Ferrari California T to be unveiled at Geneva:
Elegance, sportiness and technology
Posted: 12.02.2014
Source: Ferrari
New V8: intense sound and vivid acceleration across the rev range for the first time from a turbo-charged engine
Torque up by 49% and fuel consumption down 15%
Maranello, 12th February 2014 – The Ferrari California T epitomises elegance, sportiness, versatility and exclusivity: characteristics that have distinguished every California model since the 1950s.
The California T boasts striking standards of innovation while retaining signature features such as the successful 2+ concept, a refined cabin and, of course, the retractable hard top (RHT) which transforms it from a chic coupé into a sleekly sophisticated spider in a mere 14 seconds.
The model brims with a host of new solutions, not least of which is its 8-cylinder turbo engine. Maranello’s engineers have created an entirely new power unit which delivers absolutely superb levels of performance, blistering pick-up and the most exhilarating soundtrack any turbo has ever yielded.
This is also the first time virtually zero turbo lag has been achieved on an engine of this type, guaranteeing instantaneous response to commands and, as with naturally-aspirated power units, a torque curve that increases constantly across the rev range thanks to Variable Boost Management.
The direct-injection, 3855 cc turbo 8-cylinder is mounted very low in the chassis in a mid-front position and delivers 560 cv at 7500 rpm, which translates into a specific power output of 145 cv/l – the highest in its category – as along with maximum torque of 755 Nm. Figures that give the California T extraordinary acceleration over the 0 to 100 km/h sprint which it covers in just 3.6 seconds.
As in Formula 1 this season, a turbo is used to cut fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Compared to the outgoing model, fuel consumption is down by around 15 per cent* despite 70 cv more power and a 49 per cent increase in torque. Emissions are down to 250 g/km over the combined cycle which equates to a 20 per cent reduction in the CO2/cv ratio (0.44 g/cv). The California T’s engine also benefits from several other solutions used on the single-seater, not least compact, very low inertia twin-scroll turbines to ensure ultra-sharp throttle response. The Scuderia’s methodologies and plant are also used for certain phases of its production, particularly at the casting stage.
One major challenge involved in the design of the California T was to guarantee it a typically intense, exhilarating Ferrari engine sound. This was achieved through meticulous design work and the use of special manufacturing techniques for essential components, such as the flat-plane crankshaft and the three-piece cast exhaust manifold and turbo housing. The engine produces a powerful, engaging sound during both the intake and exhaust phases, becoming even more potent as engine speed increases. This the first time a result of this kind has ever been achieved with a turbo engine.
The California T delivers true sports car dynamics too, thanks to reduced steering wheel activity and improved steering response to driver input, courtesy of a new steering box and suspension set-up. New springs and latest-generation Magnaride dampers (which respond 50 per cent faster), combined with body motion accelerometers, reduce roll and pitch for more precise handling whilst still guaranteeing an incredibly comfortable ride.
The California T also has the latest evolution of the F1-Trac traction control system for maximum acceleration out of corners, thereby underscoring the sportier side of its personality.
The California T’s architecture, controls and new 8-cylinder engine ensure consistently intense driving pleasure in challenging driving conditions as well as making the car fun to drive even in more relaxed situations, very much in the Grand Tourer tradition.
The CCM3 carbon-ceramic braking system is also extremely efficient with new composite discs and pads. The brakes are integrated with the ESP 8.0 premium which controls the high performance ABS for a short 100 to 0 km/h braking distance of just 34 metres.
Considerable attention was paid to the design, maintaining the outgoing model’s overvall dimensions while ensuring that the California T has a new, individual personality. The sleek proportions were penned by the Ferrari Styling Centre in collaboration with Pininfarina and are very much in keeping with the Ferrari front-engined ethos. The shape of the California T’s flanks is inspired by the 250 Testa Rossa’s famous pontoon-fender styling, with the front wing line stretching back towards the compact, muscular rear, bringing an aerodynamic sleekness and movement to the sides. The rear benefits from meticulous aerodynamic research resulting in a new triple-fence diffuser.
