The wait is finally over as Ferrari releases these official images and information on the new California T – the front-engine, hardtop convertible, grand tourer that’s the least-expensive prancing horse in the Italian automaker’s stable. The news drop comes weeks before the California T’s official live debut at the Geneva Motor Show in early March.
The new California has undergone some drastic changes with this redesign. It’s still the same 2+2 sports car, but its appearance is much more striking. Sharper lines add a certain crispness to its exterior and new interior comforts make the idea of long weekends on the road even more enticing.
The big news, however, is what lurks under the hood: a turbocharged 3.9-liter V-8 featuring a host of power-adding, fuel-sipping technologies like direct injection and Ferrari’s Variable Boost Management. Producing a potent 560 horsepower and 557 pound-feet of torque, the new California T will hit 62 mph from a standstill in just 3.6 seconds.
It replaces a car that was frequently criticized for its softness and lack of Ferrari-ness. Debuting for 2009, the California featured a naturally aspirated 4.3-liter V-8 that made 460 horsepower and 357 pound-feet of torque. Much of the commotion came over that engine’s placement – a mid-front position – which was a first in the automaker’s long history. Nevertheless, the car sold fairly well with its lower-than-average asking price.
With these new updates and its more aggressive styling, the new California T will likely appear to more Ferrari enthusiasts and remain a sales leader for the brand. Naysayers will assuredly find themselves in a cloud of turbocharged dust.
Exterior
While the California’s overall design hasn’t changed, the look has certainly become more aggressive. A new, more angular grille is flanked by the snarling lines of the side intake vents while just above, slimmer, more angular headlights rise along the sharply creased finders. Two scalloped indentations are at home on the reworked hood, giving it a much sportier look than then outgoing model.
Around the side, the car’s flanks are said to be inspired by the 250 Testa Rossa's famous pontoon-fender styling. The side vent’s sharp lines run rearward, almost meeting the heavily creased rear fender, breaking only to allow a neutral space for the door handle.
Out back, the California has a much different look. A new vent appears just aft of the rear wheels that bleeds its lines into the rear fascia under the license plate scallop. Just below sits a completely reworked lower air defuser with three large fins and horizontally organized quad exhaust pipes. The round taillight pods still remain, as does the high-rising rear deck lid that accommodates the folded hard top.
Beautiful five-spoke dark-grey alloy wheels with Ferrari’s famous yellow center cap put the finishing touches on the California’s stunning redesign. Like the previous generation, the new California features a retractable hard top that stows neatly in the trunk. A mere 14 seconds is all that’s needed to bring the outdoors in.
TopSpeed Rendering
Well, you can’t expect to win them all, and we certainly did not with our rendering. While our overall shape was accurate, the details just were not there. The grille is completely wrong, the hood lacks any of the detailing the real model. We’ll get ’em next time.
Length4570 mm (179.92 inches)
Width1910 mm (75.19 inches)
Height1322 mm (52.04 inches)
Dry weight1625 kg (3582 pounds)
Weight distribution47% front - 53% rear
Interior
The new interior still has many of the same features and appearances as the outgoing car. However, much like the exterior, the interior has been sharpened up for a more purposeful design interpretation. Quickly noticeable is the new multi-function steering wheel with enough controls to look like it was ripped out of an F1 car. The three-pod gauge cluster still remains though it as been revamped with a new look and updated graphics.
The center infotainment system is angles slightly more vertical as are the bank of HVAC controls. Below that is a reworked center console with buttons for reverse, automatic mode, and lunch control. The huge paddle shifters continue to shine brightly from behind the flat-bottomed steering wheel.
The biggest news, of course, is the new powerplant found under the sculpted hood. A 3.9-liter V-8 with direct injection and Ferrari’s Variable Boost Management produces 560 horsepower and 557 pound-feet of torque. The Variable Boost Management helps keep the torque curve flat throughout he rpm range while simultaneously conserving fuel. Total fuel consumption is down around 15 percent, despite the additional horsepower over last year’s 4.3-liter V-8. CO2 emissions have also dropped by 20 percent. Besides conserving natural resources, the turbo helps shoot the California to 62 mph in a blistering 3.6 seconds. Ferrari says the new engine design eliminates virtually any turbo lag for an immediate response in power.
Like before, the engine is mounded very low and far behind the front axle for a low center of gravity and ideal weight distribution percentages.
Suspension
Making the California handle like a Ferrari, the car’s steering than suspension systems were heavily revised. Steering response to driver inputs were increase while steering wheel activity was reduced thanks to a new steering box and linkage setup.
News springs were added and the latest generation of Ferrari’s Magnaride dampers installed; the latter of which is 50 percent faster at responding to changing road conditions. The system is aided by body motion accelerometers that relay information back to the computer for reduced roll and pitching movements in cornering and a smoother, more compliant ride on the road.
Keeping the California out of the ditch is the latest generation of the F1-Trac traction control system with its steering wheel-mounted control knob.
Prices
Not much is know about pricing at this early point, but we can’t imagine Ferrari abandoning the lower-priced market with this refreshed California T. Buying a new 2013 California would cost you roughly $198,190. Perhaps a modest increase in price would have the new car reaching the $200k mark, but not much more should be expected.
Conclusion
There’s a lot to like about the new California T. It’s got the power, the look, the Ferrari heritage, and the conveniences of a loaded-out interior with a power-folding hard top. A hyper competitive 0-to-62 mph time and a top speed of 196 mph. The California doesn’t quite represent the bang-for-the buck deal others, like the
