Here she is! F149

haven't spent much time in Orient in last few years. No, don't know what Buick is selling best, but if it weren't for China, Buick would have folded long ago. China IS small to Ferrari at PRESENT, but I'll just make a [fake] wager that they will sell more of these units outside the US than here, large market or not. This is not going to be a big seller to anyone somewhat familiar with a Ferrari product.

I sort of see it as a teething-ring for [low end] Porsche upgraders.

 

Ferrari Califoxster........ .

 

the Chinese market is virtually non-existent; it's size is vastly overstated presently. Nobody knows who "most" will be to buy it, but it will not be China!

???!! $200,000 is low end? LOL!!!!


Please explain that one!

 

Actually the statement is bigoted, but not racist. Chinese is a nationality, not a race. Judaism is a religion, not a race.

 

When do you think we can expect to see pictures of the "real" car ?

Right now i'm kind of disapointed, but i'd like to see her in good pictures before saying anything bad.

 

It is someone's wet dream. Who, please tell me that, is going to spend $200k on that poor excuse for what already exist in looks under other mfgrs: China will step up and take the inventory. large market today or not. I don't see this selling in the US except to the Porsche-Boxter-g*y-Chick crowd who have TOO many stock options to know what to do better with their surplus cash. They should just move on to these instead.....French equiv. of a Lambo and economy car.
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I think the California is exactly what Ferrari needs. I'd love a small, attractive GT and having it be Italian is all the better. None of the other Ferrari offerings really thrill me that much. There are sportier mid-engined sports cars out there than the 430. The 599 is nice, but for a big GT I prefer the top to retract like the SLR, DBS, DB9, XKR, etc. The Enzo is defintely cool, but I prefer some of the other supercar offerings out there that offer a clutch pedal and lighter weight.

 

Your smug negativity is tainting your assumptions about this car. You think China will buy most of them when China has barely begun buying any such things. Maybe Hong Kong wealth will buy it, but not in the share of the market you are thinking.

You realize the Boxster-eque crowd is huge? As is the Mazda Miata loving crowd... the roadster crowd.... you realize the Miata is the best selling sports car in the history of cars? Sure it's cheap, too, but this Ferrari exactly appeals to that niche. People like fun cars with drop tops.

They called it California for a reason. Not that only people here will buy them, but it is a fun-in-the-sun Ferrari that will appeal to both men and women, with many buyers being men who will probably buy one for their wife. This car appeals not only to the mid-engined Ferrari testosterone crowd. It crosses boundaries and from a marketing aspect that is genius.

Ferrari was very astute to tap this segment of the market. It is essentially a far upscale Mazda Miata, BMW Z4 appealing car... but better yet because it's a Ferrari and has the full weight of that marque's prestige and engineering. And it's damn nice looking. I want mine in yellow.

 

F149 is the factory code name... just like the F131 f.e. referes to the 360 Modena.

The car’s commercial name is actually “California”.

Fact is; a lot of people will love the new Ferrari when seeing it in real life for the first time... as usual...

 

Fact: the TOTAL cars above 3.0 litres (engine capacity) sold in China in 2007 were roughly 12,000. The Chinese market is hardly capable of "absorbing" large numbers of exotic cars.

I think the F149 is aimed at disturbing Porsche - i.e. at succeeding where Maserati failed. Don't you realise? The 149 is none other that the "Ferrarisation" of the still-born Maserati sports coupe/convertible that was supposed to replace the Coupe/GS but was canned in favour of the much larger, more Bentley-like Granturismo. So, as they decided to aim Maserati towards the luxury crowds, they left a wide gap open in the low-end of the sportscar market. That's why there was so much talk about creating a Dino brand to bridge the gap between "normal cars" and "Ferraris"; instead they chose to use the enormous power of the Ferrari brand to do this. Whether this will hurt the brand mystique in the long term is anyone's guess... ???

 

^^^ +10 yes ....a sobering view of it

My only qualm is the insistence --the erroneous insistence-- that this is somehow a low-end sports car? Where or why is this being repeated again and again? Explain how $200,000+ is a low end vehicle?


I apologize if I just don't get it, but last time I checked, a "low-end" sports car would be Porsche Boxster or base model Corvette.