The California T’s cabin was designed to be as ergonomic as possible and exudes a sense of warmth and craftsmanship, with luxurious Frau semi-aniline leather trim. The interior space is flexible so that owners can make the most efficient use of the boot capacity even with the top down, thanks to the opening between the luggage compartment and rear seats.
The human-machine interface encompasses the Ferrari steering wheel with integrated controls while the Turbo Performance Engineer (TPE) takes pride of place between the two air vents in the centre of the dash. The TPE display boasts a capacitive (touch-sensitive) surround to scroll through screens with information on making the most of the new engine’s performance. The California T also features a new infotainment system with an extremely intuitive, high-resolution 6.5” screen featuring both touch-screen and conventional controls.
The California T will be unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show in March, but from today can be admired online at www.ferrari.com in its two launch colours: Rosso California, an intense, deep new red inspired by classic Ferraris, and Blu California, which underscores the versatility and elegance of this new model.
*The consumption cut is calculated on a driving cycle that realistically reproduces a clients’ use of the car
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE
Type direct-injection 90° V8
Total displacement 3,855 cc
Maximum power * 412 kW (560 cv) at 7500 rpm
Maximum torque * 755 Nm (77 kgm) at 4750 rpm
DIMENSIONS ANDWEIGHT
Length 4570 mm
Width 1910 mm
Height 1322 mm
Dry weight** 1625 kg
Weight distribution 47% front – 53% rear
PERFORMANCE
Top speed 316 km/h
0-100 km/h 3.6 s
FUEL CONSUMPTION***
10.5 l/100 km
C02 EMISSIONS ***
250 g/km
* With 98 octane fuel
** With lightweight optional equipment
*** Combined cycle (ECE+EUDC) with HELE system
Ferrari California T: elegance, sportiness and versatility
Posted: 12.02.2014
Source: Ferrari
It makes its official world debut at Geneva in March but Ferrari’s new mid-front-engined 8-cylinder berlinetta with retractable hard top, the California T will also be unveiled today on the web. It boasts a brand-new 560 CV turbo engine which, thanks to the talents of Maranello’s engineers, has a torque curve that increases constantly across the rev range and delivers a soundtrack of an intensity never before achieved by a turbo.
Versatile and sporty, the California T delivers maximum torque of 755 Nm (+49%) combined with fuel consumption that has been slashed by 15%. The much-loved 2+ concept is retained as is the modular nature of the car’s cabin. However, the design itself has been radically revised with classically-inspired influences, such as the 250 Testa Rossa’s famous pontoon-fender styling, introduced.
Applause on the web too for California T
Posted: 14.02.2014
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 14 February – The latest arrival from Maranello, the California T, has had a very warm welcome. That’s not just from the specialists and the usual media, but above all it’s from the general public who have been on-line, hunting for the first photos of the car on the pages of www.ferrari.com. Over 50,000 visited the part of the site dedicated to the new V8, with a spike of over four times the usual daily average making a total of over 200,000 page hits. No surprises when it came to the countries that showed the most interest: first is the USA, followed by Italy and Great Britain. Exotic curios? What about the person who clicked on the link from the island of Guam or the surfer in Lesotho…
Around 20% of the traffic on the California T site was generated by the Prancing Horse’s presence on social media. The hashtag #californiat took just two days to go over the 6.6 million mark on Twitter, while the company’s Facebook page doubled its average weekly audience. Very significant is the fact that 30% of the 200,000 plus views of the video dedicated to the preview came from China’s social network Weibo, confirming the popularity of the mark in this part of the world, which is now the second largest Ferrari market.
