Ferrari California

The Ferrari California has novel features in the brand. One, which has an engine with direct fuel injection which does not spend much and another that has a seven-speed automatic transmission (of a different type than the six that have current models of Ferrari). He is also the first convertible Ferrari which has a rigid folding roof.

The interior can have two configurations. With a small rear seats and fixations "Isofix" seats for children (picture) and another in which this space is reserved exclusively for the carriage of baggage and replace the seat belts for some strapping to hold travel (image ). With either configuration can reduce the panel separating the trunk of the car, easy to carry long items.

The eight-cylinder engine in 'V' to 90 º (which is the classic Ferrari engines eight cylinders) and 4297 cm ³ displacement. It has direct injection, is made of aluminum (block and cylinder heads) and the variable intake and exhaust.

Gives maximum power of 460 hp at 7750 rpm. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in 4.0 seconds and reaches 310 km / h.

Its average consumption is 13.1 l/100 km approved. Consumption is much lower than any Ferrari currently on sale. For example, a Ferrari F430 Spider F1 with 490 hp spends 18.3 l/100 km. With a lower weight and more power to California, it has very similar features (tab compare the two versions).

The Ferrari California weighs 1810 kg, which is not much compared to other similar Power Convertibles. For example, a BMW M3 convertible or a Mercedes-Benz SL 600 weigh more. Among those weighing less is the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet, with 1730 kg (with a roof, not rigid folding).

According to Ferrari, the body panels (including the roof) of California and the chassis are made entirely of aluminum parts produced by different processes: stamping, casting or extrusion.

The roof is operated by an automatic system and it takes only 14 seconds to fold flat into the boot, which is a very short time. As a roll-over protection, behind the seats has a few arches that deploys automatically at 190 milliseconds if there is a risk of overturning. The trunk volume is 340 l from the roof over the body and 240 if the roof is folded.

The instrumentation consists of analog indicators (for the speedometer and rev count) and a TFT screen for other functions (state of the oil, computer travel reservation gasoline, etc.) (image).

The change is seven walks and has a double clutch. Such changes have the peculiarity that they have selected two gears simultaneously, so that the gear-changing is much faster and the wheels never fail to receive power from the engine. This gearbox has at least two of operation, a manual, which the driver has to select the gears (using a cam is on the steering wheel) and one automatic.

This type of change is spreading now among a number of vehicles of all kinds. The peculiarity is that Ferrari is available: the change is placed against the rear axle and the front engine (Ferrari calls this pattern "Transaxle).

The leaflet is a command 'manettino' from which management controls the operation of the gearbox, stability control (CST) and traction ( "F1-Trac) and the adjustment of the suspension of hardness variable ( "SCM", short for Magnetorheological Suspension Control System), if the option is mounted. The cushions of this suspension is a fluid whose viscosity changes when it is covered by a magnetic field.

The three possible settings of the three manettino: "Comfort", "Sport" and "CST-OFF:

-Comfort: gives priority to security and is the program best suited to conditions of low grip. According to Ferrari, is the best choice for everyday use, everyday.

Sport gives priority to the maximum performance and stability under conditions of good grip. Recommended for driving too fast.

-CST-OFF: In this way the stability control and traction is disabled.

The rear suspension is deformable parallelogram, and the 599 GTB Fiorano, the California has the traction system 'F1 Trac. The brakes are of ceramic material and are manufactured by Brembo.

Among other things, the Ferrari California will double xenon headlights, rear diode browser with touch screen and hard drive 6.5 ", USB, and Bluetooth connector players' iPod '. In the options list is an adaptive lighting system, a suspension of variable hardness ( "SCM"), a regulated electric seats with magnesium structure or chamber of parking at the rear of the body.

The tires that are standard are 19 "in diameter, but can optionally have a 20" made of forged aluminum, which is 11 kg lighter than the standard.

The body can be painted in 12 different colors plus a new shade of blue (Azzuro California "), created especially for the launch of this model. There are 14 shades of leather for the interior, of which there are two new Ferrari (cioccolato 'and' Iroko ').