Luca di Montezemolo unveils the new Ferrari California at the Paris Car Show 2008
Source: Ferrari

Paris, 2nd October 2008 – The Ferrari California finally makes its offi cial debut at the Paris Show today after a series of special previews on the web and during two dedicated events staged in Maranello and Los Angeles at which it received a hugely enthusiastic reception. The Ferrari California is an exceptionally innovative car whose philosophy takes its inspiration from the spirit and emotions of one of the great Ferraris of the past, the 1957 250 California, a superbly elegant open top car designed for the track, which has, over the years, come to symbolise not only superior sportiness and performance but also exclusivity, craftsmanship and faultless sophistication.
This new car joins Ferrari’s 8-cylinder range which is made up mostly of very high performance models. It also fl anks the 12-cylinder fl agship 612 Scaglietti in the Grand Tourer category. The Ferrari California is a car with the track in its DNA. It is enormously innovative and will more than fulfi l the expectations of even our most discerning clients, offering breathtaking driving pleasure and fun behind the wheel as well as extreme versatility of use and in-car comfort. It is available exclusively as a convertible with retractable folding hard top in either a two-seater version with a traditional rear bench or in the 2+ version which sees the rear bench equipped with seating for one to two passengers.
In line with Ferrari tradition, this model positively brims with innovative features. In addition to its retractable hard top and the aforementioned original 2+ concept, the new Prancing Horse car also offers: a new direct injection V8 engine, a 7-speed gearbox with steering wheel-mounted F1-style paddles coupled with a new dual clutch, a new suspension system (double wishbones at the front and multilink at the rear), the new evolved F1-Trac traction control system and Brembo brakes with CCM (carbon ceramic material) discs as standard (this latter feature is shared by the other models in the current range).

Ferrari California

Styling
The California’s sleek aerodynamic styling is, like the rest of the current Ferrari models, the result of our longstanding collaboration with Pininfarina and offers a host of signature Ferrari styling cues. Viewed from the side, the aerodynamic sweep of the bonnet beautifully contrasts with the compact tail volume and the pulled-back cabin. The front continues some of the themes hinted at on the fl anks, harmoniously alternating concave and convex volumes. Seen head-on, the car clearly takes it much of its inspiration from the prestigious Prancing Horse car from which it takes its name: the grille and slender air intake at the centre of the bonnet most notably harking back to the 250 GT California. At the rear, the sides and the muscular tail section are both familiar too. As at the front, the single round LED taillights are inset directly along the edge of the boot. The California’s vertically stacked twin tailpipes are an original fl ourish as is the boot which sweeps right down to the bumpers to improve functionality. Of course, the interior also refl ects the same level of design sophistication, exuding a sense of refi ned luxury, comfort and bespoke quality. Situated between the front seats, the new aluminium-trimmed centre console is another distinctive touch that goes beyond the merely aesthetic, beautifully combining functionality and design.

Aerodynamics
The Ferrari California’s aerodynamics were, of course, developed in tandem with its styling. This allowed Ferrari to keep the Cx (drag coeffi cient) right down with respect to the downforce required for optimal vehicle dynamics. In the coupé confi guration, the California has a Cx value of 0.32. A desire to achieve perfect balance between vertical load and drag infl uenced the shape of the rear diffuser and the spoiler incorporated into the front bumper. Drag has been cut to 10% lower than on the other Ferrari models which not only makes the California a more aerodynamically effi cient car but also reduces fuel consumption. Last but not least, the air intake on the bonnet ensures highly effi cient cooling of the engine compartment.

The new 8-cylinder engine
This is the fi rst V8 in the history of Ferrari road-cars to be mid-front mounted. Built entirely from aluminium, it retains the typical Ferrari architecture with a 90° angle between the two cylinder banks and a 180° angle between the cranks.

