GT California. Like/Dislike.

Is that the new Miata?

 

The days, like Enzo himself and the original designers w/ Pinin Farina, are over.

A review of the Cal Spider featured in Evo Magazine:

The designer
Peter Stevens, Professor, Vehicle Design, RCA
‘It’s a strange mix of TVR and Lexus, while that line down its flanks is staggeringly bad. Just because it’s red and has that badge we shouldn’t excuse it. It’s just not good enough.’

 

Speaks volumes right there.

 

Actually, just thinking about it.

Regardless of whether it stands up as a Ferrari, its still a decent looking car.

And it still has a Ferrari badge on it, so it'll probably still be brilliant to drive.

 

WOW, what a let down. 3 years of rumors and they give us THIS. I find it excruciating. If I wanted to by a TVR tuscan, with BMW m3 sidestrakes, slap on a Toyota Supra Abflug kit, and crash it backwards into a Lexus ls-F or whatever its called, I would have called my local pepboys. Even the wheels are straight off the Chrysler Minivan. Who designed this? A third grader with Lego's? The Alfa Competizione is much prettier, and has the same headlights. They should have badged it a Hyundai, sell it for $25K, and give those paying $175,000 above that an Enzo engine in a glass case.

 

I'd like to change my mind, after these new pictures, I like this car much more.

 

Best Freudian Slip Ever:

"Hot Ferrari California F149 reviled"

http://fastwallpapers.com/blog/?p=21

 

Come on guys, we will see the real New Califórnia in Paris ...

 

You saying this one is a hoax?

 

I can't say its one of my favourites... I like what they've done between the 599 and the F430, but its not my "cup of tea".

I dislike the fact that they called it the California... The 250 California was the most beautiful car ever made... the new California will definitely not suit this.

 

Me too. Every time someone posted a pic of the original Cali in this thread then looking at the new one it made me sick. The new one is a disgrace and akin to taking a dump on the original.

 

No, but looking the photos and see it in real will be different i think ...

 

What I find more perplexing is that an entire group of insiders and, presumably, some sort of focus audience consisting of current modern and vintage owners, reached the conclusion this was a design meriting production. To add insult to injury, they also deemed such a design was worthy of the name California. I understand the financial reasoning, however, I feel that Ferrari may well have just jumped shark. I also wonder if this was not some sort of brilliant marketing strategy from FIAT to more clearly position and elevate the timeless beauty aspect of Alfa and Maser. Kind of a New / Classic Coke take. How's that for a whacked out conspiracy theory? Think about it. They know they will sell every single one they build, and better yet, when a client walks in looking for the Cali, it is an easy switch when the drop top Maser w/ a power increase arrives. It's a $ win for everyone.

 

I wonder if that is true, if Ferrari actually asked opinions ...If it is, then yes it is scary,

 

There are some OBVIOUS design faults on the California. How they were approved is just staggering.

 

I'm trying really hard to find a reason to like the way this car looks... Unfortunately it's not happening yet... I also find it amusing that many folk are suggesting that we should wait until we see it in the flesh - which again, I find hard to buy when I look at nearly every historic Ferrari and every modern Aston Martin photo and see that not all cars need to be seen in the flesh to look good. Come on guys - if this car had a 'Mercedes' badge or a 'Lexus' badge or a 'Jaguar' badge or a 'Maserati' badge or pretty much any badge apart from a Ferrari badge, we would mostly be laughing at it's hideous looks and going on about how it won't stand a chance in the market place...

ps - there is a silver lining to this particular writers cloud - I would be willing to bet that it drives very well and the view from the inside looking out will be great (just not the other way around)!!

 

I think the pictures do not do the car justice. I must see the real car to judge the looks.

 

I think that this new car will look great in real life and may not look like it in pictures, the Enzo isn't a photogenic car and is such a masterpiece in person.

 

The california has been on my desktop for a whole week now. I was hoping that those lines on the side would grow on me (not that i could buy one).

Unfortunately, it hasn't. So, I did a quick chop.. take those lines off and put roof on it. Tell me what you think.. I think it looks better but then its too Maser Granturismo-ish, no?
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Agreed. The pictures so far make the car look stubby and the lighting over-emphasizes the details on the sides of the car. The reassuring thing is that the car (with roof) looks to have pretty nice proportions in these pics (camo notwithstanding):
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I guess I can only judge it when I see it in person. I don't like pics of it, but I also didn't like early pics of the F430.

 

Loved it... and lovin' it even more after seeing the latest official images of the blue one with roof closed

 

Gentlemen, with all due respect, if you don't see how radically different the automobile environment is today compared to
the good old days of the 275, 250, Superamerica etc, then you won't understand why this new California is a masterpiece.

Before the 1990s Ferrari was the only real, consistent, legitimate exotic make. Lambo and Porsche erred- too much and too little.

Since 1990, however, there are probably a dozen legitimate exotic makes.

And Ferrari, for better or worse, was and is the template, the model, the standard.

So when you see even the most mundane American cars blatantly stealing Ferrari designs, and occasionally Maserati's,
you should understand this form of flattery also makes it more difficult for Ferrari's to be as exotic as they once were.

So when you see new Ferrari's these days, you're automatically jaded. But the requirements for Ferrari's today are light years beyond Ferrari's of yester-year.

This new specimen will be instantly sold-out for its entire production run. LDM and his team have hit another Grand Slam.

I'm sure it's as technologically brilliant as it is beautiful to behold and to drive.

I can't wait to try to get in line. lol


Forza,


Cavallini

 

whenever I like more

 

Looks great to me. Of course seeing it in person will be the only real way to judge it but from the few pics I've seen it looks beautiful. Not traditional mind you, but still beautiful.