California in evo magazine

Thanks for posting. Interesting to hear that the HGTC version will be out that soon, and also that Ferrari are "looking at producing new forged wheels". I have one on order and can't wait to see what optional wheels will be made available as the standard rims just don't cut it for me ! Also, if the HGTC is to be released that soon, it might certainly be worth considering waiting a little longer to get the more aggressive version.

 

Its a nice review and seems like we could see where Ferrari is going with the California. Its like a "Production" test mule for future models of Ferrari. Thanks for the post, by the way, what is HGTC Package? (Sorry not familiar with that)

 

great article, thanks for posting it.

 

They have a HGTC option for the 612 (and previously for the 575). In the case of the 612, HGTC includes optional rims (which are more sporty looking), ceramic brakes, uprated exhaust system which sounds MUCH better, revised suspension ECU and some tweaking to the F1 gearshift system. There is also a HGTS option which is the same, but without the ceramic brakes, and hence a fair bit less costly.

 

Thanks, now I learned something new

 

Great article. California looks ever more promising. HGT version will be killer (redundant to say HGTC as all Fcars are now C!)

 

Very true.
DM, do you have a sense when your car might get delivered ? Not sure if you recall, but we had a brief exchange late last year when I first moved to HK. Shortly thereafter, sometime in Nov, I put the depo down for the 149. I was definitely one of the very first few people to do so; but somehow, I feel that being a "nobody" in IMSS means that my queue number must have been pushed back a lot ! and the guy I deal with has been very reluctant to make any commitment about where I stand, always sidestepping my question related to this.

 

They had the red/tan car in London last night to show to customers

The car is so much better looking in the flesh than in the photos
The roof mechanism is really cleaver and there is actually quite a substantial boot storage space
At low revs the exhaust sound is fantastic

The only thing I didn’t like was the centre consol which just looked crap and worse than the photos
Actually the wheels are also rubbish but they said you will be able to order others

I like many other thought the car looked bad in the photos - but in reality it's actually quite good

 

The HGTC package is no more on the 612 as the CCM brakes are standard, the handling package is now HGTS (as tested in Evo a month or two back).

 

from the side profile the car looks sleek and secy, but from the front the car looks plump and unattractive...

Why didn´t Ferrari opt for a 599 Spyder?

 

Car is nowhere near being delivered-not even that near to being spec'd. I doubt you are one of the first on the 149 list as someone who just moved to HK. The VVIP's, of which there are quite a few, are no doubt far ahead of you. You may be very high on the non-VVIP list

 

My understanding is RHD deliveries will begin about six months after launch which means Easter 2009 - as noted above in most territories there are certain obligations so it seems unlikely that too many RHD cars will surface in private hands much before late 2009

 

The Ferrari guys said last night that the first UK cars will be here in May. Dealer allocation will be very similar in numbers to the 430+Scuderia numbers initially but will then rise further in Q409

 

Nice review. I'm getting my hopes up.

 

starting to really hate this car.... wish they simply made a barchetta for the 599 and redesigned THIS altogether...

 

Agree. I asked my dealer about the HGT version and he said it will likely be available by the time I spec my car. Otherwise I would have taken my early California and then traded it for an HGT version later when it became available

 

Both of you bring up an interesting point. Over the years I have realized that getting a car early has nothing really to do with when you get the deposit in. The dealers wants good ambassadors for their brand. They will always give priority to their loyal,high profile customers who drive their cars (as compared to garage queens). Its about their brand occupying space on the roads, in Tatler magazine, in the publics mind, and in THEIR opinion who does a good job advertising for them. Thats life. No different from any other product. If they "like" you, u get it before others.

 

You are correct for some of the VVIP's. There are others that simply buy a lot of cars and really high profile cars. Last weekend 2 Hong Kong customers took delivery of their FXX Evos. There were only 3 new FXX Evos made and Hong Kong customers bought 2 of them - how amazing is that! One is a celebrity and one is low profile. The low profile guy has cars to die for. Our friend who moved to Hong Kong in November has zero chance on the list compared with either of these guys irrespective of when he put in his deposit. The VVIP's have "rolling deposits" that guarantee the top of any list.

 

It is not the paint that got my attention - I can accept that pre-production. It is the lame looking real pipes!

 

I like that term "rolling deposits".

 

That is awesome!! I suppose at the end of the day the old adage "its not what u know (or how much money u have), but who you know" still holds true.

 

Great article & interesting pics, especially these two:
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Yes, I am not in any denial about where I stand, though I certainly didn't think it would be quite as bad as how you describe it ! That's part of the problem of moving from place to place.. I have owned F-cars in Singapore and Tokyo previously, but that doesn't earn me any "brownie points" with the dealer at each locale. My Only consolation is that I would want to get the HGT version so perhaps being pushed back ain't such a bad thing after all

Regardless, it is truly amazing that 2 out of 3 FXX Evos are going to HK customers ! (I have not been following the FXX Evo's much... are they really not making any more than the 3 ?)