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Ferrari California T: Beautiful Italy
FERRARI CALIFORNIA T
BEAUTIFUL ITALY
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Words by Alessandro Marrone
Photos by Giorgia Rossi and Jay Tomei
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When the alarm clock rings before the rooster wakes up, it means that the day is going to be pretty special. Many were waiting for the month of September for their holidays, some because a song of Green Day says that – I was because I have an appointment in Maranello, at Ferrari HQ, where the new California T Handling Speciale is waiting for me being at disposal for an entire day. It’s about a bunch of intense hours carefully planned with several details, allowing photographers to do their job, but also providing a test that is able to give me all the necessary feedbacks for being able to give my humble opinion on the first turbocharged product that spots the Prancing Horse on its bonnet, since the acclaimed F40. The journey to Maranello runs smooth and shortly before leaving the motorway we behold the sun rise, a prelude to a warm late summer day. Entering in the homeland of Enzo Ferrari, every angle of the town speaks of passion for the “Rossa”, every house, every intersection – we are in the heart of the Italian motor valley, where it all began and where the supercar par excellence breathe deeply, in an almost surreal atmosphere, as you get closer to Via Abetone Inferiore. We go through the gates, and we are immediately greeted by the press office that does not waste any time and illustrates in detail the path traveled from the first series of the new generation of California, through the new T, until the Handling Speciale, which would soon be all for me.
If you say California I immediately think of a wonderful coast that kisses the ocean, a blue water invaded by surfers and swimmers that seem to come out of a classic American TV series. Sun, wind and freedom. The original 250 California was just that and was commissioned specifically to meet an ever-growing desire for Ferrari in the stars and stripes market. It was a global success and various versions followed for what is probably the most iconic roadster in the world, then and now, after almost 60 years. In the second half of 2008, a 2+2 with a front V8 has been released, but with a folding hard top and also in this case sales gave reason to Ferrari, who scored a major achievement, winning customers who absolutely does not want to give up the possibility to drive a purebred supercar and therefore opt for this great grand tourer. Performance and handling are however not comparable to those of the F430 (mid engine two-seater in production in the same period) and very often, this “Cali” has been labeled as a girly model. It’s been seven years, and California has risen with a letter more. The “T”, which stands for turbo, is here to point out how things have radically changed. There is a comeback for a Ferrari turbocharged engine, since the last one has to be retraced with the end of production of the extreme F40, there is a fresher look with sensual lines suitable for a GT that has to be able to do everything well, more sharp and aggressive than before, and above all there is the desire to silence all the detractors of the previous California, with a model that is positioned directly in the slipstream of the 488 GTB (which entered production soon after). We walk towards the Rosso California model that I’m about to drive today, an entire day with the new Cali T Handling Speciale, which represents the performance package that gives mechanical and aesthetic upgrades moving the bar of performance (and driving pleasure) further higher. You just have to feel it first-hand you know, and there is no better way to do it, than taking it where you can speed free and take the best out of it, as the Commendator Ferrari would certainly approve: the Raticosa pass at full throttle! Yes, because today, in my way, I’d like to celebrate our beautiful Italy, homeland of some of the greatest cars ever and of enchanting places ready to be discovered.
