LATEST CAR

Ferrari California 30

 

Ferrari California is characterized by the number 30. That’s 30 as in the fact that it is 30 kilos lighter and 30 horse power more powerful.

The California’s V8 now punches out a maximum of 490 hp with maximum torque climbing to 505 Nm at 5000 rpm, thanks to new exhaust manifolds and engine mapping. Its torque curve has also been modified and is higher across the engine’s generous rev range too.

Cutting-edge aluminum fabrication techniques and construction technologies used by the Scarlatti Centre of Excellence in the manufacture of the California’s chassis, have also led to an overall reduction of 30 kg in the car’s weight without impinging in any way on its structural rigidity or performance. The above mentioned factors have also directly benefited the Ferrari’s California’s performance, reducing its 0-100 km/acceleration time to 3.8 seconds. This heightens its sporty feel without detracting from the character of a car that has won universal acclaim for its seamless melding of performance and the exceptional versatility resulting from its retractable hard top (RHT) and 2+ configuration.For clients in search of a more dynamic yet still not overly extreme driving experience, Ferrari has now also introduced the optional Handling Speciale package which features modifications to both the car’s running gear and set-up that reduce body roll and ensure prompter response to driver inputs.

The package includes magneto rheological dampers controlled by a faster ECU (-50% response time) with a proprietary Ferrari algorithm. The suspension springs are also stiffer for more precise control without impinging on comfort. Lastly, higher corner entry speeds and less steering wheel activity are guaranteed by a new steering box with a lower reduction ratio (-10%).

When designing the Ferrari California, Pininfarina opted for a classic, sculpted chassis, with a long bonnet and the passenger area slightly weighted towards the rear. The side of the car features a strong, dynamic, raked line. The line lifts at the height of the door handle to trace the outline of the typical Ferrari rear bumper. The air intake in the front bumper is enhanced by a traditional grille. The slender air intake vent on the bonnet and the side air vents both echo distinctive features of the 1957 Ferrari California 250. Entering into the Ferrari California one immediately notices the high quality of its materials, together with the traditional skills of the craftsmen who have selected the finest leather to cover the dash, the interior and the seats with couture precision. The seats can be adjusted in every conceivable way to give any driver exactly the right position. The back-rest structure is in magnesium, designed to achieve the maximum in comfort and ergonomics while reducing weight at the same time. The new infotainment system, with its 6.5-inch touch-screen display and its intuitive controls, offers maximum functionality and ease of use.
Perfect for sports driving but also suitable for long journeys and trips to town. For work or for pleasure. A car 4.56 metres long, with the space to comfortably seat a driver or passenger which represent more than the 99 percentile of the population's stature, and making possible the novel 2+ configuration with a large useable space behind the rear seats. The car allows, on request, a rear seating area with two seats and Isofix attachments, indicated for hosting two children.
Alternatively, one can request a bench with the space for storing two travel trolleys or two light golf bags. In both versions there is, for the first time in a Ferrari, a fold-down rear seat-back, allowing the California to be used in different situations by linking the cockpit with the spacious 340-litre boot, which becomes 240 litres with the roof down.

Technologies

Retractable hard-top

The Ferrari California's retractable hard-top can be opened or closed in a few seconds.

Gearbox with dual clutch

The gearbox has always been an important and distinctive component for Ferrari cars. The California’s transmission is dual clutch with seven gears, maintaining the traditional F1 controls on the steering wheel. It is an innovative gearbox that ensures higher performances and at the same time greater driving comfort, is more efficient, and requires less maintenance. It is indeed like having two parallel gearboxes, where the dual clutch permits independent control of the odd and even gears and their pre-selection.
In this way the gear change occurs in close-to-zero times and without wheel torque interruption. The so-called acceleration gap is eliminated, obtaining, apart from a real improvement in performance, a new and thrilling driving sensation. Perfect also for normal daily and city use, in automatic mode the dual clutch transmission guarantees the highest values of comfort and drivability. Positioned with rear overhang following the traditional transaxle system, it contributes to the ideal weight distribution, with 53% of the total weight of the vehicle at the rear and 47% at the front axis.

Dual clutch transmission
The new dual clutch transmission (DCT) increases driving comfort and performance under sporty driving conditions, with seven speeds, reverse, elector-hydraulic operation and no torque converter.

GDI Engine

Direct injection guarantees improved engine performance because of the cooling effect of the injected fuel inside the cylinder and the fact that the fuel is injected directly into the chamber rather than passing through the intake valves.

The high injection pressure (200 bar compared to current systems with160 bar) guarantees correct pulverization of the petrol as well as optimum mixing and combustion at up to 8000 rpm. This in turn boosts performance and reduces fuel consumption whilst ensuring that current emission limits are respected.

Direct fuel injection also delivers a compression ratio of 12.2:1. This is higher than that of Ferrari engines with indirect fuel injection. Once again the result is improved performance and reduced fuel consumption.

Like other Ferrari engines, this one also boasts variable timing on both inlet and exhaust cams to optimize performance and reduce fuel consumption right across the entire rev range.

Its inlet and exhaust tracts were designed to deliver a high efflux coefficient and a high turbulence index. This guarantees a good mix and efficient combustion without impinging on performance.

The exhaust system consists of two metal matrix catalyses (one per cylinder bank), one central per-silencer and two rear silencers. The aim was to reduce back pressure whilst still respecting current noise limits. There are by-pass valves on the rear silencers and these are elector-hydraulically commanded by the engine control unit.

The adoption of a secondary air system in the cylinder heads means that only one catalyses per bank is necessary which keeps back-pressure down yet ensures compliance with the very strict Euro5 and LEV2 emissions standards.