Ferrari California 2009 News

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

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 

The droptop baby is losing weight and getting more power and more cornering grip with the creation of the California Handling Speciale, which will also bridge the considerable gap to the hard-edged 458 Italia.  The California HS is just about to go public at the Geneva motor show and the first owners will get their cars in Australia before the end of the year. They will be paying more for the car than the $459,650 of the regular model, just as Ferrari charged more for the HGTE package on the V12-engined 599, although no-one in Australia has the details.  "Yes, there will be an additional charge for this car as it is a different variant. As to what that price will be, it is too early to say," says Ferrari spokesman, Edward Rowe.  Work on the HS includes an extra 22 kiloWatts through exhaust and computer map changes, a 30 kilogram weight cut, magnetically-controlled dampers with faster controls, and sharper steering thanks to a 10 per cent quicker steering rack. There are also more paint colours.  Ferrari claims the bottom line is a reduced 0-100km/h time of 3.8 seconds and more driver enjoyment.  "The changes are to ensure that the California maintains its lead over its rivals and to introduce new technological solutions as they become available. They broaden the appeal of the California as well maintaining its performance edge over its opposition," says Rowe.  "It's as it was with the 599 HGTE, which provided a similar more aggressive version of the 599 for customers looking for a sharper performance edge."  The California is now Australia's favourite Ferrari, although there is a waiting list of close to two years for the 458. It has also brought new owners to the brand because of things like the boot space and two-plus-two cabin.  "The California has brought new customers to the brand, 70 per cent in Australia and similar figures around the world, and provides owners with a car that can easily be used as an everyday car." Apart from the California HS, Ferrari has just begin deliveries of the all-new FF and the first 458 Spiders arrive towards the middle of the year.  In Europe, Ferrari is close to the unveiling of the replacement for its V12-powered 599 and the car should reach Australia in 2013. The Italian brand has lifted the pace of change across its lineup and is promising its first hybrid model soon, as well as an all-new supercar - the successor to the Enzo - before 2014 and the sharper-edged 458 Stradale models based on the company's race cars.

Police have impounded the rare Ferrari California being driven by Financial Review motoring writer Rod Easdown.The car was brought into Australia by Ateco Automotive and was scheduled for test drives with WA media outlets this week. The car was allegedly caught speeding through the WA Wheatbelt at 231km/h.The red Ferrari California is one of just two of its kind in Australia.A police spokesman said the rare red sports car had been recorded travelling at more than twice the legal limit when spotted by police on Julimar Rd, near Toodyay, just before noon today.Police have charged the 57-year-old male driver, from Wembley, with reckless driving. The car has been impounded under hoon legislation for seven days.Read the full story at perthnow.com.au      

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.