The engine has a total displacement of 4,300 cc and a maximum power output of 460 hp/338 kW at 7,750 rpm. With a specifi c power of 107 hp/litre, its maximum torque is 485 Nm (49 kgm) at 5,000 rpm, 75% of which is available at just 2,250 rpm. The Ferrari California takes less than 4 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h and delivers a blistering 310 km/h top speed.
The new V8 features direct fuel injection and variable timing (on both intake and exhaust) to guarantee superb performance, exceptional handling and fuel consumption and emissions that easily comply with the toughest Euro 5 and Lev2 standards. Thanks in part to these solutions, the Ferrari California consumes just 13.1 litres/100 km (ECE combined) and has carbon emissions of 305.6 g\km (ECE combined).
The California’s engine sound was also carefully developed as this is one of the great Ferrari signatures and really does contribute to enhancing driving pleasure. Particular attention was lavished on sound perception in the cabin both with the top up and down to ensure that trademark thrill without compromising on occupant acoustic comfort.

Gearbox and transmission
The Ferrari California sports a new dual clutch gearbox (7-speed + reverse) with the now traditional steering wheel-mounted F1-style paddles. This is an innovative system that guarantees a superb combination of performance and ride comfort. With the dual clutch, one clutch is used for even-numbered gears and the other for odd-numbered ones, and allows the pre-selection of the next gear required.The gears are changed by overlapping the opening and closing stage of both clutches, resulting in gearshifting times that are close to zero and with no “torque interrupt”. The result is not only enhanced performance but truly thrilling driving pleasure. The traditional transaxle layout (engine to the front and gearbox to the rear) also contributes to the California’s perfect weight distribution (47% front – 53% rear) and to reducing vibration to the bodyshell. In manual mode, the new gearbox guarantees great sporty driving pleasure while extra comfort is assured in automatic.

Chassis and suspensions
The Ferrari California’s chassis and bodyshell are both made entirely from aluminium. Thanks to the use of different aluminium technologies (extrusions and shell casts), the car’s exceptional versatility, onboard comfort and driveability has not added to chassis weight or to the dimensions of the structural sections – something that simply would not be the case had traditional steel architecture and technologies been used. Furthermore, static rigidity (torsional and fl exional) has been improved with respect to average fi gures for a Spider to ensure exceptional handling in any kind of road conditions and to guarantee GT-standard comfort both with the top up and down.

The Ferrari California retains the traditional double wishbone suspension to the front while a new multilink system has been specially developed for the rear. The multilink system improves longitudinal fl exibility of the suspension, keeping transverse rigidity values high. What this means in practice is that the car beautifully absorbs any unevenness, and noise and vibration are effi ciently damped for exceptional ride comfort well on a par with the car’s nimble handling. The SCM Magnetorheological Suspension Control System, debuted on the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, is also available on request.

Retractable Hard Top
Of course the Ferrari California’s signature feature has to be its retractable hard top (RHT). It is made from aluminium panels and has a cast aluminium weight-bearing structure which has reduced its overall weight and the moving masses involved. The entire opening/closing cycle is completed in just 14 seconds and thanks to the original stowage system, the California’s boot space remains extremely generous regardless of whether it is up or down.

The GT Manettino and F1-Trac
The manettino has now become one of the classic features of our entire range as has its position on the steering wheel which is clearly derived from our Formula 1 experience. The manettino integrates the gearbox, stability and traction control systems (CST and F1-Trac) and the SCM suspension system.

The settings are as follows: COMFORT: maximum safety in all conditions, particularly ideal for low grip situations (wet or slippery road surface). Best everyday driving setting. SPORT: maximum performance and stability in perfect grip situations. Recommended for sporty, high performance driving. CST-OFF: this setting gives the driver complete freedom and control of the car. There is no electronic intervention whatsoever apart from ABS. The Ferrari California also sports the F1-Trac traction control system which can very accurately read grip, assuring the very best can be made of the car’s potential at any time. The F1-Trac system guarantees: Maximum grip coming out of corners Stability in all driving conditions Superb driveability and handling in extreme situations Consistent performance Exceptional ride comfort. In fact, the F1-Trac offers a 20% improvement in acceleration coming out of corners with respect to a traditional traction and control systems.

