Ferrari California 2015 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.

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.

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 

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.

The doors opened on an Australian International Motor Show with a strong exotic and green trend.

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

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.”