Ferrari may well have missed a trick with the previous California. With lardy looks, the drop-top failed to sit well alongside its sleek sisters but Ferrari has been busy plying the California with some much-needed TLC just in time for Valentine’s Day. ??Behold, the latest open-top offering from Ferrari; the California T. The T is not only more slender and streamlined than its predecessor, but it’s also the first turbo-charged Fezza since the iconic F40 Supercar. This is the reasoning behind the ‘T’ suffix in the California’s title and it promises to be a bit of a belter on the road.??Buried under the bonnet is a version of the twin-turbo V8 that you’ll find in a Maserati Quattroporte, but don’t be fooled into thinking the California T will match its performance. Ferrari is keen to point out that, after a bit of late night tinkering, the California T’s powerplant displaces 3855cc compared with the Maserati’s 3799cc meaning it will reach 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and keep on going until196mph. That’s quicker than an Aston Martin Vanquish Volante, Bentley Continental V8 GTC and V12 Mercedes SL65 AMG.
So, we’ve established the California T’s got some poke, but we know it’s not all about what’s under the bonnet, don’t we gentlemen? At the rear, the Italian’s have ditched the cumbersome stacked exhaust pipes in favor of a more purposeful F1-inspired triple-fence diffuser. Moving forward, Ferrari claim the California T’s curvaceous flanks are inspired by the 1958 250 Testa Rossa while the new retractable hard top will save you from the rain in a relatively lazy 14 seconds.
Want one in time for Valentines? Sorry gentlemen, the California T order book will be opening from March 2014 when it will be launched at the Geneva motor show along with a confirmed price tag. You know what they say, better late than never…
By Rory FH Smith
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