2014 Ferrari California

Having enjoyed worldwide success throughout its career, the new evolution of the Ferrari California is characterised by the number 30. That's 30 as in the fact that it is 30 kilos lighter and 30 horse power more powerful
The California's V8 now punches out a maximum of 490 hp with maximum torque climbing to 505 Nm at 5000 rpm, thanks to new exhaust manifolds and engine mapping. Its torque curve has also been modified and is higher across the engine's generous rev range too.

The California's V8 now punches out a maximum of 490 hp with maximum torque climbing to 505 Nm at 5000 rpm, thanks to new exhaust manifolds and engine mapping. Its torque curve has also been modified and is higher across the engine's generous rev range too.

Cutting-edge aluminium fabrication techniques and construction technologies used by the Scaglietti Centre of Excellence in the manufacture of the California's chassis, have also led to an overall reduction of 30 kg in the car's weight without impinging in any way on its structural rigidity or performance.



For clients in search of a more dynamic yet still not overly extreme driving experience, Ferrari has now also introduced the optional Handling Speciale package which features modifications to both the car's running gear and set-up that reduce body roll and ensure prompter response to driver inputs.

The package includes magnetorheological dampers controlled by a faster ECÚ (-50% response time) with a proprietary Ferrari algorithm. The suspension springs are also stiffer for more precise control without impinging on comfort. Lastly, higher corner entry speeds and less steering wheel activity are guaranteed by a new steering box with a lower reduction ratio (-10%).

Design and Styling
When designing the Ferrari California, Pininfarina opted for a classic, sculpted chassis, with a long bonnet and the passenger area slightly weighted towards the rear. The side of the car features a strong, dynamic, raked line. The line lifts at the height of the door handle to trace the outline of the typical Ferrari rear bumper. The air intake in the front bumper is enhanced by a traditional grille. The slender air intake vent on the bonnet and the side air vents both echo distinctive features of the 1957 Ferrari California 250.

Exterior style
The Ferrari California is ideal for those looking for a highly exclusive sports car, that consider driving enjoyment a value to pursue on every occasion: a weekend out of town, a long journey, shopping in the city, or simply getting to the office. The rear baggage space has a capacity which is unique for a convertible of this type. The boot, for the first time, connects directly to the rear bench or seats via the folding seat-back. When folded down, the hard-top takes up only 100 of the 340 litres in the luggage compartment, thus saving plenty of storage capacity. A wide opening of the luggage compartment level with the bottom simplifies the various operations. The large amount of space available allows two large and two small suitcases to be accommodated or, with the seat back folded down, two golf bags, skis, or snowboards.

Ferrari once again turned to its historical partner Pininfarina for the design of the California. The result was muscular, flowing, sculpted lines where considerable attention was paid to ensuring perfect proportions and harmoniously balanced volumes with the roof up or down.

Work on defining the styling was undertaken in close collaboration with Ferrari's own in-house Styling Centre, and great emphasis was placed on characterizing the design and function of every individual detail to confer an immediate and lasting sense of quality and bespoke craftsmanship.

The sides are characterised by a strong dynamic line rising to the level of the door handle, to create a powerful and muscular outline of the rear wheel arch, in line with the car's character. The waist is high, while convex and concave surfaces follow each other with pleasing fluidity. The nose, which takes up the characteristics of the side and rear lines, has the teardrop lighting cluster and the slatted radiator grill typical of Ferrari. The slender air intake vent on the bonnet and the side air vents both echo distinctive features of the 1957 Ferrari California 250.

Driving Style and Habitability
Entering into the Ferrari California one immediately notices the high quality of its materials, together with the traditional skills of the craftsmen who have selected the finest leather to cover the dash, the interior and the seats with couture precision. The seats can be adjusted in every conceivable way to give any driver exactly the right position. The back-rest structure is in magnesium, designed to achieve the maximum in comfort and ergonomics while reducing weight at the same time. The new infotainment system, with its 6.5-inch touch-screen display and its intuitive controls, offers maximum functionality and ease of use.

The designers of the Ferrari California started out with a precise and ambitious objective: to create a GT with no limitations to its use. Perfect for sports driving but also suitable for long journeys and trips to town. For work or for pleasure. A car 4.56 metres long, with the space to comfortably seat a driver or passenger which represent more than the 99 percentile of the population's stature, and making possible the novel 2+ configuration with a large useable space behind the rear seats. The car allows, on request, a rear seating area with two seats and Isofix attachments, indicated for hosting two children.

Alternatively, one can request a bench with the space for storing two travel trolleys or two light golf bags. In both versions there is, for the first time in a Ferrari, a fold-down rear seat-back, allowing the California to be used in different situations by linking the cockpit with the spacious 340-litre boot, which becomes 240 litres with the roof down.

Retractable hard-top
The retractable hard top (RHT) is unique in terms of its movement, opening/closing speed, stowage method and materials used.

This RHT differs from others in that several movements take place simultaneously rather than sequentially, thus optimising the length of time it takes to complete the entire opening/closing cycle.
In fact, both cover and folded roof move simultaneously for a total cycle time of a few seconds.

The two sections fold neatly onto each other's concave side, which leaves much more space available for the boot, a total of 260 litres, in fact.

This stowage system is so efficient that even when the top is down, two pieces of luggage can still fit in the boot.

Gearbox with dual clutch
The gearbox has always been an important and distinctive component for Ferrari cars. The California's transmission is dual clutch with seven gears, maintaining the traditional F1 controls on the steering wheel. It is an innovative gearbox that ensures higher performances and at the same time greater driving comfort, is more efficient, and requires less maintenance. It is indeed like having two parallel gearboxes, where the dual clutch permits independent control of the odd and even gears and their pre-selection.

In this way the gear change occurs in close-to-zero times and without wheel torque interruption. The so-called acceleration gap is eliminated, obtaining, apart from a real improvement in performance, a new and thrilling driving sensation. Perfect also for normal daily and city use, in automatic mode the dual clutch transmission guarantees the highest values of comfort and drivability. Positioned with rear overhang following the traditional transaxle system, it contributes to the ideal weight distribution, with 53% of the total weight of the vehicle at the rear and 47% at the front axis.

Dual clutch transmission

The new dual clutch transmission (DCT) increases driving comfort and performance under sporty driving conditions, with seven speeds, reverse, electro-hydraulic operation and no torque converter.

Evoluted F1 track
The Ferrari California is equipped with the exclusive traction control system originally introduced on the 599 GTB Fiorano and subsequently adopted on the 430 Scuderia. The system, further optimised to best fit the characteristics of the new GT, is the result of the experience built up over the years in the racing world. It allows even less experienced drivers to get the most out of the car's potential in terms of performance on bends, safety and stability. The system estimates the maximum road-holding available by continuously monitoring the relative speeds of the wheels, comparing them with a vehicle handling model memorised in the control system, and subsequently optimising performance by acting on the engine torque output. The F1- Trac is faster and more precise than a traditional stability control and is capable of delaying and minimising the engine torque corrections required to maintain the desired trajectory. The result is an average increase of 20% in acceleration on exiting curves compared to a traditional control system, greater stability, and ease of steering even under race conditions.

Source - Ferrari