Successful debut for California T in Dubai
Posted: 27.03.2014
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 27 March – Great success for the launch of the Ferrari California T at the Dubai International Financial Centre, in the United Arab Emirates. The new Maranello V8 turbo has all the characteristics of elegance, sportiness, versatility and exclusivity that marked the extraordinary cars with this name in the history of Ferrari from the 50s until today. The car has immediately fascinated all the guests and most of them has asked to be portrayed next to the last born in Maranello. The California T in Dubai has also been linked to “My Dubai”. The initiative, launched by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, has summoned some well-known artists to reinterpret the concept of car on canvas. The public has also been invited to share pictures of their visit on Twitter via the hashtag #FerrariCaliforniaTDubai.
Germany celebrates the Première of the Ferrari California T in Frankfurt
Posted: 07.04.2014
Source: Ferrari
Wiesbaden, April 7 – On Friday 400 enthusiastic guests from all over Germany celebrated the latest model from Maranello, the Ferrari California T, at the national premiere in the heart of Frankfurt. Amidst the skyscrapers of the local financial institutions, the California T was presented in a special ambience that fascinated everyone present.
“Germany is the most important market in Europe for Ferrari, not only in terms of sales figures and history, but above all because of the clients – true sports car enthusiasts with very high expectations – who are very loyal to our brand,” said Francesco Bianchi, Head of the Europe, Middle East and Africa Region of Ferrari S.p.A in his opening speech.
The new Ferrari California T is the epitome of elegance, sportiness, versatility and exclusivity – characteristics that marked each California model since the 1950s. The new 3855 cc 8-cylinder turbocharged direct-injection engine produces 560 hp at 7500 rpm a maximum torque of 750 Nm at 4750 rpm. With 49 % more torque and 15 % lower consumption*, the California T is a perfect combination of performance and efficiency. The sprint from 0-100 km/h is accomplished in 3.6 seconds with no turbo lag and with the typical Ferrari engine sound. Its steering is more precise and the ride even more dynamic, guaranteeing maximum driving pleasure in all driving situations.
The new California can be ordered from the official German dealer network now at a list price of € 183,499 €.
* The reduction in consumption is calculated on a driving cycle that realistically reproduces a clients’ use of the car
The Ferrari California T makes its French première at the Grand Palais
Posted: 07.04.2014
Source: Ferrari
Paris, 7th April 2014 – What better setting than the Grand Palais in Paris for the California T, Ferrari’s latest creation, to make its debut on French soil? The new Grand Tourer from Maranello was a magnet for the over 200 journalists who attended the premiere this afternoon on the opening day of the Tour Auto Optic 2000 rally.
The California T was to be the star attraction at a gala cocktail in the evening for over four hundred guests who thus had the opportunity see this superb example of elegance, sportiness, versatility and exclusivity for themselves.
After this traditional rendez vous in the Grand Palais, the first leg of the Tour Auto will get under way on Tuesday morning for a five-day rally (over 4 circuits and 9 stages on closed roads), with the journey coming to an end in Marseille on Saturday the 12th of April. Ferrari will be posting regular updates on the event on its web sites and social media pages.
California T debut in 2014 Beijing Motor show
Posted: 20.04.2014
Source: Ferrari
Greater China premiere for the revolutionary V8 turbo engine
3 initiatives for the Year of Horse in China
Beijing, 20 April 2014 – Ferrari comes to the 2014 Beijing International Motor Show with a unique combination of sportiness, exclusivity and versatility in the form of the elegantly-designed and highly innovative new California T.
Shortly after this March’s world premiere in Geneva, the California T is now introduced into the Greater China region, which is now Ferrari’s second largest market worldwide. Mr. Amedeo Felisa, CEO of Ferrari attends the press conference. Together with Mr. Enrico Galliera, Ferrari Senior Vice President for Commercial and Marketing and Mr. Edwin Fenech, Ferrari Greater China President & CEO unveil this extraordinary model under the spot light in Beijing.
The California T continues a long and glorious Prancing Horse tradition begun in the 1950s, and boasts singular levels of innovation, most notably in its turbocharged V8, a completely new power unit that, in a world first, successfully combines the performance, torque and sound of a conventional Ferrari engine, with the additional benefit of the fuel efficiency afforded by turbocharging.
