The Ferrari California made its debut in 2008 and is the company’s 2+2 hardtop convertible. It is a front engine, rear wheel drive grand touring sports car and was the first vehicle in four decades that did not carry an alphanumeric appendage.
The California is powered by a 4.3L V8 delivering 454 HP and 358 lb-ft of torque. This engine can be mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or the company’s first seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission.
In an attempt to further entrench themselves to its exclusive customers, Ferrari is launching a new customization program that allows Ferrari owners to have their modern beasts be given a classic touch. Called the Vintage Package, the program is being offered for a wider-range of Ferrari models with the first of these models being the Ferrari California.
Among the aesthetic additions added to the California through the Vintage Package include a unique front grille, door mirrors, and A-pillar trims to go along with special chrome highlights for the side vents. On top of that, the California Vintage Package will also include wheels with a diamond polish look.
Performance specs for the California remain untouched so expect the same 4,300 cc V8 Direct Injection engine that appears in all California models. This particular engine can produce an output of 460 horsepower at 7,750 RPM and 357 lb/ft of torque at 5,000 RPM. Likewise, the engine is mated to a a seven-speed dual clutch transmission with a top speed of 192 mph and a 0-60 mph time of four seconds.
For now, these are the only details of the California Vintage Package that we have. We can only assume that as one of the ’older’ Ferrari models relative to the new line-up the company is coming out with - specifically the 458 Italia and the FF - the California was the easy choice to become the first Ferrari model to be outfitted with the Vintage Package. Nevertheless, we expect an announcement from Ferrari sooner rather than later with all of the details on their newest venture. With the 2011 Geneva Motor Show set to open in a couple of weeks, we’re holding out hope that the announcement regarding Ferrari’s Vintage Package will take place then.
The sooner, of course, the better.
Novitec Rosso has been around the block with the Ferrari California a few times, but this latest tuning kit from the German firm is that much more impressive than the last package they put together. Well, technically, it’s the same package with more and more being added with every new decision made. The new package is called the Race 606 and gets the same engine conversion, but many new carbon fiber body parts.
For the engine conversion, the tuner is offering a compressor system that consists of a mechanical supercharger driven by the crankshaft via a cogged V-belt, a flap-controlled NOVITEC ROSSO high-performance exhaust system with sport catalysts, and newly calibrated engine electronics. The result is an increase from the standard 460 HP to an impressive 606 HP and a sprint from 0 to 60 mph made in 3.8 seconds. The Ferrari also won’t stop until it hits 202mph.
In order to improve the car’s aerodynamics, Novitec is now a slew of body parts made in a matte clear-coated carbon-fiber. These parts include front and rear spoilers together with the rear diffuser, rocker panel blades, side air outlets in the front fenders, mirror covers and rear molding, a hood centerpiece, radiator grille, the outer skin of the folding hardtop, and the taillight surrounds. The exterior look is finished by a new set of three-piece NOVITEC ROSSO NF3 wheels.
We don’t know what else Novitec Rosso can possibly add to the Ferrari California that they haven’t already added, but we’re excited to see what else the tuner can think up for this gorgeous vehicle.
The price you pay for pissing off your countryman is harrowing enough in its own right, but if you happen to be an ex-president that was effectively exiled to another country, all the things you left behind become fair game, especially if they’re the Italian super car variety.
The past few weeks have seen a dizzying number of crimes done on those poor Prancing Horses from Italy. Just goes to show you how far people power will go to show their disdain for their ousted president.
Tunisia’s former president, Zine El Abinide Ben Ali, has already fled to Saudi Arabia, but unfortunately for him, he left behind a few possessions that ended up receiving the full wrath of his disgruntled countrymen, most notably his family’s collection of Ferraris.
Last week, a couple of rioters commandeered a forklift and stole what was reported to be the ex-president’s Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. Photos were even taken of the pilfering when the forklift was leisurely driving along a highway in broad daylight with the 599 GTB sticking out like a skewered barbecue.
If that wasn’t enough, we just found out that another Prancing Horse – a Ferrari California - owned by the ex-president’s family was brutally vandalized by even more rioters to the point that its wheels were stripped off, its badges were removed, and its interior accessories were all, shall we say, ‘borrowed’.
We don’t know what’s going to happen to Tunisia in the long run, but from the looks of things, it sure doesn’t look like a safe place for any Prancing Horses to play around.
Check out the videos of those poor Ferraris after the jump.
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Top Gear USA is starting to really come around as the US version of the famous car show heads towards the end of its very first season. Eventually we see the trio of Adam Ferrara, Ruttledge Wood, and Tanner Foust coming into their own and not constantly being compared to Clarkson, Hammond, and May, but that’s still a long ways off. The US hosts need to spend a lot more time in the hot seat before they can rid themselves of the constant criticism and ridicule. Nonetheless, we’re beginning to love the show and most of the hosts. Sorry to say, we still love to hate Adam Ferrara.
Episode Eight of Top Gear USA was just jam-packed with goodies, as Tanner and Ruttledge try to figure out if its faster to fly or drive from LA to Las Vegas, Bret Michaels takes a turn on the Top Gear test track, Rutt and Tanner review a Porsche Panamera Turbo and a BMW X6M, respectively.
Hit the jump to get all of the details on Top Gear’s eighth episode.
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It seems more and more people are finding new and interesting ways to bring out their personality in their vehicles, but while earlier we displayed a Lamborghini Gallardo whose owner thought Grigio Antares was the way to go, this car owner thought a little more on the bright side for her Ferrari California.
Okay, so we don’t really know if the car owner is a woman, but we could only hope that a woman is behind covering the beautiful sports car in the sissiest of colors around: bright cotton candy pink. If this owner was trying to make a statement then she definitely succeeded. We just don’t know if we like what she’s saying. There’s just something about covering up a 4.3L V8 engine producing 460hp with a whole lot of pink that just doesn’t feel right.
The bad part is, this vehicle isn’t the only one that has gotten hit with the pink stick. Paris Hilton’s car is well-known as the very pink Bentley Continental GT and we have even seen a pink Maserati GranCabrio. Of course, our favorite is still the pink Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SV because, well, that car could look good in just about anything.
