Design and Performance of Ferrari California
The new Ferrari California will satisfy even the most demanding of owners in term of its superb vehicle dynamics and driving pleasure. The new model will be available exclusively as a convertible with a folding hard top.
Both chassis and bodywork are aluminium, in line with the rest of the current range. The California will be powered by a new V8 engine mounted for the first time in the marque’s history in the mid-front position.
Ferrari California joins the Prancing Horse’s 8-cylinder family which has always been defined by power and performance. It also flanks the flagship 612 Scaglietti in the prestige sporty Grand Tourer segment.
The rear-wheel-drive 2009 Ferrari California is powered by a direct-injected 4.3-liter V8 that cranks out 460 hp and 357 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual is the only available transmission. According to Ferrari, the California is capable of sprinting from zero to 60 mph in under 4 seconds.
Many of the California’s design attributes are meant to enhance the car’s ability to be a grand touring car. The multilink rear suspension is new and is said to provide better ride comfort than the more traditional double-wishbone setup. The 460-horsepower V8 features direct injection — another Ferrari first — for enhanced fuel economy. Though that output is down about 30 hp compared to the F430′s V8, the California is certainly not a tepid thing — Ferrari projects a sub-4-second sprint to 60 mph.
the new California has an interior befitting its lofty price. There’s leather everywhere, including on the dash, and the overall design is contemporary and sharp. The steering-wheel-mounted “manettino” knob gives the driver control over a wide range of dynamic vehicle functions, and the entertainment system offers a variety of virtues, from the crisp 6.5-inch screen to hard-drive music storage and video DVD playback.
The rear seat is so cramped that it almost makes more sense to specify the rear parcel shelf instead — it looks nicer, and the seatback folds down either way. Trunk space with the top up is an impressive 12 cubic feet, and there’s still a usable 8.5 cubic feet left over with the top down.
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