The new mid-front 8-cylinder car is exceptionally practical, thanks to its retractable hard top (RHT) and the signature 2+ concept which provides additional versatility for using the cabin.
A seamless blend of sportiness and elegance, the California T is powered by a direct-injection 3,855cc V8 turbo engine that punches out a massive 560 cv at 7,500 rpm, yielding a specific power output of 145 cv/l, the highest in its category, as well as maximum torque of 755 Nm in 7th gear. Figures that allow the California T sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds and deliver extraordinary acceleration – even in higher gears – and excellent fuel efficiency.
For the first time on an engine using this technology, turbo lag has been virtually eliminated by reducing inertia and adopting an F1-derived flat-plane crankshaft in addition to innovative twin-scroll turbines. Increasingly powerful pick-up is guaranteed by proprietary Variable Boost Management software which adjusts torque delivery to suit the gear selected, thereby also cutting fuel consumption.
As was the case in Formula 1, turbocharging was adopted out of a need to boost efficiency. Compared to the previous California, in fact, fuel consumption has been cut by 15 per cent* despite an increase of 70 cv in power output and a jump of 49 per cent in maximum torque in seventh gear. Emissions have been cut to 250 g/km on the combined cycle and by 20 per cent in the CO2/horsepower ratio (0.44 g/km/cv). As a direct consequence, the car’s range has been extended by 15 per cent.
Thanks to meticulous design and sophisticated production techniques adopted for essential components such as the flat-plane crankshaft and the three-piece cast exhaust manifold and turbo housing, the California T’s engine produces an enthrallingly powerful sound that becomes even more impressive as revs increase. This is a completely unprecedented achievement for a turbo engine.
The California T boasts true sports car dynamics too, thanks to reduced steering wheel activity and improved steering wheel response courtesy of a new steering box and new suspension set-up. New springs and latest-generation Magnaride dampers (now more than 50 per cent faster) combined with body motion accelerometers reduce roll and pitch to deliver more precise handling whilst still guaranteeing an incredibly comfortable ride.
Alongside the California T is the rest of Ferrari fleet echoing Different Ferraris for different Ferraristi philosophy. FF, the revolutionary 4-wheel-driven Grand Tourer, 458 Spider and 458 Speciale V8 twins and F12berlinetta, the most powerful V12 Ferrari (unlimited edition) is strikingly lined up on the booth with the prancing horse glory.
3 initiatives for the Year of Horse in China
2014 is the year of the Horse, following the unveiling of the dedicated year of prancing horse logo to share the legendary brand spirit in Chinese cultural way, Ferrari China has a series of initiatives to celebrate this special year, including a new tailor made centre and Ferrari Academy will be opened in Shanghai, and the continuous efforts for Million Tree project since 2012, to echo the prancing horse’s social responsibility in the Chinese local communities.
Ferrari Academy, the only professional training centre outside Maranello, is set to offer the most extensive training program for Ferrari staffs and mechanics in Greater China, emphasising Ferrari’s full commitment to providing best products and service to the customers in China
A brand new Tailor Made centre will be opened in Shanghai within this year, which will be the only Tailor Made Centre in Greater China. Each Ferrari is unique, Tailor Made is a highly innovative personalization programme allowing the client to tailor its own Ferrari according to his or her own preferences in terms of colours, materials and finishing. 3 unique collections include CLASSICA, SCUDERIA, INEDITA, representing tradition, performance and innovation respectively. Inside this new tailor made showroom, exclusive owners, enthusiasts and the media is able to have a better understating of the concept of exclusivity from Ferrari.