Safety equipment
The Ferrari California boasts an ejectable roll-bar to ensure that its occupants are protected should the car overturn. The system is installed behind the backrests of the rear seats and is hidden by the trim of the same. Ejection time is under 190ms. The onboard safety equipment is completed by front retractable airbags (driver and passenger sides), side retractable air bags in door panels, bi-xenon headlights and LED rear lights. New generation adaptive headlights, known as AFS (Advanced Frontlighting System), are also available on request, and offer improved visibility on the road. The headlamp beam angles are automatically adjusted in line with steering, angle, speed and lateral acceleration, offering a wider area of illumination when cornering.

Interior and standard equipment
Particular attention has been lavished on the design and in-car comfort standard of the California’s cabin. The new Ferrari is available in a choice of two confi gurations: 1. Two-seater plus rear bench equipped to take two roller suitcases or two golf bags. 2. 2+ confi guration that sees the rear bench sporting two seats, Isofi x attachment points, and two seat belts. In both version, the rear backrest folds down to allow the stowage of longer items such as golf bags or skis. The boot capacity is also impressively generous: 340 litres with the top up and 240 with the top down.

A new electrically adjustable, magnesium-framed seat was also designed for the California. Another new feature is the instrument panel with analogue instruments (tachometer and rev counter) and four-screen TFT Multidisplay. The Ferrari California also boasts a new infotainment system with 6.5” touchscreen, Sat Nav, USB connection, Bluetooth, hard disc, voice commands and IPOD connector.

Carrozzeria Scaglietti Personalisation Programme
The Carrozzeria Scaglietti Programme allows all Ferrari clients to personalise their car to suit their own tastes and requirements. There are four main areas covered by the Programme: Racing and Track, Exteriors and Colours, Interior and Materials, Equipment and Travel. The Ferrari California comes with diamond-fi nish 19″ 5-spoke aluminium alloy wheels as standard. However, a further set of diamond-fi nish 20″ forged 5-spoke alloy wheel that are 11 kg lighter than those offered as standard can also be ordered. The aforementioned diamond-fi nish gives the wheels an extra-high polish look. The California is available in a choice of 16 different pastel and metallic colours. However clients also have the option of ordering the new Azzurro California shade created especially for the car’s launch. In addition to the usual range of 12 leather colours available to choose from for the interior trim too, we’ve just added two new colours: Cioccolato and Iroko. A new racing seat with all-carbon-fi bre frame and electrically adjustable backrest is also now available. In addition to the already impressive list of features offered as standard with the new California, owners can also choose to have a rear parking camera fi tted or order the luggage set designed specifi cally to make the very most of the rear bench space, an option available in addition to the traditional three-piece leather set coloured to match the interior trim, of course. Samples of the various materials and virtual confi guration tools will also be available to clients at every Ferrari showroom to help them make their choices too. They may also request outof- range colours and content to really ensure their Ferrari California is absolutely unique.


FERRARI CALIFORNIA TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTS
Length 4563 mm
Width 1902 mm
Height 1308 mm
Wheelbase 2670 mm
Front track 1630 mm
Rear track 1605 mm
Dry weight 1630 kg
Kerb weight 1735 kg
Weight distribution 47% Front – 53% Rear
Fuel tank capacity 78 l
Boot capacity 340 l 240 (with roof retracted)

TYRES
Front 245/40 ZR19″
Rear 285/40 ZR19″
Front (optional) 245/35 ZR20″
Rear (optional) 285/35 ZR20″

CARBON-CERAMIC BRAKES
Front 390 x 34 mm
Rear 360 x 32 mm

ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
CST with F1-TRAC Stability and Traction Control System TPTMS Tyre Pressure and Temperature Monitoring System

ENGINE
90° V8 Direct Injection
Bore and stroke 94 x 77.37 cc
Overall displacement 4297 cc
Compression ratio 12.2:1
Maximum power output 338 kW (460 CV) at 7750 rpm
Maximum torque 485 Nm (49 kgm) at 5000 rpm

PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed 310 km/h
0-100 km/h under 4.0 sec
0-400 m 12.2 sec
0-1.000 m 22.1 sec

GEARBOX
F1, dual-clutch, 7-speed plus reverse Manual 6-speed + REV

SUSPENSION
Front: Double wishbone
Rear: Multilink

FUEL CONSUMPTION
ECE Combined* 13.1 l/100 km

CO2 EMISSIONS
ECE Combined* 305.6 g/km

 

Michael Mann directs video for Ferrari California unveiling
Source: Ferrari

Paris, 2nd October 2008 – Renowned Hollywood director Michael Mann has made a stunning video set against the extraordinary natural backdrop of the Californian coastline inspired by the emotions of driving the new Ferrari California. Shooting took place in late July in the Mount Tam area between San Francisco and Sausalito, at Half Moon Bay and in the San Mateo National Forest and featured two Ferrari Californias negotiating the breathtaking roads and highways that have made California such a fi rm favourite with GT enthusiasts. The video beautifully depicts the sporty prowess of the new car, the exceptional driving pleasure and fun behind the wheel it delivers and its exceptional onboard comfort and versatility.
The colours used for the two cars – Rosso Corsa for one and Azzurro California for the other – were carefully chosen: red is the iconic Ferrari colour, of course, while this shade of blue is one of the typical colours of the famous 1960s Spiders and also the same one used on the car exhibited at the New York Auto Show in 1962.
The video will be broadcast on www.ferraricalifornia.com.com after the unveiling ceremony at the Paris Show. Michael Mann, who has directed hit fi lms such as Miami Vice, The Last of the Mohicans, Heat, Ali and Collateral, is himself a major Ferrari enthusiast. His fi rst Ferrari was a 308 which he purchased in Belgium in 1970. He followed this up with a Testarossa in 1985 and then a 550 Maranello. Mann has also driven two Ferrari Challenges. Right now he is the proud owner of a 599 GTB Fiorano which he uses regularly.

 

Ferrari California and One-To-One Programme extended to 599 GTB Fiorano under spotlight at the Paris Auto Show
Source: Ferrari

