The Ferrari California is a grand touring, high-performance sports car and a two-door 2+2 hard-top convertible. When unveiled in 2008 it had a front-mid mounted, rear-wheel-drive, naturally aspirated 4.3-litre V8.
Ferrari California at a glance
| Unveiled | October 2008 Paris Motor Show |
|---|---|
| Type | F149 |
| Body | two-door 2+2 hard-top convertible |
| Layout | front-mid engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Engine | 4,297 cc naturally aspirated V8 |
| Power | 460 PS (453 hp) at 7,750 rpm |
| Torque | 485 N·m at 5,000 rpm |
| Design | Pininfarina, under Ken Okuyama |
| New range | front-engine, eight-cylinder grand touring sports car |
| 2012 variant | California 30, lighter and slightly more powerful |
| 2014 successor | California T with a twin-turbo 3.9-litre V8 |
| Final successor | Ferrari Portofino, 2018 |
based on one source (English Wikipedia).
History of the Ferrari California
The California was launched at the October 2008 Paris Motor Show and represented a new fourth model range for Ferrari: a front-engine, eight-cylinder grand touring sports car, joining the mid-engine eight-cylinder sports car, the mid-engine twelve-cylinder sports car and the front-engine twelve-cylinder grand tourer. The car revived a name used on the late-1950s Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder and the 1960s 365 California. It was originally introduced as an entry-level model, yet it included many new design features from Ferrari, and its original base price was similar to that of the F430, the company’s V8 flagship at the time.
Design and purpose
The California was a radical new design by Pininfarina, developed under the oversight of Ken Okuyama. It was primarily intended to attract new Ferrari owners, with the grand touring character and a folding hard top that made it usable every day. Under the bonnet sat a naturally aspirated 4,297 cc V8 producing 460 PS at 7,750 rpm and 485 N·m of torque at 5,000 rpm, mounted behind the front axle line and driving the rear wheels.
California 30 and California T
In 2012 Ferrari introduced a lighter, slightly more powerful variant called the California 30. In 2014 the company announced the second generation of the model, the California T, powered by a new twin-turbocharged 3.9-litre V8 — a significant change after years of naturally aspirated engines. In 2018 the California was succeeded by the Portofino.
Design and features
- New fourth range: a front-engined V8 grand tourer alongside Ferrari’s sports cars.
- Folding hard top: a two-door 2+2 convertible built for everyday use.
- 4.3-litre V8: 460 PS at 7,750 rpm, naturally aspirated and mounted front-mid.
- Ken Okuyama design: a Pininfarina body aimed at attracting new customers.
- Two updates: the California 30 of 2012 and the turbocharged California T of 2014.
Ferrari California versions
- California (2008–2014): the original 4.3-litre car.
- California 30 (2012): lighter and slightly more powerful.
- California T (2014): second generation with a twin-turbo 3.9-litre V8.
The California revives a name from the 250 series and the Ferrari 365; its larger V8 relatives are the Ferrari 458 and F430.
Video: Ferrari California | GRIP #52
Video by GRIP – Das Motormagazin on YouTube.
Sources
- Ferrari California, English Wikipedia: launch, engine, design, later versions
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