It’s fair to say many didn’t like the Ferrari California tin top. We may have even likened it to Fredo from ‘The Godfather’ – the weakest sibling from an otherwise powerful Ferrari familia. Joy of joys then that Ferrari are completely revising the next Ferrari California and sticking a T on it.
That’s T, as in turbo. That’s turbo, as in first turbocharged Ferrari since the magnificent Ferrari F40. The engine hails from the Maserati Quattroporte GTS and is good for 390 kW (at 7500rpm) and 790 Nm of torque. The twin-turbo direct petrol injection 3.8-litre V8 dispatches 100 km/h in 3.6 sec and tops out at 320 km/h, while delivering a 20g drop in CO2 emissions to 250 g/km. There is a new stop-start system to enhance fuel economy and consumption is down 15% as a result, with torque up a scarcely believable 49% over the previously naturally aspirated V8.
The California T gets a welcome styling shake up too without losing the elegance, sportiness and exclusivity that were all characteristics distinguishing Ferrari California models apart from the competition since the 1950s. The face looks as if it’s now inspired by the juggernaut Ferrari F12 but without compromising the model’s compact dimensions.
The latest proportions are penned by the Ferrari Styling Centre in collaboration with design house, Pininfarina. The flanks are inspired by the 250 Testa Rossa’s famous pontoon-fenders but meticulous aerodynamic research still went into shaping the sleek body and triple-fence diffuser at the rear, to keep the Cali stuck to the ground.