Paris, 2nd October 2008 – The Ferrari stand at this year’s Paris Auto Show hosts the official unveiling of the stunning new Ferrari California, the coupé-cabriolet that has been the talk of the world media over the last several months. The car has been generating enormous interest amongst both those directly involved in the industry and the public at large as a result of a particularly innovative communications strategy which has seen it previewed in stages in a series of initiatives that have involved clients, members of the media and enthusiasts from all over the world.
Another important piece of good news from the Show is the announcement of the extension of the One To One Personalisation Programme to the 599 GTB Fiorano. The decision to extend the service to the most powerful 12-cylinder in our current range follows on from the success it has enjoyed since its launch in March for the 612 Scaglietti. 599 GTB Fiorano clients will now be able to visit the dedicated Atelier in Maranello where they can work with a Ferrari consultant on creating their own truly bespoke car.
Also on the stand is the F2007, which won the World Championship last season. To complete the range of road-going Ferraris, we also have the 612 Scaglietti, the Prancing Horse’s flagship GT, in a sleek Nero Daytona livery with Iroko interior. Of the 12-cylinders there are also two examples of the 599 GTB Fiorano, the most powerful berlinetta ever built at Maranello: one featuring a Rosso Monza exterior livery and Charcoal interior and the other an exterior livery in Blu Nettuno, an out-of-range colour, and Cuoio interiors. The sportiest Ferrari in the current range is the 430 Scuderia which is shown in the traditional Rosso Corsa paintwork combined with black Alcantara interiors. Needless to say, the F430 Spider, the very epitome of F1 technology transfer and drop top driving pleasure, is also present, this time in an elegant metallic Grigio Ferro exterior livery that beautifully offsets the Cuoio interior.
The Ferrari California has attracted enormous attention because it is an extremely innovative car inspired by the spirit and driving pleasure of one of the great Ferraris of the past, the 1957 250 California. The new car joins the predominantly high performance 8-cylinder range and also flanks the 12-cylinder flagship, the 612 Scaglietti, in the Grand Tourer category. The Ferrari California is a car with the track in its DNA. It brims with innovation and will more than fulfil the expectations of even our most discerning clients, offering breathtaking driving pleasure and fun behind the wheel as well as extreme versatility of use and in-car comfort. In line with Ferrari tradition, this model positively brims with innovative features. In addition to its retractable hard top and the original 2+ concept, the new Prancing Horse car also offers: a new direct injection V8 engine, a 7-speed gearbox with steering wheel-mounted F1-style paddles coupled with a new dual clutch, a new suspension system (double wishbones at the front and multilink at the rear), the new evolved F1-Trac traction control system and Brembo brakes with CCM (carbon ceramic material) discs as standard (this latter feature is shared by the other models in the current range).
Interestingly the web played a pivotal role in the communications strategy used to preview the California over the last few months. In May, Ferrari launched a dedicated website (www.ferraricalifornia.com) which featured a countdown to the publication of the very first photos of the car, and was updated periodically with information and interesting facts about the car. Visitors to ferraricalifornia.com were also able to watch the Ferrari California world preview live on September 18th thanks to streaming of the event.
The aforementioned preview took place simultaneously in Maranello and Los Angeles, and was attended by over 2,000 specially invited guests. At Santa Monica private airport, where the American event was staged in the presence of Ferrari Vice President Piero Ferrari, a special charity auction also saw a new Ferrari California sold for $520,000. The car was presented in Maranello by Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo who was flanked by Scuderia Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa. Michael Schumacher was on hand too as he has been involved in the development of the Prancing Horse’s latest Grand Tourer since its inception.
Also showing at the Ferrari stand is a video directed by Michael Mann which was inspired by the emotion of driving the car in its natural habitat, the stunning coastal highways and roads of California.

 

Enrico Ghinato’s “California” exhibition at the Galleria Ferrari in Maranello
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, 1st October 2008 – While the new Ferrari California is presented at the Paris Auto Show the Galleria Ferrari in Maranello is exhibiting the new car for its visitors. On the occasion – together with the Galleria d’Arte Contini – Enrico Ghinato’s “California” exhibition will be inaugurated on Saturday, 4th October at 18h in the presence of the artist.
Thirty paintings dedicated to the most wonderful cars from Ferrari from every era will be exhibited in the Galleria Ferrari’s exhibition hall until 15th December. The exhibition is part of a cycle, dedicated to 60 years Ferrari in America, while some of the most significant moments of this period are revived.
The Galleria Ferrari is open from Monday to Sunday from 9.30am to 6pm.
The entry to the exhibition is not included in the ticket.

 

Paris: special Ferrari California preview at the Italian Embassy
Source: Ferrari

Paris, 1st October – On the eve of the official debut tomorrow of the Ferrari California on the first press day of the Paris Car Show, Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo and the Italian Ambassador in Paris Ludovico Ortona will present a very special preview of the new car to the Company’s clients and friends at the Italian Embassy at the Hotel de la Rochefoucauld-Doudeauville. This evening’s guests will include IFIL chairman John Elkann, PPR Group CEO François- Henri Pinault, internationally renowned architects Jean-Michel Wilmotte and Massimiliano Fuksas, film greats Gerard Depardieu, Luc Besson and Alain Delon, style and fashion icon Inès de la Fressange and artist Albert Uderzo, co-creater with René Goscinny of the Asterix cartoon strip.

