Ferrari California T Debuts with V8 Turbo | Ferrari

Ferrari California T

Ferrari California T Debuts with V8 Turbo

Five and a half years after its debut in 2008, finally the successor to theCaliforniahas been announced. Its name isFerrari"California T." As the name suggests, the biggest change is the adoption of a turbo engine.

Text by AKIZUKI Shinichiro (OPENERS)

Inspired by the 250 TR

The new Ferrari model, previewed as the "149M Project," appeared on February 12th, right on schedule. It is the "Ferrari California T." The "California," which inherited the name of the "250GT California Spider" produced in the 1950s and debuted in 2008 as a completely new, modern open-top Ferrari, has finally reached the time for a major minor change after five and a half years.

While the overall silhouette is inherited from the previous model, the visual impact is bold enough to be called a full model change. The design of the California T is a collaboration between the Ferrari Styling Centre and Pininfarina. The headlights, with a design close to the "F12" and "FF," have transformed the car into a sportier and more aggressive front face.

The powerfully bulging shape of the body sides is inspired by the famous pontoon fender style of Ferrari's race car "250 TR (Testa Rossa)" from the 1950s-60s, and is a highlight of the exterior design. By lowering the hip line further, it achieves an even more glamorous and elegant body line. Additionally, a new triple-fence diffuser has been equipped at the rear, with thorough improvements made to aerodynamics.

The body dimensions are almost the same as the previous California: length 4,570mm (+8mm) x width 1,910mm (+1mm) x height 1,322mm. The weight distribution is also unchanged at a front-rear ratio of 47:53, but the vehicle weight (dry) is 5kg lighter at 1,625kg.

The biggest change, as the name suggests, is the new "T" – meaning the adoption of a turbo engine. The newly developed direct-injection V8 twin-scroll turbo engine, which suppresses turbo lag to virtually zero, has a reduced displacement from the previous 4,297cc to 3,855cc, a downsizing of approximately 440cc. Despite this, the maximum output has increased by 70ps to 560ps (412kW) at 7,500rpm, and the maximum torque has increased by 49% to 77kgm (755Nm) at 4,750rpm, significantly improving its performance.

The power-to-weight ratio boasts the highest value in its class at 145ps/liter. Acceleration from 0-100km/h is 3.6 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than before, and the top speed has been increased from 312km/h to 316km/h. The transmission remains the same 7-speed dual-clutch.

Meanwhile, with the adoption of the turbo, CO2 emissions have been reduced by 20% to 250g/km in the combined cycle, and fuel consumption has also been reduced by approximately 15%. Many of these latest technologies are feedback from the technology cultivated in Ferrari's new "F14 T" for the 2014 season. Some of the vehicle production processes, particularly casting, adopt Scuderia Ferrari's methods and are actually carried out using the same equipment.

Ferrari California T

Ferrari California T Debuts with V8 Turbo (2)

The Most Beautiful Engine Sound in a Turbocharged Car

"The biggest challenge in designing the California T was to achieve a powerful, exhilarating, and typicalFerrariengine sound," says Ferrari. To overcome this challenge, the staff in Maranello employed special manufacturing techniques for key components such as the flat-plane crankshaft, three-piece cast exhaust manifold, and turbo housing. As a result, they claim to have achieved the most beautiful, powerful, and captivating sound of any turbocharged car to date.

The suspension has also been strengthened to match the increased power. A newly developed steering gearbox minimizes steering angle, and the latest Magnetic Ride (magnetorheological damper) with a 50% improvement in response speed, along with body motion accelerometers, suppresses both roll and pitch. Furthermore, the latest evolution of the traction control system, "F1-Trac," works in conjunction with the car's behavior to achieve both precise handling and excellent comfort.

The braking system is equipped with CCM3, featuring carbon-ceramic discs and pads. Integrated with the ESP 8.0 premium, which controls the high-performance ABS, the stopping distance from 100km/h is a mere 34 meters.

The interior of the California T, designed with ergonomics as the top priority, follows the current Ferrari design language. The cabin, lavishly appointed with Frau leather, is both sporty and luxurious. As with other models, a wide range of color arrangements are possible according to customer requests.

A new touch-panel display called the "Turbo Performance Engineer (TPE)" has been installed in the center of the dashboard, which displays various information about the turbo engine. The infotainment system has also been revamped, featuring a high-resolution 6.5-inch monitor that can be operated by touch.

The California T features significant improvements across the board, including the exterior, interior, engine, and chassis. Its world debut is scheduled for the upcoming Geneva International Motor Show in March.