OFFICIAL Official: New Ferrari California Revealed!

Official: New Ferrari F149 California Revealed

Thanks, UCG!

:t-cheers:

Re: Official: New Ferrari F149 California Revealed

From CAR:

This is the Ferrari California – the new 2+2 GT unveiled today. There’s a seven-speed twin-clutch transmission, a 454bhp 4.3-litre V8 with direct injection, a folding metal roof and space for four.

Right, concrete numbers on the Ferrari California please…

The engine is a 4300cc V8, using the existing block from the F430 but with a new head to accommodate direct injection. It’s the first time Ferrari has used DI and helps the California produce 454bhp at a heady 7500rpm. Ferrari currently hasn’t released any torque figures but claims the California has ‘a torque curve that enhances the vehicle dynamics and driving pleasure to the utmost’. Yes, quite.
The exhaust gases exit through some very Lexus IS-F looking, stacked pipes – a first on a Ferrari.

So how fast is the new Ferrari California?

Very quick indeed. The California premieres Ferrari’s new seven-speed twin-clutch transmission and the car blasts to 62mph in under four seconds. A manual Porsche 911 Turbo open-top takes four seconds exactly. And because the Nissan GT-R has only a six-speeder, the Ferrari California has the world’s first seven-speed transaxle 'box. Nerds take note.

Ferrari has switched to the twin-clutch ‘box because it can’t get the current semi-auto system to switch cogs any faster, and because the more relaxed GT nature of the California demands a more relaxed and seamless change. The new ‘box is also claimed to reduce fuel consumption and help give the Ferrari California CO2 emissions of around 310g/km.

It’s quick so it must be light, right?

Ferrari is remaining mum on the subject of weight, but CAR's sources estimate a figure comfortably under 1700kg thanks to the aluminum body and roof. Brembo carbon ceramic brakes also help keep the kerbweight down, as well as offering fade-free stopping power. By way of comparison, an Aston Martin DBS weighs in at 1695kg, an F430 Spider is 1520kg and a 612 Scaglietti is 1840kg.

Size-wise the California isn’t much smaller than the 599 GTB, so CAR’s estimates measure the new GT at under 4.6 metres in length.

So the Ferrari California is a GT?

You bet. The California is Ferrari’s new baby GT so while eight cylinders puts it on power terms with the F430, it’s supposed to be in the mould of the 612 Scaglietti.

In keeping with the GT tag the California will only be available with a folding hard-top. But this is no 180-degree-swivel 575 Superamerica job, as the roof disappears under the rear deck.

The standard F1-Trac traction control system, developed from the 599 GTB, has also been retuned to suit the California’s more relaxed nature.

What about inside the Ferrari California?

The obvious stuff visible on these first pictures are a new steering wheel, dials, seats and entertainment system. Less apparent at first glance is the four-seat layout of the California. Look closely and you can see two headrests built into the rear bulkhead. These mean you can configure your California with four seats (we won’t yet pass judgment on whether it can really seat four) or move the seats and have a bigger boot. Ferrari calls it an ‘original 2+ concept’.

More details on the Ferrari California will be revealed over the coming months before the car makes its debut at the Paris motor show in autumn 2008. First customer cars will be delivered in early 2009 with prices expected to start from £160k-plus.

Link: Ferrari California: first pictures | Automotive & Motoring News | Car Magazine Online

:t-cheers:

One Ferrari I will not be dreaming about! :thumbdwn:

More pics needed from various angles, but i think i like it. Side profile and rear look great in these pics, not sure about front, but it's ok at the moment.

:t-cheers:

Wow, I thought they were revealing it bit by bit.

Guess not

And this:



:icondrool

2+2 my ass, those so called rear seats are unusable. The rear end is smoking hot, turned out very well and I love how the tail lights extend to the rear deck. The front doesn't look very tasty but I reserve my opinion until I've seen the front end from other angles. The proportions are magical, absolutley perfect and quite reminiscent of the LA-F which will be one of it's main competitors.

Hmmmm...well I can say that it isn't love at first sight. Looks like a Italian Corvette or something. Need to see more pics.

M

I wanna see some specs because the figures don't add up. 454hp but does 0-100km/h in under 4 seconds despite a weight in the upper 1600kg region.

What I'm impressed by is how well they pulled off the stacked tail lights layout. Way better than Lexus did on the IS-F.

Oh god I just thought about what the Lexus people on other boards are going to be saying, that Ferrari copied Lexus.

M

Oh yeah, expect that...

:t-cheers:

The dudes over at Autolies will go nuts over it.

There is no doubt what the target market is, hence the name. Though it could have been named after any number of countries in the middle east too. This is Ferrari's SL it seems. This car is going to do some serious business and I predict will become their best seller as the F430 ages. The F430 will no doubt get a facelift to keep the order books full. Why are they calling this a 2+2 when only a hobbit could sit back there?

M

That is exactly the group I'm thinking about.


M

Love it!

Italians make suits that are too small too

I'm still recovering from the shock that Ferrari finally has a new model that looks quite radical.

The first time I saw this car, I thought it's a small car to compete against the Vantage, something priced below the 430... But no, apparently, this is a huge GT. Any idea how this car will be priced though? The dual-clutch and this whole model, in fact, is totally unexpected to me. Either that or I've been away from the car world for too long...