 

Emotion and passion at the Ferrari California world premiere at Maranello and Los Angeles
Source: Ferrari

Charity auction at Los Angeles in the presence of governor Schwarzenegger

Maranello 19th September – The Ferrari California world premiere ended late last night with more than 1,000 guests from all over the world at Los Angeles and Maranello.
At the private airport of Santa Monica, where the US-American presentation was held, the new Ferrari California came under the hammer for 520,000 USD at a charity auction. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California, made a brief appearance at the event to commend Ferrari for their commitment in supporting After-School All-Stars, an association that engages middle-school kids in activities that increase confidence and encourage success in all areas of their lives, to which the auction’s earnings will be donated.
Meanwhile the Ferrari California was presented at Maranello by Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo, together with the Scuderia Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa, who drove the car inside the new factory building, planned by Jean Nouvel, surrounded by images from the history of the Prancing Horse. Michael Schumacher, involved in the development of the new Granturismo from Maranello, underlined the sporty qualities and flexibility of the new California.
The event was broadcasted on www.ferraricalifornia.com, where as of now the most significant images of the events are recalled.

 

World Premiere of the Ferrari California to take place in Maranello and Los Angeles and live on www.ferraricalifornia.com
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, 18th September 2008 – The world premiere of the new Ferrari California takes place this evening in the build-up to its official unveiling at the Paris Auto Show on October 2nd next.
The premiere will take place contemporaneously in Maranello and Los Angeles while Ferrari enthusiasts will for the first time in the Prancing Horse’s history be able to watch the event live on the www.ferraricalifornia.com website from 22.00 Italian time.
More than 1,000 special guests from all over the world will watch the presentation of the new car inside the new production line building designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize 2008.
In addition to President Luca di Montezemolo, the event will also be attended by the Scuderia Ferrari drivers, Kimi Räikkönen and Felipe Massa.
Michael Schumacher will also be on hand, having been involved since the very earliest stages in the development of the Ferrari California, a hugely innovative car sporting a new front-mid 8-cylinder engine and a retractable folding hard top.
The Ferrari California will also be presented today at Santa Monica Private Airport, just outside Los Angeles during a ceremony attended by a further 1,000 invited guests from all over the American continent.

Michael Schumacher completes development testing on Ferrari California
Source: Ferrari

Maranello 23rd July 2008 – Michael Schumacher is currently completing the track and road development stages of the Ferrari California, the new 8-cylinder model due to be officially unveiled at the Paris International Motor Show on October 2nd this year.
The seven times Formula 1 world champion has been involved in the development of the latest Prancing Horse road car since its inception and has worked with Ferrari’s team of engineers, technicians and test-drivers on honing the car in general, but more specifically on optimising its performance parameters.
“I have to say that, as with the 430 Scuderia, participating in the project since the very beginning has been really fascinating and great fun,” commented Schumacher at the end of a test session at the Fiorano circuit. “Although the cars are very different, they both offer absolutely 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 with a focus on absolutely cutting-edge performance. However, although 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 any kind of conditions.”
Schumacher also recently addressed the Ferrari dealer convention in Maranello and explained the differences between the two 8-cylinders: “They were designed to meet different requirements: the 430 Scuderia is aimed at drivers who want the very essence of a Ferrari and will get it out on the track as often as they can. The Ferrari California, on the other hand, is designed for everyday use and for weekends away whilst still guaranteeing all of the emotional impact that only an authentic Ferrari can deliver.”
Michael Schumacher’s contribution to the development of the Ferrari California has resulted in a car that delivers extraordinary performance: it can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in under 4 seconds, delivering superb driving pleasure whilst still being exceptionally comfortable and versatile.

Over 500 million people discover the new Ferrari California on the web
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, July 18th 2008 – One of the many exciting new features of the Ferrari California is the communications strategy which, in a first for the Prancing Horse, uses the internet as the main medium through which to present the car to the world.
Since its launch two months ago, the dedicated Ferrari California website has received one million direct hits, confirming Ferrari’s success on the web. However, when the visitors rerouted through the official Ferrari portal www.ferrariworld.com and the many other sites linked to it, are added to that figure, it is estimated that at least 500 million people have viewed the images of the new Ferrari in only the first month since the first images were revealed.
Most of the visitors came, in order, from the USA followed by Italy and the UK, with the number of Japanese visitors to the site now exceeding the number of German visitors, taking over in fourth position. Also in the top 10 countries and rising fast are Taiwan, China and Australia.
This trend is also reflected in the sales figures for Ferrari’s e-commerce site (www.ferraristore.com) where purchases have increased by 40% on the same period last year with 90% of orders coming from outside Italy.
We are also delighted to announce that the first virtual video of the new Prancing Horse 8-cylinder in action on both road and track is now available at www.ferraricalifornia.com.

