinations to suit all tastes including two new colours designed especially for the California T, California (Red) and California (Blue).Also featured was a new 458 styled steering wheel that incorporates wheel mounted controls with larger gear selector paddles that are attached closer to the wheel.  The Manettino (Ferrari's traction and stability control system) has three functions, Sport, Comfort and Electronic Stability Control Off which add to the dynamic and sporty nature of the car when such a road calls for it.Due to the significant increase in torque from the twin-turbo V8, Ferrari's 'F1-Trac' electronic stability system has now been integrated into the California T to enable better handling and traction especially out of fast corners. The seven-speed F1 dual clutch transmission features longer gear ratios that delivers faster longitudinal acceleration and assists to reduce fuel consumption by 15 percent.  With right hand drive versions still being built in Italy, no test drives were on offer with only the left hand drive model unveiled at the launch.Frist published at MyDrive: VIDEO | Ferrari California T – Australia’s Official PreviewFerrari California TPrice: from $409,880Engine: 3.8L twin scroll turbo 412kW/755Nm0-100km/h: 3.6 secondsTop speed: 316 km/hTransmission: dual clutch 7-speed automatic

The all-new California T has already rocketed to the top of the sales charts, trumping the emotive 458 Italia and family-focussed FF V12, before a single appearance down under. The California T has even missed the boat for the Ferrari Racing Days this weekend, the biggest event in the history of the Italian brand in Australia, without affecting the order bank.“It will become our largest selling model. And we expect that 70 per cent of owners will be new to the Ferrari brand,” the head of Ferrari in Australia and the Pacific, Herbert Appleroth, tells Carsguide. “The waiting list for the new California is already over 12 months. And when the car is launched, in June, we expect it will be more like 24 months.”Appleroth says the absence of the California from the Racing Days at Sydney Motorsport Park is not a concern, since there are so many other new models at the event including the 458 Speciale and a display-only LaFerrari. “The focus is on those cars. The California is more lifestyle based and we will launch it in due course,” he says.The California T is the first turbocharged Ferrari since the F40 supercar from the 1980s, and comes with the promise of 412 kiloWatts and 755 Newton-metres - good for a 0-100km/ sprint in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 316km/h - for a pricetag very close to the $460,000 of the outgoing model.“People who own a California are already coming back for another one. Normally you expect them to go up to a 458, but there is a lot of pre-purchase,” Appleroth says. He is happy that the California has brought new buyers to the brand, although some will have to wait for a car.“It isn’t just women, there are people who couldn’t afford a Ferrari in the past. It’s now an everyday drive, but a special everyday drive.“Demand has gone crazy. Supply will be restricted for the first two years.“The first car will be launched in June in Australia but the first deliveries won’t be until the end of the year. We’ve already got 12 months of orders, easily. And we won’t announce the price for a couple of months.” 

There hasn't been a turbocharged engine in a Ferrari since the 1980s F40 model. But turbo has returned to add more power to the updated California T being unveiled at Geneva motor show on March 4.The Prancing Horse has been hinting for some time that the increasing push for more efficient engines and tightening emissions restrictions would see turbos reappear in the line-up, and the new California is spearheading the bid to achieve those aims while still offering performance.The Italian supercar brand hasn't yet released the full details of the car, but has confirmed the turbocharged 3.9-litre V8 (an uprated version of the one in the Maserati Quattroporte) will deliver 412kW of power and a hammering 755Nm of torque -- up 74kW and a massive 270Nm on the current model.It's also able to trump its 0-100km/h time by 0.4 seconds, with the needle hitting the mark at just 3.6 seconds, and topping out where the speedo say 315km/h. And Ferrari says the torque curve increases continually across the rev range. Fuel economy is claimed to be 15 per cent better than the current model. It rides on revised suspension with new springs and dampers, and has carbon ceramic brakes to pull it up.The revised styling sees the California retain much of the outgoing model, but with updates to nose and tail that mix fresher touches with references to some of the icons of Ferrari history.A new triple-fence diffuser and exhaust tips have beautified the tail, headlights now echo those of the rest of the family, and the pontoon-fender styling salutes the iconic 250 Testa Rossa. The interior makeover includes new trim and accents, plus a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen.The California T will head into overseas showrooms shortly after the Geneva debut, and it tipped to reach here in the final quarter of the year.Watch the desktop version of the 2015 Ferrari California T turbo video here. This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

We all know the Middle East has a healthy abundance of big-dollar luxury and supercars, but this video juxtaposes the typical ‘bunch of hoons hanging in a carpark' situation with exotica from Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin, and Rolls Royce.This Ken Block-wannabe Ferrari 599 driver clearly has the budget of Block, but the skill level of a P-plater in a Gemini in the mall carpark after Coles shuts, as he slides precariously past a Ferrari 458, a pair of Californias, a Porsche 911 Cabriolet, a drop-top Aston and a Rolls-Royce Ghost - and a relatively pedestrian C7 Corvette.However unlike many Hagwalah drift videos, the gathering survives the clip unscathed, so perhaps the graduation from the usual Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord fare is just the ticket to successful Middle Eastern drifting.Watch the Ferrari drifting around other exotics video on our desktop site. This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn 

This could be our first glimpse of the finished design for the next Ferrari California hardtop convertible. The sketches are reportedly official patent drawings filed by Ferrari with a registry for trademarks and patents in Europe.The images were found by the World Car Fans site, which believes the drawings show a new two-seat hardcore version of the Ferrari FF. However with the similarities to the current California, we believe the sketches -- if the real thing -- are more likely to be the California replacement due to be launched next year.A quick review of previous spy shots of a test mule for Ferrari’s California replacement show similar proportions, and a matching layout for the quad-exhaust tips. Also, there is no mistaking the suggestion of cut lines for what would be the California's retractable hardtop. The overall impression is of a more aggressive design than the current car, with cues taken from recent arrivals to the Ferrari line-up -- the FF four-seater, F12 Berlinetta and coming LaFerrari flagship.Specification details for the next California are still some way off -- and we'll know more closer to its estimated global debut at the Geneva motor show in March. But it’s thought the car will come with a twin-turbocharged V8 engine, with an F1-inspired KERS system possibly added to help boost power without incurring an emissions penalty.www.motorauthority.com