We click into first and take off. There is no need for a light right foot. The rear-transaxle layout puts 53 percent of 3593-pound curb weight of on the back wheels, which are shod with 285/40ZR19 Bridgestone Potenzas. When warm, these tires stick to the ground like Velcro straps soaked in superglue. Further traction assistance is provided by the F1-TRAC differential, originally developed for the F599 and the F430 Scuderia. Together with CST, it distributes the torque between the rear wheels in a way that allows the car to accelerate out of bends some 20 percent faster than a model fitted with a conventional limited-slip diff. Attached to the all-aluminum spaceframe body are the familar quadralink front suspension and a brand-new multilink rear suspension. Its key innovation is a blend of more generous longitudinal compliance for improved ride comfort and even less lateral play for enhanced handling precision. The optional magnetic dampers are not individually adjustable. Instead, their calibration changes with the manettino position.
Conceptually and visually, the 2009 California leaps back in time to the year 1957. Today just as way back then, Pininfarina was in charge of the design - even though the latest creation looks overstyled from certain angles and uses rather too many lines, curves, and controversial details such as the low-mounted rear brake light and indicator assembly. Traditionally, Ferrari customers could choose between hardtops and softtops, but the California is two cars in one, the fusion of coupe and spider, a so-called 2+-seater with rear buckets big enough for small children or mid-size dogs. Adds the senior project engineer Roberto Corradi: "Even within the Ferrari range, the California is a quite unique proposition. It's a sports car, but broader in character and appeal than F430 or F599. That's why there won't be a Scuderia or a Challenge version, and there won't be a second bodystyle like a fixed-head coupe or a speedster either. At 2500 units a year, the new model is going to be our most popular offering. We expect a high percentage of conquest sales, and we expect quite a few customers to subject this model to high miles and regular, year-round use."
The driver environment here is actually nicer than in other Ferraris. There is wall-to-wall leather with elaborate stitching, a decent navigation system with a large touch screen, 30Gb of MP3 memory, and Bluetooth. Lowering and raising the roof is a quick, almost noiseless affair with no creaks or grunts suggesting that the highly complicated mechanism might slip a disc. With the top up, the trunk holds 12 cubic feet. With the roof down, you may still carry 8.5 cubic feet of luggage plus what you can fit behind the front seats. In coupe guise, wind noise is not really an issue up to 125 mph when engine and tires play first and second fiddle anyway. With the roof stowed away, you will need one tub of hair goo every 100 miles to maintain your coif. Alternately, you can roll up the windows and install the collapsible wind deflector, but that looks a bit girlish in a serious car like this. ...next page >>