wow that is awesome but probably not practical for production. i esp like the roofline that echos the boxer's roof. seems more like what the 599 should be as a top of the line model as opposed to the 149 at the bottom
your examples are good but those are supercars. not so true for lesser exotics. is the gallardo so different from the 430? round off the gallardo or crease the 430 and theyre very close. profiles of front engined 2 seat sports cars are even more similar. corvette, 599, 550, supra, 350z, aston martins, jags, etc differ mostly in the details.
I agree. You have to see this car to really appreciate it or maybe even like it less. There was total outrage when the first pics of the 430 had the shark nose scoops in front. I don't think it slowed any 430 sales. Here are a list of things that everyone said would "kill" Ferrari: The Dino and growing association with Fiat Putting the Ferrari badge on V8 cars Stopping convertible production in the late 70's in favor or Porsche's "targa" top The many years of no officially imported 12 cylinder cars in the US market until the TR Fuel injection replacing Webber carbs The "cheese cutter strakes" running down the side of the TR large annual 308 production numbers making them "common" Enzo's passing The Gallardo The Ford GT Now it's the economy, Nissan GT-R, and the Corvette ZR-1 I heard the exact same bashing comments from P-car people when Porsche made the SUV. Markets change. People's needs change. Tastes change. Government restrictions change. Fuel prices change. Any company has to deal with this to survive. It should be also noted that a Ferrari is NOT just about looks. To remove the technical/mechanical aspect of the California is something like proposing marriage to someone only from viewing their online picture. My hope for this car is that it will NOT be a garage queen as so many are. I also hope people worry less about whether their car is worth more than they paid for it rather than where would be a great road to try it on next. I like the car. It may not be for everyone. Neither is the F430. I'll wait to see it in person before decided thumbs up or down. Now, if Ferrari DID make an SUV, I'd be yelling too -- no matter WHAT it looked like.
In all honesty this is a rather good looking car. The biggest problem for me is the Ferrari badge on it - we hype ourselves up and expect a 10/10 beauty and perfection. If these pictures came out with any other badge on the front bonnet, everyone would have loved it. Lower the headlights, fix the side crease-rear fender connection, round off the rear end alittle bit and it would look like a killer. While I love the 250 California design, I think by incorporating bits and pieces of the classic into this modern version disrupted the design theme and flow. The 612 Kappa intepretation & P4/5 design were much better incorporated than the F149. Again, that's not to say the car is ugly or 'ok,' it's a beautiful car in its own rights, but I think as Ferrari fans, may of us had really high expectations.
Technical & mechanical aspect!!! you re joking,not on such a car.It s not a track car,just a bad marketing car.I don t care about 10 gears for cruising.Other make better for less money.Ferrari design must remains a classic and italian design,years after years,because you want buy an emotion.Where is it on this vulgar and comon car ???
For all of you that don't think it is possible to create a beautiful and creative concept - have you seen Luca Serafini's latest Ferrari concept? Absolutely fantastic. Why can't Ferrari produce something as stunning as this? (Sorry - don't know how to paste photos - perhaps somebody else can?)
Ferrari makes the final decision! But I think this design would be a great look for the F430 replacement!
I gotta be honest. Didn't really the look a few days ago, but after a few days of letting it sink in, I'm starting to like it more. I still wish the door handle was somewhere else, and I'd still take a Scuderia, 430 Coupe or 599 before the California, but that is more a function of my preference of the rigidity of coupe vs. the looks of the Cali. I could see my wife driving a Cali, though: She took a ride around Tremblant last week and now wants to do the FDE so she can go on to the advanced course with me.
Jim, Finally. A post in this thread worth reading that didn't involve a Lexus or Honda. I do not see why Ferrari wouldn't be able to shoot out at least 4,000 of these annually. Has financial details/pricing been set in stone yet? For the first time I can seriously remember, I am in agreement with 'amenasce' about weight on this car as well, although it does look "healthier" than an F430 spyder. Those things look like fat pigs in the flesh. At least this car has a little more curvature to it. Jim, how far in advance had you seen this car? I was going to send some photos your way a bit ago, but figured it was a moot point, as you're more in anyways... That said, your 8C is MUCH better looking than this car. Didn't you say at some point that P4/5's paint was reminiscent/partly a blend from Alfa's color archives? Tell your friend thank you for the information.
Like many PininFarina designs this is a design that has to grow, I mean, the 612 was not so nice when I first saw it... But when I look at it nowadays its stunning to me! such a timeless beauty!
Hi Yes P 4/5 red is a mix of SF Alfa Rossa Corsa and 1967 P4 Rossa Corsa. As you know this one has been in the works for a long time originally as a Maser and even at one time with a V6 Alfa engine. I think in the end Ferrari doesn't like having customers go to Lambo/Aston/Bentley/etc. because they can't get a Ferrari and 4K more units will go a long way to helping that situation. It will of course really add to the bottom line as well. Best
Of course it does but it is comparing apples with oranges. California GT is a 2+2 with a retractable roof and it is pointless to compare it with an impractical but beautiful concept car
Personally, I love it. Very beautiful. Pluses: Front grill, hood scoop, taillights Minuses: very few - rims (very boring), the 2+2 idea (do they expect a human to fit in those rear seats? i think 99% of the builds will opt for the shelf), and a VERY busy door. The crease starts around the door handle, goes forward around the front vent then back again to become the rear haunches. If it were mine, choose one or the other. I like keeping the top crease... reminds me of an old 250(?) that had a chromed "swoop" detail coming off the vent. GT ps nothing is more polarizing than a new Ferrari design. There are thousands of fans/owners/soon-to-be owners out there and each has their own vision for the car. But there can only be one. And it will sell. So Ferrari is covered money-wise. Whether it becomes a "classic" only history will tell that tale. Remember... people hated the Daytona when it premiered. Now.... Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I have heard that there are killer wheels available as an option. My dealer saw them on photos not released to the public yet
looks 10 tens better than the BC. That is truely a study in ugly. Wish it wrer possible to NEVER let the bashers own a f149. That would be wonderfull.
Great job, making that top crease dissapear is a huge improvement. The thing that bothers me about the F149 is that the design is very beautiful short of a couple of tiny details. You just want to smear it out of the picture and you have a very well designed car. Now if someone can figure out a way to make the front end less bulbus and increase the drama on the rear fender.
If that was the 430 replacement then we would see real progress. Not this design by committee farce... CH
Heres my version. I just played around with it and made a few changes. -Longer, thicker body. This should allow "better" seats in the rear for the passengers (if any) -Nice wheels. Better than stock (I know we all agree on this one, one way or another) -The look is "almost" a 550 profile, but isn't quite...and almost a 599 but isn't either. -430 bumper vent on this California Bumper. -Scuderia shield. Nothing much, but I think i'd drive this rather than the current stock one....but since I did this on paint, coloring the body is difficult. Tell me what you guys think! Before: http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/9748/ferraricalifornia02zi3.jpg After: http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/2949/dsspm8.jpg
I didn't know Ferrari was going to go retro on the F149. I sketched on a receipt awhile back when I was watching Ferris Bueller's Day off awhile back. This is what I thought a modernized version of a V12 Front engine Ferrari coupe/roadster would look like....... Image Unavailable, Please Login
Did I just misspell "Rosso" on my photoshop..... that's pretty sad. I also typed awhile back twice in the same sentence. Time to zzzz
