Ferrari California T 2015
Ferrari California T 2015
An Email showed up in my computer, which sent me off with a bit of a mystique.
The invite was to come and see my new friend Michael Deeb at Ferrari of San Francisco. There was a new Ferrari in town, the California T. We all have seen the California and I even have had the pleasure to drive one. Check out our 'Test Drives' section. Really nice cars, the California. There have been 2 versions released and this is the 3rd one.
Previous encounters with new releases at dealer's involved crowds, champagne, colored lights and women in fancy attire. In other words a bit of a show. This invite was a bit different.
We noticed as we arrived with my trusty camera in hand, that we were the only ones there. Michael came up and greeted us and said "lets have a look at it".
Now I would liked to have had the permission to post photos with narration right away but this is where the second bit of mystique comes in. I could not release any photos. YET. None, Nessuna, Non. This T is on a clandestine tour. Private showings only. No photos.
Ok we have waited and now post photos.
Every panel on the T has been reworked giving it a more cohesive set of lines. Most design RE-DO's and model UP-DATE'S seem to have the commonality of having the end results much less than the original design.
The final example setting in front of me was not a victim of that. This presentation moves the California into a stronger more cohesive look. This is one of the prettiest open top cars I have seen in a while. All the elements seem to fit and flow. Actually the T looks more like a slick 'show' model waiting to be brutalized by the production line re-style-ers.
Michael says that Ferrari is working long hours on getting the sound on the exhaust correct. This seems to be the latest feature within the factory design criteria. Who can deliver the best sounding car? The other contest within the companies is the switch over to auto shifting. Ferrari is stating that the California, with its 'launch-control' can go 0 to 62 mph in 3.6 seconds.
The Ferrari of San Francisco dealership is in a stunning set of buildings next to the water. The compound reminds me of how a small dealership in Italy would look like. I had already a look around the main floor of the showroom and had determined that there were no Californias there. Michael led us upstairs. Seems the building has a hidden lift. There on a highly polished hardwood floor were 4 Ferraris. 2 were Californias. One Red and one Black. The Red California was of the second version. The shiny Black one was the new California T (for turbocharged).
The new T is it is an almost 'New" car. Just like Detroit automakers back in the Fifty's used to say. This is the "ALL NEW" (add model name here).
This T has a 3855 cc, twin-turbo V-8 with 553 horsepower at 7500 rpm and 557 lb-ft of torque at 4750. All this sofar sounds good, the First California out of the box, in my expearance was quick, (it is a Ferrari) but not inspiringly so.
So why does this up-date bring out a turbocharger on a V8? My friend Michael Deeb says that Ferrari is looking at the future with linking performance and gas mileage. And we all know the 'no cost' benefit of turbo charging. Also there is that thing with the F1 Ferrari's using Turbos now. The new world? Smaller engines and forced air induction.
Newly styled head lights and hood give cleaner lines.
A little stronger grill lines
No Red here on this one.
The interior reminds me of a photo of the first 250 SWB I saw, when I was a kid. It was all soft tan leather and I fell in love with the concept of a personal car that held one in such luxury. The interior surfaces are soft and inviting and totally void of the over pretentious use of the material-of-the-day, carbon fiber. The one thing that is glaring in its absence is the center or even the column 'shift-selector', there is none.
Yea, it does have paddles.
Again, simple lines even inside
Ferrari wants this car to be at the golf course
Paddles. No levers.
Engine: Type 90deg. V8 with fuel direct injection;
Bore and stroke 3.41 in x 3.23 in;
Unit displacement 29.4 cu in;
Total displacement 235.25 cu in;
Compression ratio 9.4:1;
Maximum power 412 kW (560 cv) @ 7500 rpm;
Maximum torque 755 Nm (557 lbft) @ 4750 rpm in VII gear; Source: Ferrari
Image Credit: Photo Courtesy of Ferrari Media
Dim.:
Length 179.9 in;
Width 75.2 in;
Height 52.0 in;
Wheelbase 105.1 in;
Front track 64.2 in;
Rear track 63.2 in;
Dry weight 3582 lb;
Kerb weight 3813 lb;
Weight distribution 47% front - 53% rear;
Fuel tank capacity 20.6 US gal / 17.3 UK gal;
Boot (trunk) capacity 12 cu ft, 8.5 cu ft; Source: Ferrari
Image Credit: Photo Courtesy of Ferrari Media
Performance:
Maximum speed 196 mph;
0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) 3.6 s;
0-200 km/h (0-124 mph) 11.2 s;
Source: Ferrari
Image Credit: Photo Courtesy of Ferrari Media
Image Credit: Photo Courtesy of Ferrari Media
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