The California is more expensive than an F430..... so........ ????? the F430 is a low-end sports car, too?

There must be a disconnect between my idea of low-end and everybody else's idea of it! People here think $200,000 is a low end sports car MSRP!

 

I'm afraid the next restyling of the F430 will push the "entry level" mid-engined Ferrari way beyond $200K. It will make the California look like a bargain.

Since the first 308GTB in 1975 Ferrari has constantly upgraded the performance of what was once its "baby" mid-engined entry-level car, to the point that the F430 is now faster than ANY mass-produced Ferrari that came before it (including the 12 cylinders). This has pushed the entry level so high that now a Porsche 997 Carrera looks like a Prius in comparison, and a Boxster is not even in Ferrari's radar. That's why they needed to make another "entry level" below the F430. But since the Ferrari brand has achieved this incredible aura of mystique, they now feel that they can charge anything they want for anything with a prancing horse. Heck, if they sold totally ordinary Alfa Romeo sedans with a V8 engine and re-branded with a Ferrari front grille and detailing, don't you bet many Americans would be happy to part with $100,000 to own one? Ferrari is only charging what the market is prepared to pay for its products. Sad but true.

 

Official figures.

My buddy exports Cayennes, Masers, Porsches, big Benzes, etc. at a rate of 4 or 5 a week and I know he's a small fish.

China has a very wealthy class that cannot be ignored. Any smart brand will realize that.

 

Napolis, does your source see Ferrari going the Dual Clutch route on all future vehicles they introduce? i.e. the F142 and the Enzo replacement.

 

Really appreciate that you took the time for that response mate. Thankyou

 

Ok I agree but low-end doesn't have the same meaning as entry-level. Low-end is Mazda RX-8. High end is Ferrari. Ferrari is about the highest you can go up the status ladder for a mass-produced automobile. Only about .0001% of all people will ever buy a $200,000 Ferrari, let alone multiple Ferraris as toys.

 

It's not being ignored. It's being vastly overstated.

 

without trying to go too far afield [perhaps again] what I am saying [no 'smugness' intended] is this car will not sell hugely. For the miata/Z4/Boxter happy crowd, they will NOT shell out over $200k+, nor will the common Ferrari types IMO. I'm sure there are people out there right now cancelling their 612 sensinata or whatever they are called for this new release. I believe $200k for what one could spend on, say, a Lotus Elise for example would be better spent....actually the Tesla looks like a better bunch more fun. My point is this: this will only sell to people who have way too much disposable income in the US. I don't see what this car has in the way of looks or other. It's almost a work in progress. I would be very tempted to redo the rear, redo the front, and redo the hood. I dunno, it's just not my cup of tea.

I guess the marketing genius [Ferrari track record is certainly better than my opinion] has it pegged......however, I stick the 'other' markets picking up the slack selling to the NA crowd. just my 2 yuans. and, no insult, but I guess yellow would fit. dzaijen.

 

first point I understand, but there were restriction on the 2.0 liters in Italy too....didn't stop sales.

on 2nd, this is a good point. I think this is closer to the truth. One aspect it's missing is why the competition for that gap, when Maserati probably, and ARomeo will probably get there in the next two years. I think this 'one off' model will not go well. They WILL probably sell their complement in the US market, but will eventually be ported elsewhere. Don't know, just a guess. and my guess is purely a hunch. anyway., on the Dino aspect...if it takes 30+ years to make this one a keeper, then I probably would wait for full depreciation and all bugs to get worked out: $200k for a poorly worked 'wow' factor, IMO, is asking too much of me in terms of $$ and excitement.

I may be eating crow later....after all, I like the 599 and many think those look bad.

 

Again, any thoughts on the sound and speed of the gearshift from viewing the website?

 

Ok I hear you. I apologize for judging you as smug.

 

Cheers!!
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I certainly hope so. It's a much better system. The Veyron's gear box is the most impressive I've ever encountered.

 

CharlieHorse
Very nice job, any way of seeing a side view. I am starting to feel the love. I like how you picked up the yellow brakes as well. Good eye for detail !!!

 

Thanks very much. The Devil is in the details.

Wheel packages often change the character of the entire car. What brand and model of wheels are those again that you wanted to see?