Jalopnik: 2009 california

Ferrari California To Be Priced From Equivalent Of $250,000

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:45:00 EDT

How much would you pay for the first front-engined, V8-powered hardtop convertible Ferrari California? If you answered around $250,000 (£143,000) you'll be happy to know that's how much Ferrari will charge for the keys to their newest GT in the UK, placing it between the entry-level Ferrari F430 Coupe and Spider in loosely translated US-to-UK pricing terms (it'll actually be closer to $200k here). What does that quarter-mil get you?

Ferrari claims that their V8-powered tourer puts out enough power through the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to propel it to 62 mph in less than 4.0 seconds. Since its live reveal we've had a chance to cozy up with one and we can say for sure that it is worth some amount of money.

[Source: Evo.co.uk]

Ferrari California, Live, Naked And In High-Resolution

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:40:00 EDT

We've seen the newFerrari California pretty much every way you can see it. We've seen it rendered, rendered in a rainbow, showing us how it goes topless, going outside for some sun, in video dropping its top, crash-tested, in a load of detail, behind-the-scenes at a photo shoot, live at its first reveal, a sneak early peek at it on the Paris Motor Show stage. Also we've seen it broiled, fried and steamed. But now we've seen it for ourselves — live and in living color. So, after all this anticipation — what do we think? Hmm... meh.

Ferrari California Gets Disrobed Early In Paris

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:56:00 EDT

We've already seen a lot of the 2009 Ferrari California, but the Paris Motor Show will be our first chance to savor the new stallion up close. Ruining our fun is the crew at Asphalte.ch, who appear to have bribed their way onto the floor ahead of the official reveal to grab some up close photos of the California. These photos show a lot of what we've seen before but add that great shot of the trunk open, revealing the space needed to tuck away the hardtop convertible's roof.

(thanks to Patrick for the tip) [Asphalte.ch]

Ferrari California, Really Revealed, Live!

Mark Arnold — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Ferrari will be broadcasting the live reveal of the Ferrari California, which really should be called "Live From Maranello, It's The Ferrari California!" Unfortunately, it's just a streaming live video, but it starts right now. Anyway, we'll be watching it — even though we saw the photo shoot shots already — and those other live photos — but whatever, we'll have screen caps and video up from the live reveal shortly. [FerrariCalifornia]
UPDATE: A few guys showed up. Felipe Massa, Kimi Raikkonen, and um... what's his name... oh yeah, Michael Schumacher.
UPDATE 2: Schumi drove a California onto the stage, with Ferrari Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo riding shotgun. The two yacked on about passion and heritage and technology for quite awhile. Then Luca told Felipe and Kimi that it was their bedtime, but dessert time for all the grown-ups.
UPDATE 3: We were going to post some video clips, but to be honest, the live feed really sucked. If you don't believe us, it looks like they're replaying it again right now. Perhaps Ferrari is still getting the hang of this whole "internet" thing.

2009 Ferrari California Caught At San Francisco Photo Shoot

Mark Arnold — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:30:00 EDT

The 2009 Ferrari California's now been spotted moving up California's coast on the streets of San Francisco. We can't help but think the new Ferrari California will be more at home in the southern end of the Golden State with an Orange County trophy wife dripping Botox and spray-tan onto the interior. But, we weren't consulted by Ferrari's well-paid marketing staff, so instead of this thing called "reality," we get blurry shots of the car in San Francisco's Barbary Coast area of North Beach. Whatever makes Ferrari happy.

[flickr via carscoop]

New Photos Reveal The 2009 Ferrari California In Glorious Detail

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EDT

We just received a full load of pictures of the steamy and dreamy 2009 Ferrari California. Ever since the new Ferrari GT made its well-planned debut, we've been slowly digesting the few images we've seen, hungry for more like them. In full, high-color, close-up, car-pr0n detail, we're now treated to views of the new Ferrari from every conceivable angle and all sorts of interior and exterior details. For instance, the steering wheel is pure sex and the gauge cluster has a slick monitor off to the left which details all kinds of fun driver information. We're even able to see the car has a dedicated "launch" button. This, we like. But were we pleased about everything we saw?

No. We don't like the nav system. It looks terrifyingly like a repainted Chrysler unit. Also...umm...well...actually, that's pretty much it. Hmm, well, anyway — let's just get back to the awesome, shall we?

