>>Ferrari California

Ferrari California

Ferrari California

Manufacturer	Ferrari
Production	2008-present
Assembly	Maranello, Italy
Class	Grand tourer
Body style	2-door, 2+2 coupé cabriolet
Layout	Front mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Engine	4,297 cc (262.2 cu in) 90° V8
Transmission	7-speed dual-clutch automated manual 6-speed manual
Wheelbase	2,670 mm (105.1 in)
Length	4,563 mm (179.6 in)
Width	1,902 mm (74.9 in)
Height	1,308 mm (51.5 in)
Curb weight	1,630 kg (3,594 lb) (dry)
Designer	Pininfarina (exterior) Bertone (interior)

Rear view of California.

Front view of a California, pictured in London

Ferrari California at 2008 edition of the "Mondial de l'automobile" in Paris.

Ferrari California at 2010 edition of the "Mondial de l'automobile" in Paris.

The Ferrari California is a grand touring sports car that was launched by Ferrari at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. It is a two door "2+2" hard top convertible. The California is powered by front-mid mounted gasoline direct injection 4.3 L (260 cu in) V8 with 460 PS (338 kW; 454 hp). The car revives the "California" name used for the late-1950s Ferrari 250 GT.

According to industry rumors, the California originally started as a concept for a new Maserati, but the resulting expense to produce the car led the Fiat Group to badge it as a Ferrari in order to justify the high cost of purchase; the company denies this, however.The California represents a new, fourth model range for the company.

Production

The California will be built in a new production line adjacent to the existing factory at Maranello. The existing production line produces 27 cars per day, or 6,000 per annum. Ferrari plans to produce 5,000 Californias in the first two years of production, thereby increasing Ferrari production by 50% with introduction of this nameplate.The California, according to many motoring magazines, is sold out until 2011, with 60% of buyers being new to the Ferrari marque.

Design

The California represents a number of firsts for Ferrari:

• The first front engined Ferrari with a V8
• The first to feature a 7-speed dual clutch transmission
• The first with a folding metal roof
• The first with multi-link rear suspension
• The first with direct petrol injection

Bosch produced the direct injection system. The engine displaces 4,297 cubic centimeters, delivers 338 kW (453 bhp) at 7,750 rpm and the maximum torque is 485 N·m (358 lbf·ft) at 5,000 rpm. The resulting 80 kW (107 bhp) per litre of engine displacement is one of the highest for a naturally aspirated engine, as other manufacturers have used supercharging or turbocharging to reach similar power levels. 

Performance

	2009 Ferrari California

The California has a top speed of 310 km/h (193 mph) and it can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.9 seconds.Although 180 kilograms (397 lb) heavier and 30 PS (22 kW; 30 hp) less powerful than the mid-engined F430, the California reaches 97 km/h (60 mph) in the same time as the F430 due to the dual-clutch transmission.

Aerodynamics

Ferrari spent over 1,000 hours in the wind tunnel with a one-third-scale model of the California perfecting its aerodynamics. With the top up, the California has a C_d of 0.32, making it the most aerodynamic Ferrari ever made,until the introduction of the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta.

2012 Update

On 15th February 2012, Ferrari announced an upgrade of the 2009 model which includes weight loss and engine tuning. Coach builder Scaglietti, designer of the body of the California, has shed 30kg of weight from the body to enhance performance whilst still keeping the car a coupe convertible GT with four seats. Ferrari has also tuned the engine for greater performance levels with an increased power output of 30 PS. The GDI V8 engine now delivers 490 PS and 505 Newton metres of torque at 5000 rpm. Its acceleration has gone from a 0-100km/h time of 3.9 seconds to 3.8.The new California is also the first to receive the Handling Speciale Package, which includes Magnetorheological Dampers which increase the steering response by 10% along with stiffer springs and a faster ECU with 50% faster response time. The package also minimises body roll and increases the response of driver inputs. The car was released at the 2012 Geneva Motor Showas a 2012 model in Europe and as a 2013 model year for the US.