Ferrari officially unveiled the 2009 Ferrari California earlier this month, but at the time only a few photos were released. Today Ferrari released more photos and details about the California.
The Ferrari California is powered by a 460 horsepower 4.3L V8 that is mated to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. The top also lowers or raises in a mere 14 seconds.
Enjoy the pics.
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All-New Ferrari California Unveiled...460HP and 0-62MPH in Under 4 Seconds!
PRESS RELEASE:
Maranello, 29th May 2008 – The new Ferrari California, 2+ convertible, had a very special “test-driver” behind its wheel the last few days as the Prancing Horse President Luca di Montezemolo put it through its paces over several laps at the Fiorano circuit.
“I am very satisfied indeed with the work that the women and men of Ferrari have done,” declared Luca di Montezemolo. “The California is an extraordinary car and I was delighted with the performance, comfort and driving pleasure it delivered. The California is, like all of our models, the epitome of cutting-edge innovation. Its gearbox, suspensions and chassis are the most advanced possible.
This is the first dual-purpose Spider/Coupé with a retractable hard top that closes in just 14 seconds. Despite its extraordinary performance, the California 2+ is also exceptionally easy to drive and has a space behind the front seats that makes it supremely flexible in terms of usage.”
The latest photographs of the new Pininfarina-styled retractable hard top convertible released today show it with its top closed and in an Azzurro California livery. Azzurro California was the colour chosen for the legendary 1960s spider’s appearance at the New York Auto Show in 1962 and proved one of the firm favourites with owners of that model too.
Like the rest of the current Prancing Horse range, the Ferrari California has been aerodynamically designed to deliver significant downforce values – 70 kg at 200 Km/h, in fact.
This is the first time too that the new 7-speed dual clutch has been used on a Ferrari car. This technology is the fruit of in-depth gear shifting systems research by the Scuderia Ferrari. The system utilised on the Ferrari California cuts the gear shifting time to zero and enhances to the utmost the car’s performance in terms of comfort and driveability.
Performance is further boosted by the new Launch Control button which when hit delivers blistering high performance starts by ensuring correct torque delivery and preventing tyre spin during acceleration.
The car is 4560 mm in length, 1900 mm wide and has a wheel base of 2700 mm. The luggage capacity of the Ferrari California provides further proof of the versatility of this latest additionto the Prancing Horse range: when the roof is up, the boot has a 360-litre capacity and a 260 litre capacity when it is down.
For the first time on a Prancing Horse car, the boot and cabin communicate directly, allowing a choice of luggage configurations to be used.
Particular attention was also paid to fuel consumption levels which in the case of the ECE combined cycle is 13.2 l/100 km with CO2 emission levels of around 310 g/km.
Comments (17)
This has to be one of the best looking front engine sports cars out there.
Posted by Michael83 | May 29, 2008 8:13 PM
Posted on May 29, 2008 20:13
But my EVO...
Just kidding... it's gorgeous, and I bet a damn fine car to drive.
Posted by Joan of Arc | May 29, 2008 8:38 PM
Posted on May 29, 2008 20:38
I think as usual though Ferrari pulled off the retro look a bit better than Ford. Although the Ford GT is a pretty sexy car as well.
Posted by Gary | May 29, 2008 9:59 PM
Posted on May 29, 2008 21:59
Wow, can they gay it up any more?
Posted by Tommy Boy | May 30, 2008 12:09 AM
Posted on May 30, 2008 00:09
a blue ferrari? Naah.
Posted by lowest iq | May 30, 2008 2:31 AM
Posted on May 30, 2008 02:31
It's gorgeous, but i'll probably never see one in real life.
I am not going to even think about how much this costs or how long the waiting list is.
Still, beautiful car!
Posted by Dan | May 30, 2008 4:27 AM
Posted on May 30, 2008 04:27
Dam, those Italians know how to design cars. Europeans just know how to design sport cars. Looking at this, the new a5 and the 3 series coupe, they have all the proper proportions for a nice car. I usually like jap cars but the design teams over there just arnt cutting it.
