Ferrari California

Last updated
Ferrari California
2013 Ferrari California 4.3L Hagerty parking lot 6.1.19.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer Ferrari
Production2008–2017
AssemblyItaly: Maranello
Body and chassis
Class Grand tourer (S)
Body style 2-door, 2+2 retractable hardtop convertible
Layout Front mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Chronology
Successor Ferrari Portofino

The Ferrari California (Type F149) is a grand touring, high performance sports car created by the Italian automobile manufacturer Ferrari. It is a two-door 2+2 hard top convertible. When originally unveiled in 2008, the California was powered by a front-mid mounted, rear wheel drive, naturally aspirated 4.3-litre V8. [1] In 2012, a lighter, slightly more powerful variant, the California 30, was introduced. In 2014, Ferrari announced the second generation of the model, named California T powered by a new twin-turbo 3.9-litre V8.

Contents

The car revives the name used on the late-1950s Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder and the 1960s 365 California. The modern California (2008) was originally introduced as an entry-level model; however, it included many new design innovations from Ferrari. The original base price of the California was similar to the base price of the F430, the company's V8 flagship sports car at the time of its introduction. In 2018, the California was succeeded by the Portofino.

Ferrari California (2008–2014)

Ferrari California
Ferrari California - Flickr - Alexandre Prevot (13) (cropped).jpg
Overview
Production2008–2013
Model years 2009–2014
Designer Pininfarina under Ken Okuyama (1997) [2]
Powertrain
Engine 4.3 L F136 IB/IH V8
Power output
  • California: 460 PS (338 kW; 454 hp)
  • California 30: 490 PS (360 kW; 483 hp)
Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch
6-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,670 mm (105.1 in) [1]
Length4,563 mm (179.6 in) [1]
Width1,902 mm (74.9 in) [1]
Height1,308 mm (51.5 in) [1]
Kerb weight
  • 1,735 kg (3,825 lb) (Europe) [1]
  • 1,870 kg (4,123 lb) (US) [3]

Ferrari California T (2014–2017)

Ferrari California T
Ferrari California T - Mondial de l'Automobile de Paris 2014 - 003.jpg
Overview
Production2014–2017
Model years 2015–2018
Designer Ferrari Styling Centre under the direction of Flavio Manzoni in collaboration with Pininfarina [25]
Powertrain
Engine 3.9 L F154 BB twin-turbo V8
Power output412 kW (560 PS; 553 hp)
Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch [26]
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,670 mm (105.1 in)
Length4,570 mm (179.9 in)
Width1,910 mm (75.2 in)
Height1,322 mm (52.0 in)
Kerb weight
  • 1,730 kg (3,813 lb) (Europe) [26]
  • 1,843 kg (4,064 lb) (US) [27]
California T 2014-03-04 Geneva Motor Show 1452 (cropped).JPG
California T

The Ferrari California T (Type 149M) is an updated design of the California model featuring new sheetmetal and revised body features; a new interior, a revised chassis and a new turbocharged powertrain. It debuted in 2014 for the 2015 model year.

First unveiled on the web on February 12, 2014, subsequently, the car debuted at the Geneva Motor Show (March 6–16, 2014). The T in the moniker stands for Turbo, a technology Ferrari last used on the F40 road car. The car utilizes a new 3,855 cc (3.9 L; 235.2 cu in) twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces 412 kW (560 PS; 553 hp) at 7,500 rpm and 755 N⋅m (557 lb⋅ft) at 4,750 rpm as well as a 7-speed dual clutch transmission with different gear ratios, a revised MagneRide adaptive suspension, as well as a new F1 Trac system. The car can accelerate from 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) in 3.6 seconds and attain a top speed of 315 km/h (196 mph). The car also features a new front fascia that was influenced by the F12, a revised rear section and a revised interior. The revised rear end replaced the two sets of two vertically stacked exhaust pipes with four horizontally aligned pipes. Another improvement to the car is the reduction of emission pollution by 15% compared to its naturally aspirated predecessor. The car also utilises small turbo chargers and a variable boost management system to reduce turbo lag.

