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2012 Ferrari California

Ferrari California with the HELE system

2012 Ferrari California
The 2010 Paris Motor Show provides the backdrop to Ferrari's presentation of the new HELE (High Emotion Low Emissions) system designed to reduce the environmental impact of its cars whilst boosting their performance and driving pleasure. 2012 Ferrari California
The first model to benefit from the HELE system is the Ferrari California which, at launch, produced 299 g/km of CO2 on the combined ECE+EÚDC cycle. Thanks to the HELE system, however, that figure has been drastically reduced and the Prancing Horse convertible now produces just 270 g/km. However, emissions fall by up to 23 per cent over an urban cycle that represents real-life use by a client.

2012 Ferrari California
The Maranello engineers are tackling the emissions challenge by optimising the existing technological content of the car and by introducing innovations designed to reduce its energy requirements (vehicle efficiency) and increase the amount of power generated (engine efficiency).


2012 Ferrari CaliforniaTogether with the Stop&Start system, HELE incorporates new intelligent engine fan and fuel pump control, electronic air-conditioning compressor displacement control and a gear-shift pattern that adapts to driving style.

All of these solutions cut emissions and boost sportiness. In fact, in terms of the cooling system, the introduction of the brushless motor and continual fan speed control has allowed the Ferrari technicians to decrease current absorption and cut the system's weight by over 2 kg as well as reduce aerodynamic drag by 5 per cent at high speeds.

The fuel pump capacity is controlled constantly by the engine CPÚ to limit power demands on the alternator, while intelligent air-conditioning compressor displacement control slashes the amount of torque absorbed by the system by 35 per cent and makes for more rapid, efficient cabin cooling.


The result of these refinements is that, under normal running conditions, the engine can avail of an extra 25 Nm of torque which in turn boosts responsiveness.

With regard to the transmission, in automatic mode the gearbox CPÚ automatically identifies the driving style being used and adapts the gear shifts to match. If, for instance, it recognises a driving style that demands moderate torque at low engine speeds (typical of city driving), it optimises the gear shifts to cut fuel consumption. If, however, a sportier driving style is adopted, then gear shifting becomes more high performance too. There is also a pedal map for each gear to guarantee maximum responsiveness to even small amounts of pressure on the accelerator and very precise torque delivery at all times.

Added to this, the California is the first Ferrari to sport the Stop&Start system which restarts the car in just 230 milliseconds, so that there is no impingement at all on driveability. Once again, the technicians' goal with this technology was to improve fuel consumption levels and sportiness in tandem. They have done so using features designed specifically to allow the driver to restart the engine not just by releasing the brake pedal, but also by using the accelerator pedal (ideal for people who left-foot brake) or the ÚP paddle mounted on the steering wheel.

Ferrari California Personalisation Programme

2012 Ferrari CaliforniaAn incredibly wide array of personalisation options is available to ensure that the Ferrari California's high performance GT soul shines through at all times. While it's true that all Prancing Horse cars are unique, it is equally the case that Ferrari California owners can further enhance either the sportier or more glamorous side of their car, thanks to what goes well beyond a conventional personalisation programme.

The Ferrari California personalisation programme offers a superb range of options in the four traditional areas: Racing and Track, Exteriors and Colours, Interiors and Materials, and Equipment and Travel. In addition to this, however, clients may also request specific content not included in the catalogue to make their car even more unique and individual.

Two-tone liveries and three-layer paintwork underscore the depth of the colour and sleek forms of the Ferrari California. They also permit owners to add an extra touch of exclusivity to the exterior of their new car. There is a virtually endless palette of colours available, in fact: 16 basic colours, 10 inspired by the Grand Tourers of the 1950s and 60s and a further 12 from the recent Ferrari model range. Alternatively, owners may have their own custom colour made up on provision of a sample. Such is the detail of our personalisation programme that even the brake calipers are available in a choice of different tints.

The exterior personalisation options extend beyond the merely aesthetic to the functional too: choices include 19' wheel rims or sportier forged 20' versions with either coloured or diamond finish. Certain elements of the car, such as the front spoiler, the rear diffuser and the licence plate surround, are even available in lightweight carbon-fibre. There is equal freedom when it comes to the cabin where owners can further underscore the car's character by opting for out-of-range leather, Alcantara® upholstery or any of a wide range of carbon-fibre trim elements.

The in-car spec can also be enriched with other accessories, including a JBL Professional audio system, a rear parking camera or heat-absorbing windscreen, to name but a few.