 

Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo test-drives the new California
Source: Ferrari

“I’M THRILLED. IT’S A GREAT FERRARI THAT DELIVERS UNIQUE DRIVING PLEASURE”

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 addition to 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.

 

New Ferrari California revealed first photographs now available online Record number of hits on site: over 60,000 visitors from across the globe in just one weekend
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, May 13th 2008 – The latest Prancing Horse GT was revealed to the world for the first time at 11.00 this morning on the www.ferraricalifornia.com in a series of three photographs.
The new Ferrari California won’t, however, be officially unveiled until October 1st next at the Paris Car Show. However, it will be revealed bit by bit to enthusiasts on a special dedicated site (accessible also via the www.ferrariworld.com official site) between now and then.
The www.ferraricalifornia.com site has been up and running under theferrarigtcontdown name since last Friday and, purely on the strength of word of mouth between Ferrari fans on the web, it attracted over 60,000 hits from all over the world in just one weekend. A total of 15% of these have already registered to ensure that they will be kept informed by email of the new revelations about the car between now and its virtual road tests.
The site launch immediately attracted worldwide attention: most of the first 60,000 visitors were American, followed by Italians and then enthusiasts from other European countries. The site also received a large number of hits from China, Japan and the Asia-Pacific region in general.
Having first showcased the sound of the Ferrari California’s new 8-cylinder engine, the sensory journey of discovery continued today with the publication of the first three photographs of the car which provide a tantalising glimpse of its style. For now enthusiasts will have to content themselves with poring over one ¿ front, one ¿ rear and one side view photograph. However, over the next few weeks, new photographs will be posted of the cabin and the other details that make this car as unique every Ferrari.
Needless to say, the Ferrari California is brimming with technological innovations and the www.ferraricalifornia.com will be the site to watch to keep abreast of revelations of every last detail of the new car before it is unveiled “in the flesh” at Paris.

New Ferrari GT to be revealed on web
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, May 9th 2008 – A new Ferrari Grand Tourer is in the offing and, in an innovative move, will be revealed to the fans and enthusiasts in a non-traditional way. In the build-up to the new model’s official unveiling at the Paris Auto Show next October, we’ll be revealing it bit by bit on the dedicated www.ferrarigtcountdown.com site which can also be accessed through the official Ferrari portal at www.ferrariworld.com
Visitors to the site will be guided through a sensory voyage of discovery which, over the coming weeks, will gradually reveal the new car in its entirety and feature some highly gratifying virtual road tests too.
The new site launches today and begins that voyage of discovery with the sense of sound. The roar of the new GT’s engine will be the first bit of it to be revealed to enthusiasts, in fact, and will be followed over the next few days by the first photographs of this eagerly-awaited car whose name will also be revealed.
This is the first time that the Prancing Horse has used this virtual voyage of discovery approach which will allow it illustrate various aspects of the new GT model’s design and the many, many technological innovations that it sports.
Updates and additions to the site will continue until the Paris Show. To ensure that you are kept constantly abreast of the new content being revealed, simply register with the site and then experience these sneak previews of this latest gorgeous Ferrari creation.
This new approach to unveiling the car will naturally also be flanked by more traditional encounters involving the release of photographs and, of course, the Paris Show. It is, in fact, just one part of a highly focused strategy that puts the web at centre stage as an instant, privileged communications channel through which Ferrari can keep in constant contact with its burgeoning numbers of fans and enthusiasts worldwide.

 

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