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Old 05-13-2008, 08:50 AM   #1
acs power
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Default Ferrari California Revealed





The Hugely anticipated Ferrari California has been revealed with three official images and first details. The new GT joins Ferrari's 8-cylinder family and slots in just below the 612 Scaglietti with its new V8 which for the first time in their history is placed in the mid-front position of the car. Despite earlier predictions of a coupe model, the California will be exclusively available as a convertible featuring a folding hard top.
Power comes courtesy of a new 4.3-Liter V8 Engine with direct fuel injection and a “flat” crankshaft, output stands at 460 horsepower at 7500 rpm which launches it from 0-100km/h in under 4 seconds. The new model is the first model in the range to benefit from a new 7-speed dual clutch transmission which helps enhance the performance figures and driving pleasure whilst simultaneously reducing emissions(c.310 g/km CO2). But the performance enhancements don't stop there, the California also gets a new multilink rear suspension system, the F1-Trac traction system originally debuted in the 599 GTB Fiorano and carbon-ceramic material brake discs.
The interior benefits from newly developed accessories and equipment such as the seats, steering wheel, instrument panel and infotainment system. The exterior shows a classic prancing horse design aerodynamically enhanced to be highly ergonomic and enjoyable car to drive regardless of whether the top is up or down.
The California will be publicly unveiled in September at the Paris Motor Show, but before then we are promised further details and images will be released

Source: Ferrari


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(from Ferrari Press Release) New Ferrari California revealed: a hugely versatile, innovation-packed GT

Maranello, May 13th 2008 - The first official photographs have been published of the Ferrari California, the latest addition to the new generation of Ferraris launched in 2004 with the 612 Scaglietti and added to more recently with the 430 Scuderia.

The 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 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.

In line with Ferrari tradition, the new model also features several innovations. Apart from its folding hard top, these include the original 2+ concept which guarantees exceptional versatility of use in the rear of the car. The California's 4,300 cc V8 engine features direct fuel injection and a "flat" crankshaft. It generates 460 CV at 7,500 rpm with a torque curve that enhances vehicle dynamics and provides maximum driving pleasure which is typical for Ferrari.

As per the traditional Ferrari transaxle layout, the engine, which allows the Ferrari California to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 4.0 seconds, will be coupled to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission that boosts the car's performance while enhancing the driving pleasure, improves ride comfort and reduces fuel consumption and emissions (c.310 g/km CO2). The comfort is further enhanced by a new multilink rear suspension system. The Ferrari California is also equipped with the exclusive F1-Trac traction control system which made its debut on the 599 GTB Fiorano and has been further honed to suit the typical driving conditions expected for this new GT. Brembo brakes featuring carbon-ceramic material disks as standard guarantee superbly efficient braking.

In addition to sporting the marque's classic styling cues, the cabin has also been beautifully trimmed using quality materials by Ferrari's own skilled artisans. New accessories and equipment, such as the seats, steering wheel, instrument panel and infotainment system, together with optimised aerodynamics ensure that this is a highly ergonomic and enjoyable car to drive regardless of whether the top is up or down.

The Ferrari California is aimed at owners who desire a car which embodies everything the Prancing Horse represents in terms of sporty design and innovation, but also seek a car with greater versatility than ever. The car will be officially unveiled to the public at the Paris International Car Show. However, over the coming weeks, new photographs and further details about it will also be published.
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Old 05-13-2008, 10:11 AM   #2
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Wow. A new ferrari. Joy!

....I'm not convinced on the styling though.. Side profile looks killer!
From the front though, I can't help but think of the cartoon movie "Car".

Nothing ground-breaking on performance either; I just don't understand where it fits in within the Ferrari GT model line-up.
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Old 05-13-2008, 10:35 AM   #3
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yup, i can live with the side profile, but i'm sorry, it just looks like an opel speedster
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Old 05-13-2008, 10:49 AM   #4
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I don't really understand this. I'd say it's closets rival is other Ferraris.
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Old 05-13-2008, 10:54 AM   #5
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The styling is abit un-Ferrari. What is up with the hoodscope....It maybe functional, but it's ugly as hell.
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Old 05-13-2008, 10:59 AM   #6
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Haha.. IS-F tail pipes.
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Old 05-13-2008, 11:09 AM   #7
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The mid section looks like a Z4, the rear section looks like a TVR, the front section looks like Ford Thunderbird.
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Old 05-13-2008, 11:42 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by styla21 View Post
Wow. A new ferrari. Joy!

....I'm not convinced on the styling though.. Side profile looks killer!
From the front though, I can't help but think of the cartoon movie "Car".

Nothing ground-breaking on performance either; I just don't understand where it fits in within the Ferrari GT model line-up.
make It 2, and I also don't like those corvettes rearview mirrors.
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Old 05-13-2008, 11:50 AM   #9
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WTF was Ferrari's design studio thinking? The exterior looks like a mishmash of a bunch of other sports cars. The rear end looks like a mucked-up TVR Tamora with ISF exhaust pipes...the side mirrors are huge and not attractively-shaped at all (aerodynamics are important, but why the mushed bit in the middle?), the front end looks like a mixed up Lotus Elise with a bit of Pontiac Solstice thrown in for good measure, and the hood scoop, while classic, doesn't fit the shape of the car very well. The side profile is too chunky and the detailing extremely fussy. I don't like the wing vents, nor the artificial "haunches" that they'e so deliberately stamped into the bodyside. I'll reserve judgement until I see the car in person, but right now...BLEH!
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Old 05-13-2008, 12:09 PM   #10
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I knew it! The prototypes had the cuts on the roof, so I thought it was going to be a hard top convertible.

[quote=Vansquish;830630]The rear end looks like a mucked-up TVR Tamora with ISF exhaust pipes...quote]
The entire car looks like a TVR. An ugly one.

Ferrari's trying too hard. Someone needs to slap the designer and tell him that mixing the new design with classic cues don't work. Massive fail.

It probably won't fail in the marketing though. Old rich men like cars like this. The sheer ugliness will probably make it as attention grabbing as a Gallardo.

This is the ugliest Ferrari ever, and that's including the 400i.
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Old 05-13-2008, 01:32 PM   #11
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Still haven't made my mind up on this yet, I need to see the front from a human beings point of view (I hate these pictures from low down, I mean how many people upon seeing a car fall onto their stomachs to get a good look?!) also need to see it with the roof up. I do like the front and side though, but not sure about the gap for the license plate at the back.
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Old 05-13-2008, 02:20 PM   #12
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A little less busy with the styling and that would've been one of the most gorgeous cars ever made. Ferrari needs to stick to their smooth flowing lines, but they started sliding off their game with the 599gtb. Too busy, the rear just sucks. The profile of the car is beautiful, but they added too many useless details to incorporate the vents and crap. Massive Fail. Back to the drawing board guys...fire the designers first though.
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Old 05-13-2008, 04:15 PM   #13
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other then the exhaust and side vents i like it..
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Old 05-13-2008, 04:40 PM   #14
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just looked at it more closely and....it's still ugly! i think the worst bit is the rear, the interior is straight from the porsche boxster with those air vents, even the wheels are wrong, and that depression in the boot lid, between the rear tail lights bears a remarkable resemblance to the one on the lotus elise
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Old 05-13-2008, 04:56 PM   #15
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Haha - the Ferrari S2000 debuts

New accessories and equipment, such as the seats, steering wheel, instrument panel and infotainment system, together with optimised aerodynamics ensure that this is a highly ergonomic and enjoyable car to drive regardless of whether the top is up or down.


Mark my words... and SUV is on the horizon.

BTW, why are they even bothering with entering Mazzeratty's market?

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