The Ferrari California displayed on the stand features new combinations of colours for the exterior and new materials and equipment for the cockpit.

Source - Ferrari

New Ferrari California revealed: a hugely versatile, innovation-packed GT

Maranello, May 13th 2008 - The first official photographs have been published of the Ferrari California, the latest addition to the new generation of Ferraris launched in 2004 with the 612 Scaglietti and added to more recently with the 430 Scuderia.

The Ferrari California joins the Prancing Horse's 8-cylinder family which has always been defined by power and performance. It also flanks the flagship 612 Scaglietti in the prestige sporty Grand Tourer segment.

The new Ferrari California will satisfy even the most demanding of owners in term of its superb vehicle dynamics and driving pleasure. The new model will be available exclusively as a convertible with a folding hard top. Both chassis and bodywork are aluminium, in line with the rest of the current range. The California will be powered by a new V8 engine mounted for the first time in the marque's history in the mid-front position.


2012 Ferrari CaliforniaIn line with Ferrari tradition, the new model also features several innovations. Apart from its folding hard top, these include the original 2+ concept which guarantees exceptional versatility of use in the rear of the car. The California's 4,300 cc V8 engine features direct fuel injection and a 'flat' crankshaft. It generates 460 CV at 7,500 rpm with a torque curve that enhances vehicle dynamics and provides maximum driving pleasure which is typical for Ferrari.

As per the traditional Ferrari transaxle layout, the engine, which allows the Ferrari California to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 4.0 seconds, will be coupled to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission that boosts the car's performance while enhancing the driving pleasure, improves ride comfort and reduces fuel consumption and emissions (c.310 g/km CO2). The comfort is further enhanced by a new multilink rear suspension system. The Ferrari California is also equipped with the exclusive F1-Trac traction control system which made its debut on the 599 GTB Fiorano and has been further honed to suit the typical driving conditions expected for this new GT. Brembo brakes featuring carbon-ceramic material disks as standard guarantee superbly efficient braking.

In addition to sporting the marque's classic styling cues, the cabin has also been beautifully trimmed using quality materials by Ferrari's own skilled artisans. New accessories and equipment, such as the seats, steering wheel, instrument panel and infotainment system, together with optimised aerodynamics ensure that this is a highly ergonomic and enjoyable car to drive regardless of whether the top is up or down.


The Ferrari California is aimed at owners who desire a car which embodies everything the Prancing Horse represents in terms of sporty design and innovation, but also seek a car with greater versatility than ever. The car will be officially unveiled to the public at the Paris International Car Show. However, over the coming weeks, new photographs and further details about it will also be published.

Source - Ferrari

Ferrari California - Description and Tech Specs

2012 Ferrari California
The Ferrari California is an exceptionally innovative car whose philosophy takes its inspiration from the spirit and emotions of one of the great Ferraris of the past, the 1957 250 California, a superbly elegant open top car designed for the track, which has, over the years, come to symbolise not only superior sportiness and performance but also exclusivity, craftsmanship and faultless sophistication.

This new car joins Ferrari's 8-cylinder range which is made up mostly of very high performance models. It also fl anks the 12-cylinder fl agship 612 Scaglietti in the Grand Tourer category. The Ferrari California is a car with the track in its DNA. It is enormously innovative and will more than fulfi l the expectations of even our most discerning clients, offering breathtaking driving pleasure and fun behind the wheel as well as extreme versatility of use and in-car comfort. It is available exclusively as a convertible with retractable folding hard top in either a two-seater version with a traditional rear bench or in the 2+ version which sees the rear bench equipped with seating for one to two passengers.

In line with Ferrari tradition, this model positively brims with innovative features. In addition to its retractable hard top and the aforementioned original 2+ concept, the new Prancing Horse car also offers: a new direct injection V8 engine, a 7-speed gearbox with steering wheel-mounted F1-style paddles coupled with a new dual clutch, a new suspension system (double wishbones at the front and multilink at the rear), the new evolved F1-Trac traction control system and Brembo brakes with CCM (carbon ceramic material) discs as standard (this latter feature is shared by the other models in the current range).

