Merc1
Premium
A front-mounted V-8 makes this Ferrari GT a joy to drive
Mazara del Vallo, Italy — The 2009 Ferrari California represents a major departure from company tradition. Typically, Ferrari's 8-cylinder models have had their engines mounted amidships, whereas the larger GTs have had V12 engines mounted in the nose of the car.
Not so the Ferrari California. It's the first road-going car wearing the prancing horse that has its V-8 up front, and it's also the first with a fully retractable hardtop to boot.
While this diverges from the company's known game plan, that doesn't mean this latest addition to the stable is any less a Ferrari. Indeed, the looks alone are chock full of traditional Ferrari cues from the eggcrate grille and functional hood scoop (that recalls the original California) to its round taillamps that ride on the rear haunches in a manner that mimics the F430 and Enzo.
M
Mazara del Vallo, Italy — The 2009 Ferrari California represents a major departure from company tradition. Typically, Ferrari's 8-cylinder models have had their engines mounted amidships, whereas the larger GTs have had V12 engines mounted in the nose of the car.
Not so the Ferrari California. It's the first road-going car wearing the prancing horse that has its V-8 up front, and it's also the first with a fully retractable hardtop to boot.
While this diverges from the company's known game plan, that doesn't mean this latest addition to the stable is any less a Ferrari. Indeed, the looks alone are chock full of traditional Ferrari cues from the eggcrate grille and functional hood scoop (that recalls the original California) to its round taillamps that ride on the rear haunches in a manner that mimics the F430 and Enzo.
M
