Quote from the Founder of Ferrari

"The Ferrari is a dream-people dream of owning this special vehicle and for most people it will remain a dream, apart from for those lucky few." -Enzo Ferrari

Thursday, July 3, 2008

The Ferrari California

I finally received last Monday, June 30th, the emails from both of the two Ferrari dealerships that I emailed to last week. It was in regards to a question my sister-in-law asked me. She asked something along the lines of, "Do they have technicians come out to your house to repair or do maintenance on your Ferrari?" One dealership said, "Only in an emergency." and the other said, "No, we only work on vehicle in the shop."
I've decided to talk about Ferraris a little more, especially the new Ferrari California. It is the much anticipated, front mid-engine, rear drive convertible-only, 2-door "grand tourer" with a true, fully retractable hardtop which when the top is down, is completely flat-just like a Mercedes-Benz SL.
It is to debut on October 1st at the Paris auto show and then goes on sale at a price rumored to be between $290,000 as for the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti and the base price $210,000 for the Ferrari F430. Ferrari says the California should be on sale in Europe by the end of the year, with U.S. sales following later.
As with all Ferraris, the engine is the star of the show. Like it's stablemate, the mid-engine two-seat F430, the front-engine California is powered by a 4.3 liter V8 with a race-car-like "flat"-plane crankshaft. Unlike the F430's engine, the California's V8 sports a direct-fuel-injection system and makes 454 horsepower at 7500 rpm. The higher revving F430 V8 makes 483 horsepower at 8500 rpm in coupe and spider versions; the 430 Scuderia is good for 503 horsepower. Transferring the power to the rear wheels is a new dual-clutch gearbox (a Ferrari first) with seven forward gears. Ferrari is promising performance and fuel economy to the tune of 0 to 62 in less than four seconds and a respectable 18mpg on the highway.
Another dramatic move, Ferrari has swapped out its traditional double-wishbone suspension at the rear for a new multilink rear setup with the F-1-Trac traction control from the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and have included those amazing (and incredibly expensive, lightweight and fade resistant) Brembo carbon-ceramic disc brakes.
So why would anyone buy the less powerful California over a less expensive F430? For starters, the California is a convertible, and it has two back seats or finished parcel shelf. The rear seats are small, but a F430 doesn't have a lot of extra room for luggage or kids at all.
In yet another new move, Ferrari has been unveiling the California bit by bit online on a special website: http://www.ferrarigtcountdown.com/ . The first piece released was the sound for the car's V8, followed days later by three photographs. More photos and information about the car will continue to be posted in the coming weeks until it's release.
I will post a picture of the Ferrari California as soon as I learn how to do it on my blog.
Have a great day and I wish you well.

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