I get in the car and I turn the key, one of the few ignition keys that are still available in a world studded with keyless technology. Finger on the Start button and the V8 comes to life, still with that classic, unmistakable and undisputed roar of a Ferrari engine. The exhaust mumbles as the revs drop down a bit and I decide to leave the factory, after easily find the ideal driving position, with steering wheel and seat adjustable in any way you want. When the world gets used to your high standards, you have to be able to amaze with fireworks and Ferrari knows how to do that. I walk some road in Maranello, where people, even though they are used to this type of show, do not miss the opportunity to admire this Rossa with black roof and pillars – first recall to the HS package that will be analyzed later in the day. In front of my eyes here it is, the Horse that makes you feel so special, it puts you at peace with the world and immediately makes you become a friend for everyone; people greet you, some moves to let you pass, others take photographs. How can you not smile? Next to the carbon fiber steering wheel there’s the instrumentation, divided into three quadrants: at the center you have the tachometer with the gear indicator, the speedometer on the right and on the left there’s the digital display indicating fuel level, tire pressure, driver assistance and other useful things for everyday use, especially interesting when you have more time for these kind of things, instead of my two main targets here: the “manettino” and the twin-turbo V8 up front. Move it in “Sport” and the exhaust becomes noisier, in the meantime we’ve already passed Bologna and we are heading South entering today’s playground – the Raticosa Pass. The Handling Speciale does not only offer a two-tone color scheme (although you will have endless possibilities for customization and tailoring, both for the exterior as well as the interior), but a setting of stiffer suspension (+ 16% front, 19% rear), an improved calibration for the F1 transmission and for the magnetorheological dumpers and also new exhaust tailpipes, with valves that open and close, depending on your driving angriness. Aesthetically, there is also the rear diffuser and the front grille finished in “Grigio Ferro” (Iron Grey) – inside a badge will remind you that you have chosen a California T that has a great desire to devour the road. I do not intend to waste time and while the corners are becoming more pronounced, the road becomes free and the desire to further amplify the new eight-cylinder twin-turbo voice brings me to pull over and open the roof. It takes just 14 seconds to transform this car from coupe to cabrio and while my speedo is now at 0 I take this opportunity to test the launch control: left foot on the brake, throttle that climbs up and BOOM. 3.6 seconds to go from 0 to 100 kph with a constant progression, with an engine that reaches its torque gradually, just as a naturally aspirated one, not going to affect the driving pleasure that is meeting its point of no return.
The steering is precise, grip is phenomenal, you can ride the California T as if it were a toy. It does not care about a weight of nearly 1800kg, it enters a corner and does not understeer, give a bit of gas more to widen the back and you find yourself already out of the corner, hanging the steering wheel and with three fingers that are grafting the carbon paddle for engaging the following gear. At each gear shifting corresponds a gunshot coming out of the four tailpipes, a whip on your back and the desire to keep down as much as possible the gas, in search of who is gonna meet the limits first – you or the car. There comes a bend, then another, and you realize that this is a different machine than the 2008 model; this can be driven with a knife between the teeth, but with the same ease it can be shown-off, strong of an exceptional on board comfort and the convenience of having two small seats at the back and a fairly large trunk. The carbon-ceramic brakes are your lifesaver, weapons that allows you to exaggerate a little ‘enough, meanwhile they will do the rest, without knowing fading or fatigue. After a bit ‘of kilometers they begin to whistle and you understand that the game is getting interesting. Manettino that must be held for a few seconds to “ESC Off” and traction controls are completely inhibited: now we’re getting serious. The soundtrack is the right one, an 8-cylinder turbo engine that sounds and behaves like a naturally aspirated, an exhaust system that always want to party and the screams of the photographer who wants at all costs to go down, catching the moment as an excuse to shoot some dynamic photos. The electronic torque limiter is another innovation made in Ferrari and, to put it simply, has the authority to limit the torque output depending on the gear you’re in: in this way it does not only avoid power dissipation, but you can enjoy a more linear and consistent output, as if you were at the wheel of a naturally aspirated V8. Glorious. Just like the 560 horsepower (think about it, just 10 less than the 458 Italia, and +100 compared to the previous model), available at 7500 rpm, and an acceleration that leads you to look for the ideal line to follow not to lighten your right foot off the gas. But if your courage is not that of a lion and you prefer to call into question the powerful brakes, never mind, the 755Nm of torque will do the rest and will take you back to vulgar speed before you know it.
