Ferrari California

Ferrari California

Ferrari California Wallpaper

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Ferrari set to focus on 2010 car

Ferrari trail Brawn by 80 points in the constructors' table

Ferrari are poised to cease development of their 2009 car despite an improved showing at the German Grand Prix, team boss Stefano Domenicali has revealed.

Felipe Massa finished third on Sunday to secure the team's second podium of the season, but Domenicali is close to writing off the current campaign.

"We've already started work on the new project and in the next couple of weeks we will move on to that," he said.

"We want to start with a different pace compared to this year."

With both Massa and team-mate Kimi Raikkonen out of contention in the drivers' championship, and Ferrari a long way adrift in the constructors' standings, it is no surprise they are already looking beyond this season.

"A podium is always important, and third is a good result for us, but we cannot say it's our return," said Massa after his third place at the Nurburgring.

Domenicali admitted the recent political infighting in Formula 1 had been a major drain on his time and energy and he was looking forward to getting involved in car development again.

"To be honest, I would have preferred to have been more balanced for the team," he stated.

"But it was a very critical moment for F1 and we have had to make sure we were doing our job.

"Being the team principal of Ferrari, with all that Ferrari means for F1, I also felt a responsibility."

Ferrari reveal 2010 plans

Ferrari are preparing to throw all of their resources at a race-winning car in time for the 2010 season.

The news comes after Felipe Massa secured a podium finish in the German GP for the first time this year.

Ferrari have struggled this season with a car which lacks the pace of Red Bull and Brawn.

However, the team has made significant progress in the recent weeks which has propelled Massa and Kimi Raikkonen towards the front of the grid.

Team boss Stefano Domenicali has put a dampener on the progress, though, by confirming that they will be halting all work in preparation for next season.

"We have already started some work on the new project, and in the next couple of weeks we will basically move on to that to make sure we do not lose any time." said Domenicali.

Maranello turns into catwalk for new 500 Cabrio

Very early in the morning the new Fiat 500 Cabrio arrived at Maranello and has been shown all day long in front of the Company’s new Ristorante – a preview for the employees of the Prancing Horse, who admired the new model from Fiat.

On the occasion the new Fiat 500 Cabrio symbolically met the Ferrari California, the first Ferrari with a hardtop – two different ways to travel with an open roof, but still the same expression of Italian style and technology.

Review: 2010 Ferrari California

The California is a bit like my first girlfriend: pretty from the front, but a little frumpy at the rear, especially in the wrong clothes (sorry Sarah). This is Ferrari’s softer side. Huh? How can you mess with the classic GT recipe? Sorry Ferrari but the California is the best definition of Ugly Betty with four wheels. If you were hoping for a Dino successor, then you’ll be disappointed. This is a fresh GT with a new clientele in mind.

Hoping for a warm welcome party, my blue press car just didn’t look right under the brilliant Sicilian sunshine– even though I skipped the offer of a blood-red California, which I thought would dispel the miss-matched lines and kindergarten crayon-like sketches. Like the 612 Scaglietti, the latest front-engined Ferrari has no Maranello designer-DNA-flair whatsoever. Sure, the front is OK, but the rear looks like a F430 that’s been backed into a brick wall. And then we have the Lexus cosmetic card trick: fake exhaust tail pipes. The horrendous back door abomination was designed to incorporate the folding metal roof. With every supercar manufacturer fitting an origami roof to just about anything that moves, the boys in Italy wanted to target more conservative customers (namely female, but you didn’t hear me say that).

The buggy seats behind the front chairs are useless for any human larger than Verne Troyer. And? They are perfectly suitable for those owners who wish to fold them to accommodate your tailored Ferrari luggage or McLaren golf bags. While it’s all very Ferrari inside, there are two small issues that need addressing. First, the heater control pane is ridiculously small. I know owners live in salubrious climates, but really. Second, the aluminium covered centre console looks like a particularly uncomfortable sex toy. The sexy, red Start button and Manettino switch (Ferrari’s traction and stability control), return us to the world of more traditional sexual orientation. Both controls must tweaked and caressed like a lover’s nipple to get the desired effect. Ahem. Moving on…

Facing killjoy CO2 regs, Ferrari had to clean up their act. To satisfy the politicians, Maranello has introduced direct-injection technology to their famous V8. Although positioned over the front axle, the new 4.3-litre flat-plane-crank V8 knocks-out 454bhp and 357 lb feet of gut-busting torque. The Calfornia drop top nails the zero to 62mph sprint in around four seconds and cracks 194mph V-max. Not bad for a car that’s carrying 1735 kg’s.

Whether you’re nailing your favourite back road or performing a brief overtaking manoeuvre whilst kicking back on the boulevard, the California V8 delivers the same sorts of aural delights enjoyed by F430 drivers. Ferrari’s dialed down the bass and treble, but with the roof stowed, hunting the red-line is equally tempting. The new seven speed twin-clutch transmission swaps gears quicker than the F430 Scuderia, which is like saying an F-22 is a bit quicker than an F-15. Porsche’s PDK may have set the benchmark, but they forgot about Ferrari’s F1 technology. This is Transformers for grown-ups.

The Manettino switch on the steering wheel offers a choice of Comfort, Sport or CST-off mode. Comfort is the default choice with relatively low intervention thresholds; the Sport setting raises the bar and allows for a good degree of tail swapping and tire mashing. The CST mode turns off all of the driving aids and reveals the California’s hidden side: beautiful balance on the limit behaviour.

This is where the buttons ping off your shirt and you start to turn green. The combination of engine, handling and hidden Ferrari DNA bursts out more alarmingly than the alien in John Hurt’s chest. The steering is quick but grip levels are less communicative through the steering wheel. Where the California really shines: its ride. With the optional $6k magnetic dampers, the Fezza delivers sensational body control and accuracy, without destroying ride comfort.

So, where does the new California fit within the Ferrari canon/cannon? At a not inconsiderable $244k, it’s got to fend off a raft of competition, including Lamborghini’s cheaper Gallardo Spyder ($224K). Why have Ugly Betty when you can choose Beyonce Knowles? Because it’s a Ferrari. A Ferrari convertible. And even though it’s a kindler gentler example of the breed, that’s enough.

[Ferrari provided the vehicle, insurance, and fuel]

Ferrari FXX Destroys Record on Top Gear Test Track

Top Gear kicked off a new season in the U.K. with two big stunts. For starters, it revealed that The Stig is none other than Michael Schumacher.

More amazingly, however, the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion piloted his very own black Ferrari FXX around the Top Gear test track completely obliterating the previous record held by the Gumpert Apollo. The Gumpert’s best lap was an incredible 1:17, while the 800hp 6.3-liter V12 FXX crossed the line in just 1:10. As it’s not street-legal, however, we wouldn’t exactly call this matchup a fair fight.