Since its launch in 2008, the Ferrari California has accomplished exactly what the company hoped it would: more than 8,000 units of the entry-level GT have been sold and more than 70 percent of those buyers are new to the brand.
But the California also has never been fully accepted as a real Ferrari because of its relatively soft handling, mainstream-feeling power and torque delivery, and hefty curb weight. An exterior design led by Pininfarina interpreted by many as being far too compromised and not sexy enough hasn’t helped matters.
The California—and its few downfalls—is set to change, and sooner than was previously thought. As some tipsters have observed, there have been some test mules circulating Fiorano emitting the unmistakable sound of a turbocharged V-8—YouTube user Marchettino recorded this embedded gem. As we told you last week, Maserati is getting new Ferrari-sourced powerplants: a new turbocharged V-8 for the next Quattroporte and GranTurismo in addition to a brand-new supercharged V-6. This same turbo V-8 will power the next Ferrari California.
The California recently underwent a mid-cycle refresh that added a little more horsepower and torque, increased the incline of its torque curve, and also cut a significant amount of weight through the more extensive use of aluminum alloys in the body and chassis. There also was the launch of the Handling Speciale package that reduced body roll and added crispness; this, however, was just the first step of a rolling work in progress.
Now to get superficial, the California’s design comes from increasingly involved Ferrari Centro Stile in Maranello, led by design guru Flavio Manzoni—who also is heading up the design of the successor to the Enzo. Despite the design process being led in-house, we understand that Pininfarina is involved in the family-sized Ferrari design. As reflected in the upcoming F12berlinetta, the Enzo replacement, the 599 GTB replacement, and now here with the next California, Ferrari is looking back to its functionally sexy GT-racing heritage for future model inspiration. Our sources on the ground in Italy assure us that the new entry Ferrari will be decidedly easier on the eyes compared to the current California’s design.
Manzoni has repeatedly referred back to that icon of the early 1960s, the Ferrari 250GTO, as his inspiration for the new approach to the California. The challenge of maintaining such a sexy line for the car will be dealing with the folding hardtop and the storage thereof. All we can confirm for now is that the upward sweeping haunch of the current California will be gone, the roof is still in metal, and the opening and closing times will be quicker. The overall feel is to be a design more unified rather than one that has three distinct parts—front, middle, rear—that appear forced together.
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The powertrain will be hybridized, sort of. Like the Enzo replacement, the next California will get an F1–inspired KERS-like system. Power from the new turbo V-8 all by itself should be more than 500 hp, but with the KERS technology, horsepower will eclipse 600 when the driver desires it. It’s not yet determined if the California will feature an electric-only option on the manettino. Though curb weight should come in below that of the latest California we drove, the weight of the hybrid setup prevents it from shedding considerable pounds. The trade-off, however, is significant gains in fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and a zero-to-60 time at or below 3.5 seconds. We gather that top speed should hit 200 mph on the nose.
The new car’s public debut could happen by the summer of 2013, or about two years earlier than any of us deemed reasonable.