At the top of the Raticosa pass, I take the opportunity to begin to do some reasoning, no matters if my blood is boiling and adrenaline is at top level, anxious to keep driving and driving, I realize that the standard represented by the new California T is something of an exaggeration. It is without a doubt the ultimate grand tourer: beautiful, convenient, fast, noisy and practical. Another improvement is that represented by its fuel consumption (10.5 l / 100 km) and the reduction of CO2 emissions (250g / km), the latter a very important voice for the US market. So, just think back to the market, numbers, sales and especially the hypothetical customer of this Cali T. Unlike the model that preceded it this will delight everyone, even those who do not take into account any compromise when it’s time to push hard on the throttle. The Handling Speciale is a further step that without becoming uncomfortable or too rigid, manages to offer an even more vivid and pure driving experience. I find myself completely dumbfounded while watching its rear three quarters, when my colleagues give me the okay. We can start again – I wasn’t waiting anything else! The Raticosa gives way to the Futa Pass and the road becomes more and more free and more enjoyable. Medium radius corners give way to hairpins and the rear tires leave their autograph on the asphalt, as I reach the pinnacle of enjoyment at the wheel when the tires try to find traction and the revs suddenly rise like crazy. It is a pit, if this is Hell, I hope that the devil is watching me. I never, ever would have thought to drive such a comfortable and stylish 2+2 like this, and the crazy thing is precisely the dual nature that hides in it: drive it under 2200rpm and you will have a comfy cruiser suitable for a trip in total suppleness, keep it close to the redline and you will understand that the turbo engines have changed radically and that this is stuff that represents the present, the future and everything you could possibly want from a sports car. Lunch on the road necessarily (we do not waste time to feed us today) and we keep driving on these magical roads that smell of passion and freedom. Pampered by the fantastic leather seats with red stitching, throwing my eyes to the prancing horses scattered here and there in the cockpit, I take a look at the infotainment that also includes an updated navigation system and a more intuitive layout and get intimate with the new TPE (Turbo Performance Engineer), located between two air conditioning vents and that allows you to check the turbo pressure through two useful parameters: TR (Turbo Response) that indicates the maximum percentage of the engine reserve depending on the pace, and the TE (Turbo Efficiency) which indicates the maximum efficiency of the engine used.
A lot of technology, advanced engineering, and an involvement similar to that of the exceptional mid-engine supercars of the brand – I keep driving and I notice that the sun is slowly peeking down. Hours have passed inexorable and I think about how to runaway with the car, but I find no quite convincing way out. Many cars are able to catch you, with some it just takes a look, with other a few kilometers, but it usually takes a few days to empathize and understand each other deeply. With the California T HS is like a stroke of lightning – its image has been made even more sensual and yet sporty but with the class needed to be seen as the most elegant at the party, what has struck me most is the feeling at the wheel. It comes as a damn sexy gt and before you know it you are madly in love with it. Unfortunately for me it takes at least € 190,000 to bring home one, to which about € 7000 should be added for the HS package, in my opinion a must-have during your model configuration. Mom-Ferrari is once again able to innovate without losing the characteristics that make its cars proper living beings with a real soul. With the excuse to make sure I did not forget anything inside, I came back again, I hold back the steering wheel in my hands and reread its fantastic new name, now synonymous of driving finesse. Ferrari is the dream factory, real ones that we can drive and if you’re lucky enough buy. Every time you drive one, you know you’ll face a period of absolute sadness, a kind of detachment syndrome that then, thankfully tends to fade. But in the night it happens to wake up, emitting strange noises and looking for the paddles behind the steering wheel. Then I wake up, I look around and I can’t find my Ferrari … Oh, my Ferrari …
FERRARI CALIFORNIA T HS (2016-)
Layout – front-engined, rear wheel drive
Engine – V8 cylinder 3.855cc + twin-turbo
Transmission – 7-speed automatic gearbox
Power – 560 hp @ 7500 rpm
755 Nm @ 4750rpm
Weight – 1730 kg
Acceleration – 3,6 sec.
Top Speed – 316 kph
Price – from 197.000 €
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