The briefcase shelf in the back even folds down for trunk pass-through action. What's that? Those are seats? Oh. Ouch. We also get a peek under the hood at the direct-injected 4.3-liter V8 that'll be making the well-heeled sing the praises of it's 424 horses of goodness. Anyway, take a peek for yourselves folks, 'cause that right there is how you make a damn fine-looking automobile. [AutoMobilsmo.it (translated)]

Ferrari California Caught Topless Out-Of-Doors

Ray Wert — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:20:00 EDT

The enterprising spy photographers of Auto Express have caught the new drop-top 2009 Ferrari California with said top, dropped. While we're expecting to see the California go topless in the privacy of the exhibit halls of the Paris Motor Show to show off that beautiful leather interior, we didn't expect to see it do the same out in the open. Jeez, you'd think the California would have a bit more shame — especially considering the nude-friendly Bassona Beach is merely an hour and a half East of Maranello. Some Italian GT super cars, right? [Auto Express]

2009 Ferrari California Shows Convertible Top In Action

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:45:00 EDT

Oh, 2009 Ferrari California, you are such a tease. After months of spy photo speculation, you come at us with a lullaby of engine sounds, then we finally see you revealed in all your grand touring glory, and then we get the equivalent of an burlesque show with the static shot of the top in transformation. Now, finally we get to see the full show: how that all-important-to-the-buying-public convertible hardtop works. In a word, fast. It only takes 15 seconds to go "from the commotion of downtown LA to the tranquility of garble garble." We especially like that flippy thing it does with the rear glass right at the end. Take that and stick it in your pipe, origami-folding Volvo C70. [4wheelsblog]

The Ferrari California Shows How It Goes Topless

Ray Wert — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:30:00 EDT

Ferrari's revealed some new details and new photos of the upcoming 2009 Ferrari California. Yes, it's the same Ferrari California we first revealed early for you a couple weeks ago. And it's the same one we showed you a week later with a Skittles-like rainbow of fantasy color options. Now we've got shots of the new Ferrari GT in baby blue showing you how the little baby prancing pony puts the roof down. Isn't it simply adorable? In addition to showing off the new paint job, they've also revealed a statement full of all the verbiage we've come to expect and love from Ferrari — from orgasmic exclamations of "driving pleasure" to references of "Prancing Horses" instead of using their brand name. We love it — check it out after the jump.

FERRARI PRESIDENT LUCA DI MONTEZEMOLO TEST-DRIVES THE NEW CALIFORNIA: "I'M THRILLED. IT'S A GREAT FERRARI THAT DELIVERS UNIQUE DRIVING PLEASURE"
Maranello, 29th May 2008 - The new Ferrari California, 2+ convertible, had a very special "test-driver" behind its wheel the last few days as the Prancing Horse President Luca di Montezemolo put it through its paces over several laps at the Fiorano circuit.

"I am very satisfied indeed with the work that the women and men of Ferrari have done," declared Luca di Montezemolo. "The California is an extraordinary car and I was delighted with the performance, comfort and driving pleasure it delivered. The California is, like all of our models, the epitome of cutting-edge innovation. Its gearbox, suspensions and chassis are the most advanced possible.

This is the first dual-purpose Spider/Coupé with a retractable hard top that closes in just 14 seconds. Despite its extraordinary performance, the California 2+ is also exceptionally easy to drive and has a space behind the front seats that makes it supremely flexible in terms of usage."

The latest photographs of the new Pininfarina-styled retractable hard top convertible released today show it with its top closed and in an Azzurro California livery. Azzurro California was the colour chosen for the legendary 1960s spider's appearance at the New York Auto Show in 1962 and proved one of the firm favourites with owners of that model too.

Like the rest of the current Prancing Horse range, the Ferrari California has been aerodynamically designed to deliver significant downforce values - 70 kg at 200 Km/h, in fact.

This is the first time too that the new 7-speed dual clutch has been used on a Ferrari car. This technology is the fruit of in-depth gear shifting systems research by the Scuderia Ferrari. The system utilised on the Ferrari California cuts the gear shifting time to zero and enhances to the utmost the car's performance in terms of comfort and driveability.

Performance is further boosted by the new Launch Control button which when hit delivers blistering high performance starts by ensuring correct torque delivery and preventing tyre spin during acceleration.

The car is 4560 mm in length, 1900 mm wide and has a wheel base of 2700 mm.

The luggage capacity of the Ferrari California provides further proof of the versatility of this latest addition to the Prancing Horse range: when the roof is up, the boot has a 360-litre capacity and a 260-litre capacity when it is down.

For the first time on a Prancing Horse car, the boot and cabin communicate directly, allowing a choice of luggage configurations to be used.

Particular attention was also paid to fuel consumption levels which in the case of the ECE combined cycle is 13.2 l/100 km with CO2 emission levels of around 310 g/km.

Taste The 2009 Ferrari California Rainbow!

Mark Arnold — Wed, 21 May 2008 01:30:00 EDT

Sure, you could get the 2009 Ferrari California — the new GT from the prancin' Italian stallion — in red. But that's so, so...so predictable. This is an Italian drop-top sports car with an American name — ostentatiousness is the name of the game. Why not get it in any of the other colors under the rainbow — like "Great Pumpkin Orange" above? Well, for starters, we're not sure you'll be able to get a visit to the Hotel Ferrari California in these color combinations, but the good folks at pigmag.com have come up with a way to make your color-coordinated fantasy a reality with a nice do-it-yourself Photoshop Barbie doll-like game of Ferrari dress-up. Although a California painted to match your Malibu dream house will still cost you extra, for the meantime you can check out some of the detail shots we've just received once you're done with the colorgasm below.