California Dreamin'
Following a series of exclusive previews attended by celebrities and invited guests in the U.S. and Italy, the public’s first chance to see the Ferrari California for real will start when the Paris Motor Show opens its doors to them.
With the next two years’ production already sold out, any new customers will have to wait until 2011 for their car to be delivered. Sounds like a success, but Ferrari’s president Luca di Montezemolo could see a downside. “A car is like a good looking woman,” said Ferrari’s president. “You desire her but you have to wait for her... but if you wait too long, you start to look elsewhere.” Hard to see how anyone but an Italian aristocrat would get away with that.
The V8-engined California is Ferrari’s first coupe-cabriolet, with a folding hard top. The transformation takes 13 seconds. di Montezemolo expounded its benefits: “You see that it’s a nice day...you press the button... you take care of your shirt or whatever... you are driving a Spyder.”
Designed for the “beautiful coastal roads of California”, the four-seater California offers a more relaxed and easy driving style than the two-seat 430 with its racier feel. Thanks to the extra two seats, you have more flexibility: among the uses suggested by Ferrari are skis, dogs and children; but not necessarily in that order. It’s still a Ferrari, though: 0-60 mph comes up in less than 3.9 seconds, there’s a seven-speed F1-style transmission, and Formula One champion Michael Schumacher helped develop the car and hone its dynamics and driving characteristics.
The California is also the first car to incorporate Ferrari’s new commitment to improved efficiency, with its direct injection engine achieving CO2 emissions of “only” 305g/km.
Other newly developed features include the multi-link rear suspension and traction control system.
Ferrari may not be much affected by the credit crunch, but there was still a downbeat moment at the presentation. It came as di Montezemolo paid a poignant tribute to legendary designer Andrea Pininfarina, eponymous head of the design company, who was tragically killed in a scooter accident a few weeks ago. “This is our first motor show without Andrea,” he said. “I miss him as a friend and as a collaborator. There is a lot of Andrea in this car and I am glad his family are here to see it today.”
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