Styling

2012 Ferrari CaliforniaThe California's sleek aerodynamic styling is, like the rest of the current Ferrari models, the result of our longstanding collaboration with Pininfarina and offers a host of signature Ferrari styling cues. Viewed from the side, the aerodynamic sweep of the bonnet beautifully contrasts with the compact tail volume and the pulled-back cabin. The front continues some of the themes hinted at on the fl anks, harmoniously alternating concave and convex volumes. Seen head-on, the car clearly takes it much of its inspiration from the prestigious Prancing Horse car from which it takes its name: the grille and slender air intake at the centre of the bonnet most notably harking back to the 250 GT California. At the rear, the sides and the muscular tail section are both familiar too. As at the front, the single round LED taillights are inset directly along the edge of the boot. The California's vertically stacked twin tailpipes are an original fl ourish as is the boot which sweeps right down to the bumpers to improve functionality. Of course, the interior also refl ects the same level of design sophistication, exuding a sense of refi ned luxury, comfort and bespoke quality. Situated between the front seats, the new aluminium-trimmed centre console is another distinctive touch that goes beyond the merely aesthetic, beautifully combining functionality and design.

Aerodynamics

2012 Ferrari California
The Ferrari California's aerodynamics were, of course, developed in tandem with its styling. This allowed Ferrari to keep the Cx (drag coeffi cient) right down with respect to the downforce required for optimal vehicle dynamics. In the coupé confi guration, the California has a Cx value of 0.32. A desire to achieve perfect balance between vertical load and drag infl uenced the shape of the rear diffuser and the spoiler incorporated into the front bumper. Drag has been cut to 10% lower than on the other Ferrari models which not only makes the California a more aerodynamically effi cient car but also reduces fuel consumption. Last but not least, the air intake on the bonnet ensures highly effi cient cooling of the engine compartment.
The new 8-cylinder engine

2012 Ferrari California
This is the fi rst V8 in the history of Ferrari road-cars to be mid-front mounted. Built entirely from aluminium, it retains the typical Ferrari architecture with a 90° angle between the two cylinder banks and a 180° angle between the cranks.

The engine has a total displacement of 4,300 cc and a maximum power output of 460 hp/338 kW at 7,750 rpm. With a specifi c power of 107 hp/litre, its maximum torque is 485 Nm (49 kgm) at 5,000 rpm, 75% of which is available at just 2,250 rpm. The Ferrari California takes less than 4 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h and delivers a blistering 310 km/h top speed.

The new V8 features direct fuel injection and variable timing (on both intake and exhaust) to guarantee superb performance, exceptional handling and fuel consumption and emissions that easily comply with the toughest Euro 5 and Lev2 standards. ( posted on conceptcarz.com) Thanks in part to these solutions, the Ferrari California consumes just 13.1 litres/100 km (ECE combined) and has carbon emissions of 305.6 gkm (ECE combined).

The California's engine sound was also carefully developed as this is one of the great Ferrari signatures and really does contribute to enhancing driving pleasure. Particular attention was lavished on sound perception in the cabin both with the top up and down to ensure that trademark thrill without compromising on occupant acoustic comfort.

Gearbox and transmission

2012 Ferrari California
The Ferrari California sports a new dual clutch gearbox (7-speed + reverse) with the now traditional steering wheel-mounted F1-style paddles. This is an innovative system that guarantees a superb combination of performance and ride comfort. With the dual clutch, one clutch is used for even-numbered gears and the other for odd-numbered ones, and allows the pre-selection of the next gear required.The gears are changed by overlapping the opening and closing stage of both clutches, resulting in gearshifting times that are close to zero and with no 'torque interrupt'. The result is not only enhanced performance but truly thrilling driving pleasure. The traditional transaxle layout (engine to the front and gearbox to the rear) also contributes to the California's perfect weight distribution (47% front - 53% rear) and to reducing vibration to the bodyshell. In manual mode, the new gearbox guarantees great sporty driving pleasure while extra comfort is assured in automatic.

Chassis and suspensions

The Ferrari California's chassis and bodyshell are both made entirely from aluminium. Thanks to the use of different aluminium technologies (extrusions and shell casts), the car's exceptional versatility, onboard comfort and driveability has not added to chassis weight or to the dimensions of the structural sections - something that simply would not be the case had traditional steel architecture and technologies been used. Furthermore, static rigidity (torsional and fl exional) has been improved with respect to average fi gures for a Spider to ensure exceptional handling in any kind of road conditions and to guarantee GT-standard comfort both with the top up and down.
The Ferrari California retains the traditional double wishbone suspension to the front while a new multilink system has been specially developed for the rear. The multilink system improves longitudinal fl exibility of the suspension, keeping transverse rigidity values high. What this means in practice is that the car beautifully absorbs any unevenness, and noise and vibration are effi ciently damped for exceptional ride comfort well on a par with the car's nimble handling. The SCM Magnetorheological Suspension Control System, debuted on the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, is also available on request.

