It's Here! The Sydney Motor Show Star Arrives
It's Here! The Sydney Motor Show Star Arrives
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ITS HERE! THE SYDNEY MOTOR SHOW STAR ARRIVES
Just hours after its world debut in Paris, visitors to Sydney’s Darling Harbour have had a sneak preview of the star of the 2008 Australian International Motor Show with the Ferrari California pausing for a few quick pictures before entering the exhibition halls ready for its debut on 9 October 2008.
“We were after a few pictures of our new supercar for local use with a Sydney skyline behind it and under and Australian sky,” explained Kevin Wall, General Manager for Ferrari at the Australian and New Zealand importer, EAI. “So a few lucky people have had a truly exclusive preview of what will, without doubt, be the star of the Australian International Motor Show, which, after the Paris Show, will be the next place anyone in the world will see the Ferrari California in public.”
With the Ferrari California now in the public arena, albeit only in Paris this week and Sydney next week, Ferrari have released details of the new super car that have been, hitherto, a closely guarded secret.
Styling
The 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 flanks, 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 flourish as is the boot which sweeps right down to the bumpers to improve functionality.
Of course, the interior also reflects the same level of design sophistication, exuding a sense of refined 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
The Ferrari
California's aerodynamics were, of course, developed in
tandem with its styling. This allowed Ferrari to keep the Cx
(drag coefficient) right down with respect to the downforce
required for optimal vehicle dynamics. In the coupé
configuration, the California has a Cx value of 0.32. A
desire to achieve perfect balance between vertical load and
drag influenced 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 efficient car but also reduces fuel consumption. Last but not least, the air intake on the bonnet ensures highly efficient cooling of the engine compartment.
The new 8-cylinder
engine
This is the first 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 specific 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. 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 g\km (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
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
suspension
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 flexional) has been improved with
respect to average figures 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 flexibility 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 efficiently 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 automatic 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 configurations:
1. Two-seater plus rear bench
equipped to take two roller suitcases or two golf bags.
2. 2+ configuration that sees the rear bench sporting
two seats, Isofix 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, USB 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-finish 19" 5-spoke aluminium alloy wheels
as standard.
However, a further set of diamond-finish 20" forged 5-spoke alloy wheel that are 11 kg lighter than those offered as standard can also be ordered. The aforementioned diamond-finish 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-fibre 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 fitted or order the luggage set designed specifically 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 configuration tools will also be available to clients at every Ferrari showroom to help them make their choices too. They may also request out of- range colours and content to really ensure their Ferrari California is absolutely unique.
Pricing and specifications for the Australian and New Zealand market Ferrari California will be announced when deliveries start in mid-2009.
FERRARI CALIFORNIA
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
DIMENSIONS AND
WEIGHTS
Length 4563 mm
Width 1902 mm
Height
1308 mm
Wheelbase 2670 mm
Front track 1630 mm
Rear
track 1605 mm
Dry weight 1630 kg
Kerb weight 1735
kg
Weight distribution 47% Front - 53% Rear
Fuel tank
capacity 78 l
Boot capacity 340 l
240 (with roof
retracted)
TYRES
Front 245/40 ZR19"
Rear
285/40 ZR19"
Front (optional) 245/35 ZR20"
Rear
(optional) 285/35 ZR20""
CARBON-CERAMIC
BRAKES
Front 390 x 34 mm
Rear 360 x 32
mm
ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
CST with F1-TRAC
Stability and Traction Control System
TPTMS Tyre Pressure
and Temperature
Monitoring System
ENGINE
90°
V8 Direct Injection
Bore and stroke 94 x 77.37
cc
Overall displacement 4297 cc
Compression ratio
12.2:1
Maximum power output 338 kW (460 CV) at 7750
rpm
Maximum torque 485 Nm (49 kgm) at 5000
rpm
PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed 310 km/h
0-100
km/h under 4.0 sec
0-400 m 12.2 sec
0-1.000 m 22.1
sec
GEARBOX
F1, dual-clutch, 7-speed plus
reverse
Manual 6-speed +
REV
SUSPENSION
Front: Double wishbone
Rear:
Multilink
FUEL CONSUMPTION
ECE Combined* 13.1
l/100 km
CO2 EMISSIONS
ECE Combined* 305.6
g/km
*Europe version
ENDS
Editor’s Note: The correct definition of the engine position in the Ferrari California is mid-front because while the engine is ahead of passenger compartment, the engine sits behind the front axle line and the entire drivetrain is between the axle lines, making it as much mid-engined as the F430, which is defined as a rear-mid engined car.