Ferrari California T

12 February, 2014

J-C Etter

Ferrari previews the new California T.

Under project code 149M, Ferrari has developped a new 2+2 convertible GT, named California T. The design is fluid, elegant and graceful, probably far more consensual than the California which it replaces. The rear volume is still high to house the foldable roof and retains the two round headlights, but the exhaut layout returns to a classic pair of dual round pipes instead of the vertical/diagonal arrangement.

Ferrari has nested under the hood a new 90 degrees 3.8L twin turbo V8 with direct injection. Displacement is 3855 cm3, maximum torque 755 Nm at 4750 rpm and power peaks at 560hp at 7500 rpm. This engine is both torquier and more powerful than its Maserati cousin which, in the Quattroporte GTS, has a slightly lower displacement (3799 cm3) and puts out 650 Nm (710 Nm in overboost) and 530 hp at 6500 rpm. Ferrari claims the 0-100 km/h acceleration in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 316 km/h. Normalized fuel consumption is 10.5 L/100km and CO2 emissions 250g/km.

Dimensions remain very similar to the outgoing California with 4570mm (+8mm) in length, 1910 mm (+1mm) in width and 1322 mm in height (unchanged). Dry weight is claimed at 1625kg, with a 47%/53% balance between front and rear.

In its latest California 30 evolution, the entry level Ferrari was powered by a naturally aspirated 4297 cm3 V8 putting out 490 hp at 7750 rpm and 505 Nm at 5000 rpm. The California had been presented at the Mondial de Paris 2008 and will therefore have completed a six years production cycle.