2009 California

I havent been frequenting these boards as often as I would like, but I just got this link in my email, so I thought I would share. It may be old news for many of you, but this was the first I had heard or seen of it. I know there has been a lot of talk of the "baby Ferrari" and here is what Car and Driver broke.


http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/supercars_and_exotics/2009_ferrari_california_car_news



PDG

 

Cool.....we have been putting the camoflaged spy shots down in a special section so if your thread is moved check there!

That's the first official shots I have seen but I have been busy this week....

 

I was just at Lake Forest Sports Cars, and one of the sales guys was saying they have already had their meetings about the car. I think he was implying that their alotment is already sold.

 

For those of us who can read Italian:
http://www.quattroruote.it/auto_novita/articolo.cfm?codice=135256

The nose looks beautiful, and it even looks cool from the side, but the rear and rear 3/4 views look ugly I guess they had to make it super boxy to fit the hard top in there though - oh well.

 

I like the lines on the entire car, it blends well together. I'd love to have one when they come out... but I would expect they are ear marked to the future owners well in advance. That, and I none of my Ferraris were bought new.

 

another link...

http://jalopnik.com/389832/2009-ferrari-california-revealed

and another....

http://www.ferraricalifornia.com/webapp/

 

Here is another

http://www.topgear.com/content/news/stories/2843/

 

Entire section dedicated to the car-----

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=140

 

As A Ferrari tech, I can say this has been the buzz all day in the shop. All of us love the car, understanding that it's supposed to be the 1st 'volume" ferrari since the Dino. We're ALL concerned by the "2+2" bit, since we know that's been a weak spot for Ferrari traditionally. Overall, I'm VERY excited about the car! Here's what CAR Magazine out of the UK had to say: http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/First-Official-Pictures/Ferrari-California-first-pictures/

 

Looks generic.... kind of dull

And again Ferrari design disappoints me.....some promise but relatively boring

I'm sure the engine, suspension, performance and handling will be incredible but when will the body style mach the performance specs

This is a Ferrari not a Maserati, Aston Martin, Corvette or Jaguar, they need to stop looking at other designs and start being the innovators again...

It doesn't look clean like the traditional Ferrari style

looks kind of fabricated, like Japanese/American cars...

and the exhaust tips

plus the 7 gears??? looks like the end of the click-clack that we all love so much

still, the interior looks great and it kind of grows on you

My 2 cents

 

Nice. Yes. But "achingly beautiful styling"? Someone at C&D is a butt-kisser. This ain't no Dino, P3, Daytona Spider, or 250 Cal Spyder!

 

great article

 

Ive said it before and i will say it again.

It just has that 'gee ive seen that before' feel to it... while far from ugly thats not the reaction i want to have when i see a new Ferrari...

 

Better than the 599. Not super though. The CS was the latest Ferrari that really was a cohesive design, where everything looked like it fit together nicely with the curves and edges in the right places.

 

+1

 

+1....... although at least it has the traditional egg-crate grill.

 

It's alright, I expected it to look a little "smoother" and the fat Detroit-ass look is a little out of place on this car. I think I need to see a few more pictures to decide if it looks good or not, in my opinion of course.

 

What a let down. Not a very clean, pure design. The body has too many pointless features that would even make Chris Bangle jealous. A sports car design should look as if everything on it is there for a reason. In a strange way, I think when you design a car for speed, it usually ends up being beautiful as I think most racecars are. Stacked exhaust tips? WTF!

 

Not really impressed myself. I have to say the new Alfa looks better, and I think even the Aston Vantage Roadster is a better looking car. I think it might be better in person, but so far I have to give it two thumbs down. To busy on the sides and does not flow well. Headlights not what I would expect and some of the cut lines are odd.
I want to see who they are going to put in those back seats too!

 

I can't believe I'm about to knock an f-car, but here goes... It's so... generic! I don't my the 2+2, I don't mind the soft top. But this market has plenty of players. Some attractive. Some not so. The Z4 and Elise stand out as the best-looking small convertibles for me. This, on the other hand, is like a blend between an S-2000 and a Miata. All of them great cars, especially on an amateur track... but the fact that those even come up as comparisons when looking at an f-car is disappointing. I'll keep saving for a 360 Spider with a 6-speed.

 

Committee design and, as they say, too many cooks spoil the brew. That's what Ferrari is today. Enzo ruled Ferrari and you saw his vision in his cars. None of the classic Ferraris were designed by a committee. After all, a Picasso, Monet or Rodin is just that...the vision of a single man.

Face it folks, Ferrari is now just like any other manufacturer.

 

Ferrari has fallen to earth from a great height, perhaps it had the greatest to fall in the first place but it's finally no better than any other boutique marketing foolishness of any other numb from the neck up conglomerate.

This latest design is sh*teous in every way, from its raison d'etre to its protean underpinings through it's derivative, uninspired and unimaginative skin.

Mark May 13, 2008 as the day a legend expired.

 

Well at least one good thing will come of this the price of the desirable Ferraris (308,328,Testa,348,355)will start to go up...

 

+1

 

I personally think it looks pretty damn good. I think there could be a few design tweaks here and there. But other than that I think it will be a great car...