Posted by Johnbo | May 30, 2008 6:33 AM
Posted on May 30, 2008 06:33
RE:
Tommy Boy:
Wow, can they gay it up any more?
They could put you in the drivers seat.
I only kid!
But seriously, that car is not gay. The front is beautiful and the rear is muscular.
Posted by Cashmoney | May 30, 2008 7:34 AM
Posted on May 30, 2008 07:34
That is a sharp looking car. It evokes thoughts of the Ford GT, Carrera GT and Corvette all at once. It's too bad Ferrari dealerships are so few and far between in the Midwest, or I'd go check one out in person. Car lines always just look so much better in the real, and the pictures already look good. I'd be curious on the pricing too, the styling and configuration suggests aiming at more of a "mainstream supercar market", if there is such a thing, with the 2+ seating, traditional FR drivetrain, and styling that isn't too wild, yet enough for the casual observer to know its something special. Well done, Ferrari.
Posted by Jimb | May 30, 2008 8:14 AM
Posted on May 30, 2008 08:14
It's appropriate they named it the California because that's where most of them will be sold.
This isn't a real Ferrari. I'm sure it'll be super fast, just like the 599. But someone looking for a real Ferrari is going to look for the car to be in the middle of the car. It's also copmletely impossible to build a mid-engine car with a folding hard top, so I'm not at all surprised they did it. Folding hardtops are the new cool thing to do.
This car will be just like every other Ferrari. A cash cow. The front engine cars do have significantly shorter waiting lists though.
Posted by Cheap Car Lover | May 30, 2008 9:35 AM
Posted on May 30, 2008 09:35
Front looks like a Lotus Elise with a long hood, butt looks like a clown faced Solstice.
And blue? I thought the only acceptable colors were red and black and sometimes yellow.
Long story, but I have driven several Ferraris, Lambos, Porsches, Corvettes, BMWs and Audis. I had the most fun in the Porsches. Ferraris are like your neighbor's Rottweiler. In order to get along, the dog (or car in this case) has to approve of you and like you, or it will bite.
I like them, they are beautiful (my favorite is the 599), but they must be learned to be driven. With a Porsche, you can jump in and go!
Posted by Rich | May 30, 2008 10:40 AM
Posted on May 30, 2008 10:40
if it aint got a v12 its not a real ferarri. The 599 is a true ferarri with the v12 from the enzo. Looking from the side and back this car doesnt look that great but looking head on and the top view angles its a very pretty car.
Posted by unknown | May 30, 2008 12:19 PM
Posted on May 30, 2008 12:19
First, congrats to Cashmoney on his reply to Tommy Boy lolll!
I think the car looks great.
Of course a V12 has a charm of it's own, but I'm sure about one thing, everybody who will look or listen at that car, and the few lucky that will be able to drive it ... well, they all gonna think that it's a TRUE Ferrari.
Gotta get used to it people, even Ferrari is becoming conscious about EPA numbers and pollution.
Also, they want this car to be their most affordable ... just can't put a V12 in it!
Posted by PhilTheThrill | May 30, 2008 4:54 PM
Posted on May 30, 2008 16:54
Reminds me more of an Ashton Martin then a Ferrari, though it is still a BEAUTIFUL car!
Posted by lx_flier | May 30, 2008 6:19 PM
Posted on May 30, 2008 18:19
Top up or top down, this is a winner in my book!
Posted by D! | June 3, 2008 11:12 AM
Posted on June 3, 2008 11:12
I love this car but I prefer it in blue, I don't know why, but I think it's just classier. Or in black, that could be cool :D!
Posted by Ferrari California | July 30, 2008 8:34 AM
Posted on July 30, 2008 08:34
I want to be the one sitting in the back seat!!!!
Posted by Chad | October 8, 2008 8:55 AM
Posted on October 8, 2008 08:55