If the Porsche Cayenne has proved anything over the 13 years since its introduction, it’s that there never really was a “typical” Porsche owner. The model, despite its terrifying looks, quickly became the brand’s biggest seller; mercifully, its appearance grew to be almost attractive.
The same could be said of Ferrari’s most successful model ever: the California. Neither traditionally beautiful nor typical Ferrari, it nevertheless brought plenty of newcomers into the Ferrari fold – more than 10,000 were sold over six years. And now there’s a new one.
Obviously Ferrari had a conundrum on its hands. How could it make the California different enough to keep clients interested while keeping the model true to the values of comfort, practicality and civility that made it such a hit in the first place? Ferrari also needed to make it more efficient and cleaner to keep environmental lobbyists satisfied. A tough call, for sure, but the California T is an absolute peach of a car, better in every single respect than its predecessor – apart from its folding metal roof, because that’s exactly the same as before.
It’s incredibly pretty when you see it in the metal, with none of the physical awkwardness of the original, and that’s half the battle when replacing any luxury car. It will transform itself from sleek coupé into slippery roadster in 14 seconds if you tug at the right switch, and it looks gorgeous in either guise. Open the door and sink into the car’s sumptuous leather interior, and truth be told, there are few places you would rather be – it’s the nicest cabin of any contemporary Ferrari.
Look behind you and you’ll see a couple of individual seats, which aren’t as useful as those in the rear of an FF, but at least allow you to share the Maranello magic with more than one person. They’re also useful for housing your shopping, because there’s next to no room in the boot, thanks to a spare tyre and other paraphernalia to house the roof when it’s retracted.
That’s the housekeeping out of the way, so how does it drive? My experiences with the previous model proved that it was a fantastically well-resolved GT car that allowed its driver to soak up hundreds of kilometres a day in complete comfort, accompanied by one of the most guttural and satisfying engine soundtracks of all time. It was no 458 Italia when it came to hanging on the ragged edge, but it didn’t need to be. This new one, however, feels like a car transformed.
It’s 15 per cent more powerful than its forebear and produces a staggering 49 per cent more torque, while CO2 emissions are down by a fifth. That’s an amazing achievement, which is down to that “T” in the nomenclature. Yes, the California T has turbo power, allowing for a smaller engine displacement and massive performance gains. It has been more than two decades since Ferraris were turbocharged, but this is the company’s future, not simply part of its past.
Throttle response is instant; acceleration savage. The carbon-ceramic brakes take some getting used to (they initially feel over-responsive), as is the super-quick steering, which is at odds with its GT aspirations. This steering rack, however, helps disguise the California’s undeniable bulk, and it now feels go-kart responsive, like it has shed half its weight.
Ride quality, which was always a California strong point, remains pliant and extremely comfortable, even when the car is in “Sport” mode. Body control is better than before, and the T feels sporting enough for you to head for the track without fear of seasickness, thanks to new magnetic adaptive damping.
The soundtrack has taken a bit of a battering, though, and that’s a disappointment. The whizzes, crackles and bangs you used to get from a California’s exhaust have been replaced by a series of noises that are unmistakably produced by a flat-plane crank V8 but lack some of the bellowing character of yore. It does sound good; it just doesn’t sound as good – a perennial problem when it comes to exhaust-driven turbochargers.
Pitched against its natural rivals – Merc’s SL 65 AMG, Aston Martin’s DB9 Volante and Bentley’s Continental GT Convertible – this Ferrari shines brighter than ever and trounces them all when it comes to sheer desirability. It’s as refined as the best of them, yet more thrilling than any when it comes to the business of going very quickly on the right roads or tracks.
As a pointer for the brand, it’s gratifying to see the efforts that Ferrari’s engineers and designers have gone to with this car, to massively increase entertainment levels while leaving the California’s best bits alone. We’ll soon find out how this new downsizing and turbocharging has affected the 458’s replacement, but based on my experience with the new California T, there’s nothing to worry about. What a car.
motoring@thenational.ae
Follow us @LifeNationalUAE
Follow us on Facebook for discussions, entertainment, reviews, wellness and news.