Retractable Hard Top

Of course the Ferrari California's signature feature has to be its retractable hard top (RHT). It is made from aluminium panels and has a cast aluminium weight-bearing structure which has reduced its overall weight and the moving masses involved. The entire opening/closing cycle is completed in just 14 seconds and thanks to the original stowage system, the California's boot space remains extremely generous regardless of whether it is up or down.

The GT Manettino and F1-Trac

The manettino has now become one of the classic features of our entire range as has its position on the steering wheel which is clearly derived from our Formula 1 experience. The manettino integrates the gearbox, stability and traction control systems (CST and F1-Trac) and the SCM suspension system.

The settings are as follows:

COMFORT: maximum safety in all conditions, particularly ideal for low grip situations (wet or slippery road surface). Best everyday driving setting.

SPORT: maximum performance and stability in perfect grip situations. Recommended for sporty, high performance driving.

CST-OFF: this setting gives the driver complete freedom and control of the car. There is no electronic intervention whatsoever apart from ABS.

The Ferrari California also sports the F1-Trac traction control system which can very accurately read grip, assuring the very best can be made of the car's potential at any time.

The F1-Trac system guarantees:

Maximum grip coming out of corners

Stability in all driving conditions

Superb driveability and handling in extreme situations

Consistent performance

Exceptional ride comfort.

In fact, the F1-Trac offers a 20% improvement in acceleration coming out of corners with respect to a traditional traction and control systems.

Safety equipment

The Ferrari California boasts an ejectable roll-bar to ensure that its occupants are protected should the car overturn. The system is installed behind the backrests of the rear seats and is hidden by the trim of the same. Ejection time is under 190ms. The onboard safety equipment is completed by front retractable airbags (driver and passenger sides), side retractable air bags in door panels, bi-xenon headlights and LED rear lights. New generation adaptive headlights, known as AFS (Advanced Frontlighting System), are also available on request, and offer improved visibility on the road. The headlamp beam angles are automatically adjusted in line with steering, angle, speed and lateral acceleration, offering a wider area of illumination when cornering.

Interior and standard equipment

Particular attention has been lavished on the design and in-car comfort standard of the California's cabin. The new Ferrari is available in a choice of two confi gurations:

1. Two-seater plus rear bench equipped to take two roller suitcases or two golf bags.

2. 2+ confi guration that sees the rear bench sporting two seats, Isofi x attachment points, and two seat belts.

In both version, the rear backrest folds down to allow the stowage of longer items such as golf bags or skis. The boot capacity is also impressively generous: 340 litres with the top up and 240 with the top down.

A new electrically adjustable, magnesium-framed seat was also designed for the California. Another new feature is the instrument panel with analogue instruments (tachometer and rev counter) and four-screen TFT Multidisplay. The Ferrari California also boasts a new infotainment system with 6.5'' touchscreen, Sat Nav, ÚSB connection, Bluetooth, hard disc, voice commands and IPOD connector.

Carrozzeria Scaglietti Personalisation Programme

The Carrozzeria Scaglietti Programme allows all Ferrari clients to personalise their car to suit their own tastes and requirements. There are four main areas covered by the Programme: Racing and Track, Exteriors and Colours, Interior and Materials, Equipment and Travel. The Ferrari California comes with diamond-fi nish 19' 5-spoke aluminium alloy wheels as standard. However, a further set of diamond-fi nish 20' forged 5-spoke alloy wheel that are 11 kg lighter than those offered as standard can also be ordered. The aforementioned diamond-fi nish gives the wheels an extra-high polish look.

The California is available in a choice of 16 different pastel and metallic colours. However clients also have the option of ordering the new Azzurro California shade created especially for the car's launch.

In addition to the usual range of 12 leather colours available to choose from for the interior trim too, we've just added two new colours: Cioccolato and Iroko. A new racing seat with all-carbon-fi bre frame and electrically adjustable backrest is also now available.

In addition to the already impressive list of features offered as standard with the new California, owners can also choose to have a rear parking camera fi tted or order the luggage set designed specifi cally to make the very most of the rear bench space, an option available in addition to the traditional three-piece leather set coloured to match the interior trim, of course.

Samples of the various materials and virtual confi guration tools will also be available to clients at every Ferrari showroom to help them make their choices too. They may also request outof- range colours and content to really ensure their Ferrari California is absolutely unique.

Source - Ferrari

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