Ferrari to offer California with manual, HGTC handling pack
Click above for high-res gallery of the Ferrari California
Some of the more hard-core tifosi have been whining that Ferrari has gone soft with the new California. It's pretty hard to justify that a car able to hit 60 mph in the three-second range is soft, but so be it. The nay-sayers point to the inclusion of a folding hard-top as a sign that Ferrari has grown more concerned with pleasing its poseur clientele than developing genuine performance vehicles. Never mind that the innovative rapid-deployment roof, according to Ferrari, actually weighs 5kg less than an equivalent soft-top and still only takes 14 seconds to raise or lower.
However, Maranello has not finished development of the California and intends to pacify those malcontents with some new features. For starters, Ferrari says that about 10% of its customers still demand a manual transmission, and so they will have one ready for the California by the time it actually goes on sale about half a year from now. Around the same time, Ferrari will also unveil a new HGTC handling package, like those offered for the 612 Scaglietti and the previous 575 M Maranello, to tighten up the California's suspension. A new set of lightweight wheels is also in the works, anticipated to shave some 10-12kg off of the unsprung weight. A 430 Scuderia it is not – that's why Ferrari makes both – but don't mistake the California for a lazy boulevard cruiser.
Gallery: 2009 Ferrari California
[Source: EVO magazine]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fd3rsrz 5:29PM (8/26/2008)
Call me crazy, but I'd totally take one in red with a 6-speed.
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Ken Stamper 5:37PM (8/26/2008)
Only 10% of Ferraris come with manuals? What is the world coming to?
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fobunited 6:14PM (8/26/2008)
Well when 99% of the population can't shift faster than Ferrari's F1 transmission, and Ferraris are meant to be ultimate performance vehicles......
Farris 5:49PM (8/26/2008)
I'm fairly certain I'll get low ranked for this, but can Ferrari please make it not look like this anymore?
It just doesn't scream "Look at me, I'm an angry kick-your-ass Ferrari" to me. I absolutely LOVE the 360 and 430, but this is just kinda blah for a Ferrari.
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mark 7:14PM (8/26/2008)
definitely blah for a ferrari, but than again I have never like front engine red heads.
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innoc3nt 8:49PM (8/26/2008)
If the folding hardtop weighs less than the soft tops that Ferraris have had for years, then PLEASE just leave it alone. Jesus.
Purism for purism's sake is ridiculous and illogical.
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speedball3 9:07PM (8/26/2008)
Maybe they were complaining ab the fact that it is a convertible and not a coupe, since convertibles are typically heavier than a coupe equivalent?
matter_of_tact 1:46AM (8/27/2008)
Geez, I thought only Mazda put Pokemon faces on their cars...
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monoblocks05 1:48AM (8/27/2008)
Geez, I thought Mazda was the only one who put Pokemon faces on their cars...
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