Video: Ferrari California’s Foldable Hardtop in Action

Bit by bit Ferrari is releasing more details and info on its new California 2+ coupe-cabriolet model. This time the Italian sports carmaker has revealed a short video displaying the California’s retractable hardtop that can be deployed or retracted in just 14 seconds. Video after the jump. -Continued

Via: Autoblog.it

Ferrari California Fully Exposed

While Ferrari had us glued on their dedicated California website waiting for the countdown to end in order to see more pictures of their hardtop convertible, at the same time the Italian sports carmaker gave German car magazine “Autobild” full access to the newest member of the Prancing Horse family. Not very “internety” of them, to say the least.

The new images give us our first view of the California’s interior which looks very similar in design to the one found in the more upscale Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. Kinda toyish and far from the elegant cabins featured in the Ferraris of the past if you want our opinion. -More images after the jump

Pics Via: Autobild

Ferrari California Stradale Study

While the newest model from Ferrari’s stable has yet to hit the road, fans of the Italian marque are already speculating on special edition versions, and in the case of the guys at CGI Automotive, they’ve even come up with a rendering of a sportier edition that could bear the Mondial or Stradale nametag among other choices. We don’t know if this artist’s rendering has anything to do with reality, but we too believe that in the near future Ferrari will proceed to the development of an even sportier variant of the coupe-cabriolet California.

Source: CGI , Via: WFC

Ferrari California Coupe-Cabriolet: New Image Gallery with Top Up

Continuing the stream of information on the new California GT, Ferrari has released more details and photographs of its 2+ convertible, including pictures of the retractable hardtop closed. Needless to say, the California looks sensual enough either way. Ferrari also informed us that when the roof is up, the 4.3-liter V8-powered GT boasts a boot capacity of 360-litres while when its down, storage space is reduced to 260-litres. Moreover, for the first time on a Prancing Horse car, the boot and cabin communicate directly, allowing a choice of luggage configurations to be used. -Continued

The Italian carmaker also announced that President Luca di Montezemolo put the California through its paces over several laps at the Fiorano circuit. Here’s what he said:

“I am very satisfied indeed with the work that the women and men of Ferrari have done,” declared Luca di Montezemolo. “The California is an extraordinary car and I was delighted with the performance, comfort and driving pleasure it delivered. The California is, like all of our models, the epitome of cutting-edge innovation. Its gearbox, suspensions and chassis are the most advanced possible.”

“This is the first dual-purpose Spider/Coupé with a retractable hard top that closes in just 14 seconds. Despite its extraordinary performance, the California 2+ is also exceptionally easy to drive and has a space behind the front seats that makes it supremely flexible in terms of usage.”

Video: Ferrari California with V8 Symphony

Since we still have some time before Ferrari unleashes a driving video of its all-new California 2+ GT, we decided to download the official teaser clip and garnish it with the scrumptious sounds of its 460Hp 4.3-liter V8 engine. The California, that’s equipped with an electric folding hard top, will make its debut at the Paris motor show in autumn 2008 with first customer cars expected to be delivered in early 2009. –Video after the jump

Ferrari Celebrates For Receiving 60,000 Visitors on GT California Website, We Wonder Why

We not so sure that the 60,000 hits that Ferrari’s dedicated California site received during its first weekend (May 10-11) is something worth celebrating, but Ferrari certainly thinks so. Even if the first pictures of Ferrari’s new coupe-cabriolet model were uploaded on May 13, the site practically received backlinks from nearly every car related blog and website on the globe. Having that in mind, 60,000 hits aren't a lot at all.

According to the Italian supercarmaker, most of the first 60,000 visitors were American, followed by Italians and then enthusiasts from other European countries. The site also received a signigicant number of hits from China, Japan and the Asia-Pacific region in general. Read more about the California by clicking here. PS: The blue-colored California pictured above was photoshoped by Carscoop

Ferrari California Coupe-Cabriolet with 460Hp V8 Officially Unveiled

Following last Friday’s announcement, Ferrari proceeded to the release of the first official photographs of its all-new California GT model. The Italian thoroughbred that had been dubbed as the GT, California GT and Dino in spy pictures over the previous months will be offered exclusively as a 2+ seater (whatever that means) coupe-cabriolet with an electric folding hardtop.

The California is powered by a 4.3-liter V8 engine that features direct fuel injection and a “flat” crankshaft, generating 460 Hp at 7,500 rpm. The V8 which is mounted for the first time in the marque’s history in the mid-front position supplies power to the rear wheels via a seven-speed twin-clutch transmission. Ferrari says that the California sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 4.0 seconds. -Continued

Under its aluminium body, the California hides a new multilink rear suspension system while it is also equipped with the marque’s F1-Trac traction control system which made its debut on the 599 GTB Fiorano along with Brembo brakes featuring carbon-ceramic material discs as standard.

Ferrari’s newest GT model will be officially unveiled to the public at the Paris International Car Show this September. However, over the coming weeks, new photographs and further details will also be published.