It is also the first Ferrari road car debuting the new Apple CarPlay functionality into its built-in infotainment system – Apple confirmed at the launch of the Geneva Motor Show that Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo would be among the first car manufacturers to bring CarPlay compatible models to the market. [28] [29]

California T Handling Speciale (2016–2017)

Similarly to the previous generation, a Handling Speciale (HS) package was made available for the California T, providing sportier handling at the expense of a stiffer ride. The Handling Speciale includes stiffer springs front and aft, retuned magnetorheological dampers, faster gear shifts when in Sport mode, a reprogrammed F1-Trac stability control, and a new sport exhaust system. Visually, the HS package-equipped cars are distinguished by a matte grey grille and rear diffuser, matte black diffuser fences and matte black exhaust tips. [30]

The California T Handling Speciale was unveiled at the March 2016 Geneva Motor Show. [31]

Tailor Made

Through the Tailor Made programme, the California T was produced in several special editions and could also be customised to suit individual customers. For Ferrari's 70th anniversary in 2017, this included 70 liveries inspired by the company's iconic cars of the past such as the 250 GT Berlinetta SWB and Steve McQueen's 1963 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso. The California T Tailor Made liveries were unveiled at the March 2016 Geneva Motor Show and also shown at other subsequent motor shows such as the October 2016 Paris Motor Show. [31] [32] [33] [34]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "New model: Ferrari California". italiaspeed.com. 2008-10-08. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  2. "Scholars: Ken Okuyama". blackbird-watchmanual.com. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  3. "2009 Ferrari California vs 2009 Mercedes Benz SL63 AMG Convertible Vehicle Chart" (PDF). Car and Driver. US. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  4. "California dreaming". Top Gear . 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  5. Serafim, Mircea (2008-11-28). "Bosh provides gasoline direct injection for the new Ferrari California". inautonews.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-06. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  6. Hart, Roger (2008-10-31). "Ferrari California First Drive: new car signals new direction for company". autoweek.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
  7. Rufford, Nick (2008-10-19). "Ferrari California". The Sunday Times . London. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  8. Corsani, Lorenzo (2008-06-29). "Una nuova linea di produzione per la California". autoblog.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2013-06-27.
  9. "Wellbeing Programme Ferrari Formula Uomo". Europa OSHA Case Studies. Europe. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  10. "Ferrari California Begins Production on New Line". Motor1.com. June 26, 2008.
  11. "Ferrari N.V Prospectus March 16, 2016" (PDF). Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  12. "Ferrari N.V. Annual Report 2016" (PDF). Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  13. "Ferrari N.V. Annual Report 2017" (PDF). Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  14. Okulski, Travis (2014-12-04). "How This Year's Least Popular New Ferrari Could Become The Most Valuable In 30 Years". jalopnik.com.
  15. Pollard, Tim (2011-11-11). "Ferrari click-clack manual transmissions, RIP". Car Magazine. Retrieved 2015-11-08.
  16. McCausland, Evan (2012-04-20). "That Few? Only Two Ferrari Californias Sold With Manual Transmissions". automobilemag.com.
  17. Pimpo, Tony (2012-03-07). "Geneva: 2013 Ferrari California is More "Speciale"". automobilemag.com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-20. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  18. Harley, Michael (2012-03-27). "2013 Ferrari California loses weight and gains power to command more respect". autoblog.com.
  19. "Ferrari California 30 (2012)". auto.ferrari.com. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  20. Bryant, Thos L. (2012-04-25). "2013 Ferrari California HS Photos, Specs, Price: The Handling Speciale package works wonders for the California". Road & Track. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
  21. Gluckman, David (April 2012). "Great for greenies, great for performance: 2013 Ferrari California". Car and Driver . Retrieved 2015-01-11.
  22. Adcock, Ian (2011-12-13). "Ferrari Tailor Made". Road & Track. Retrieved 2018-03-31.
  23. Hirsch, Jerry (2012-05-21). "Ferrari recalls California, Italia models for faulty crankshafts". Los Angeles Times .
  24. Road & Track, (2012-05-22)
  25. "California T Design". ferrari.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-06. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
  26. 1 2 "California T Specifications". ferrari.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-06. Retrieved 2015-12-10.
  27. Robinson, Aaron (May 2015). "2015 Ferrari California T Test". Car and Driver. US. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  28. Dredge, Stuart (2014-03-03). "Apple CarPlay debuts with Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo". The Guardian . Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  29. "The Ferrari California T and the Apple CarPlay equipped FF debut tomorrow at Geneva". Ferrari PR. Ferrari. 2014-03-03. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
  30. Kierstein, Alex (2016-01-22). "Ferrari California T gets sharper edge with Handling Speciale package". autoblog.com. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
  31. 1 2 "The Ferrari GTC4Lusso wows Geneva" (Press release). Ferrari. 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  32. "Paris World Premiere" (Press release). Ferrari. 2016-09-29. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  33. Stolte, Niels (2016-10-03). "Paris 2016: Ferrari California T "The Steve McQueen"". GT Spirit. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  34. Tracy, David (2016-09-29). "Ferrari's 70th Anniversary Cars Pay Homage To Great Race Drivers And Also Steve McQueen". Jalopnik. Retrieved 2016-10-25.