Furthermore, Ferrari will keep collaborating with Dr. Jane Goodall’s non-profit organization to continue the Million Tree project to neutralize its carbon footprint in China. Ferrari is the first luxury automobile brand in Greater China that offset carbon by planting trees. Each tree donated by Ferrari offsets 250kg of CO2 in its lifetime and will re-anchor sandy soil that has been lost to decades of erosion in Inner Mongolia. These measures have offset all the operating carbon emissions of the prancing horse brand, including car manufacturing, transporting from Italy to China, and the owners to drive for the year in China.
*The consumption reduction is calculated over a typical, real-life route.
Double debut for Ferrari at the Beijing Motor Show
Posted: 20.04.2014
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 20 April – Double debut at the Beijing Motor Show for Ferrari that, in a crowded press conference, unveiled his celebrative logo for China’s Year of the Horse and his new Ferrari California T, the new car made in Maranello that immediately monopolised the experts’ attention.
The crowds flocking to the event also got their first glimpse of the new logo created by Ferrari to celebrate the Year of the Horse in the Chinese horoscope, which interpreting the Chinese belief of success with Ferrari’s successful heritage.
The logo takes the shape of a traditional Imperial seal featuring the Prancing Horse with an inscription on the side that translates as “May the Year of the Horse will bring success”. The logo combines time-honored Chinese traditions in text, calligraphy, and seal-cutting, and is cut in the form of a stamp and dipped in Ferrari red, nicely fitting the dignity of prancing horse.
The new logo is also to be seen on the stand at Beijing and flanks the most important debut of the event, that of the new Ferrari California T, making its first appearance in the Greater China area. Needless to remark, the car instantly attracted a huge crowd of visitors as well as capturing the attention of the media, making it the real star of the Chinese show. The car has 70 hp more than the previous California and a turbo V8 engine that guarantees a reduction of 15% in fuel consumption. In the Ferrari stand visitors are able to see the entire production and among these cars the most admired is the 458 Speciale, also a new model for Greater China market, that captured attention of media and visitors for his sportiness and performances.
Ferrari California T most beautiful sportscar in China
Posted: 23.04.2014
Source: Ferrari
Beijing, April 23 – As one of the most important automobile prize in China, “2014 The Most Beautiful Automobile Award China” organized by Car and Driver Magazine was held in Beijing. Now in its 7th year in China, the award is honoured as “Oscar of Automobile”.
The award of “The Most Beautiful Sports Car” of the year went to the California T. The unique combination of sportiness, exclusivity and versatility in the form of the elegantly-designed and highly innovative new California T outdistanced from other sports and luxury competitors as well as got most of judging panel’s applause.
Ferrari California T – UK Premier at Somerset House
Posted: 25.04.2014
Source: Ferrari
London, 25 April – The exciting new Ferrari California T made its UK premiere at an exclusive VIP event at Somerset House on the banks of the River Thames in London last night, with over 400 Ferrari clients, media and celebrities in attendance for the unveiling of the new car.
The Ferrari California T was the undoubted star of the show, with its elegant new design that echoes the “pontoon-fendered” 250 Testa Rossa of the late 1950s, as well as its powerful new twin-turbo V8 engine and revised driving dynamics that promise to make the California T the most exciting and fun-to-drive coupe-convertible in the luxury segment. With the latest generation CCM brakes, F1-traction control system and a remarkable 560hp engine, the California T remains a thoroughbred Ferrari which continues to attract new clients to the Prancing Horse.
The Ferrari California T offers a truly versatile ownership experience, with a 2+ seating configuration, a 340-litre luggage capacity and a 15% improvement in real-world fuel economy and range for that perfect long-distance Grand Tour.
Francesco Balli, Regional Manager for Ferrari North Europe, commented: “We are delighted to introduce the California T to our clients here at this fantastic venue in the heart of London. The new design features and innovative technology introduced on the California T means that we are sure this car will be very well received by our clients and fans here in the UK.”
Like all Ferrari models, the Ferrari California T features a 4-year warranty and 7 year’s Ferrari Genuine Maintenance programme for ultimate peace of mind and ease of ownership.
The Ferrari California T will make its dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed between 27-29 June 2014.