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 Aus

In a swiftly changing motoring environment carmakers are searching for new ways to cut fuel use and emissions and improve efficiency.Among the hundreds of concepts and new and updated models on display at the Paris motor show over the next 15 days are some definite standouts. Renault has combined gull-wing doors, comfort, refinement and a slippery design with a hybrid diesel engine and plonked it all on massive 23-inch wheels in its range-topping Ondelios concept car (cover picture).It's 4.8m long and has a hybrid 150kW version of the 2.0-litre dCi engine.There are also two 20kW electric motors at the front and rear to provide extra boost recovered during braking.Mercedes is unveiling one of the world's fastest cabriolets. The SLR McLaren Roadster 722S has 478kW of power and accelerates from 0-100km/h in 3.7 seconds before reaching a top speed of 335km/h.Just 150 of the two-seater supercars will be built. It complements Mercedes' other show star the ConceptFascination, a wild two-door sportswagon. It's a modern version of the old British “shooting-brake” where a wagon tail has been planted on a sporty saloon.Citroen's crossover concept, Hypnos, hasa 150kW engine that boasts miserly fuel efficiency figures of 4.5-litres per 100km.However, it what's inside that is different. An extremely colourful rainbow light show highlights its sleek styling.Honda is using the Paris show to highlight its green commitment. Star of its stand is the new Insight Concept, a dedicated petrol-electric hybrid car in the vein of Toyota's Prius.It is expected to go into production within the next few years.From the US, GM will debut a close to production version of its revolutionary Volt electric car. Chevrolet is showing its new crucial small car the Cruze, plus its first seven-seat multi-purpose family car, the Orlando show car.A form of SUV-family van and wagon crossover, it has a 2.0-litre diesel engine.Alfa Romeo is unveiling its little MiTo compact which is due to come to Australian the middle of next year.Fiat is showing the MiTo's likely competitor in the super-mini category, the 120kW 500 Abarth EsseEsse (SS) plus its PUR-O2 eco-range of cleaner, greener 500s. New technology includes the ability for the engine to turn itself off while idling and back on to continue driving.Mini will show its all-wheel-drive Crossover Concept, while BMW will premiere its X1 wagon. The Mini is intended for adventurous twenty-somethings, while the Concept X1 will go into production as a safe, practical family car.Chasing a similar small, sporty car market is Audi with its new A1. The near-production version will be a feature of its stand.Saab is exhibiting its 9-X Air concept car, while Volvo is debuting its production-ready ultra-safe XC60 crossover which is headed for Australia.Porsche has several new models in the911 range plus the go-anywhere Cayenne S Transsyberia super-4WD.Mazda's all-new Kiyora urban compact four-cylinder concept car will sit alongside the world debut of production cars, the new generation MX-5, the Mazda6 with a 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine and the Mazda2 1.6-litre diesel.Lamborghini has joined the rush to GT supercars with its four-door Estoque concept.Like Porsche's Panamera, Maserati's Quattroporte and Aston Martin's upcoming four-seater, the Estoque, brings a new versatility to one of the world's most uncompromising sports marques.Lamborghini stresses that although there are no production plans for the AWD Estoque it has been developed as fully production capable.Toyota has three world premiere vehicles ranging from its little four-seater city car, the iQ, to the all-new Avensis sedan and wagon and the 1.4-litre diesel-engined Urban Cruiser All Wheel Drive.Ford is debuting the all-new Ka city car with a choice of 1.2-litre petrol and 1.3-litrediesel engines, the hot Focus RS and the new economic Fiesta.Volkswagen will show off its latest Golf GTi. The hot hatch for 2009 is cleaner, smoother and much more refined than earlier cars.It will still come with a 155kW turbo petrol engine and the promise of a 7.2-second sprint to 100km/h, but is missing the wild body bits of earlier GTi road runners.Nissan's debuting Nuvu concept is just three-metres long. It only has two normal seats plus a third that folds down for luggage and groceries. The city car has solar panels on the glass roof.Ferrari will debut its chic two-seater V8 California sports car.From Korea will come Hyundai's i20 small car and a 2.4-litre engined hybrid SUV.Kia is showing its Soul range of urban crossover concepts that come with either petrol or diesel engines. There's also a hybrid version. Additional reporting by Kevin Hepworth and Paul Gover. 

Michael Schumacher just can't leave Ferrari alone. The retired racer has been back in action in the Italian team's latest Formula One racer this year and has now logged seat time in the road-going California convertible, which he drove at Ferrari's F1 test track, Fiorano. Schuey compared notes with the company's regular test drivers, Dario Benuzzi and Raffaele De Simone. As the car continues down the road to full-scale production, testing has already revealed a 0-100km/h sprint time better than four seconds. Not surprisingly, Schumacher had good things to say about the car — which is already a sellout for next year in Australia — after testing every recent Ferrari road car including his personal Enzo supercar. “As with the 430 Scuderia, taking part in the project since the very beginning has been really fascinating and great fun,” he says. “Though the cars are very different, both offer unique driving pleasure because of the inherently sporty character of all of the cars that come out of Maranello. The 430 Scuderia is, of course, a more extreme model that focuses on cutting-edge performance. “However, though the Ferrari California is very much a grand tourer in terms of its usability and high level of interior comfort, it is still surprisingly sporty and fun to drive under all conditions.”