The Ferrari California was unveiled officially in North America at the Los Angeles Auto Show that will be held from November 21 to November 30, 2008.
It’s not simply an existing model given a special-edition name, but is an all new model joining the Ferrari lineup-although it does borrow nomenclature from the 60′s California Spider.
The Ferrari California is aimed at owners who desire a car which embodies everything the Prancing Horse represents in terms of sporty design and innovation, but also seek a car with greater versatility than ever.
Massimo Fumarola, Ferrari’s head of product portfolio development, told a packed press conference that the carmaker is paying more attention to fuel economy with the California-something new for Ferrari, whose other gas-guzzling cars get no more than 16mpg, according to government estimates.
“We’re on a roadmap to decrease fuel-consumption by 40 percent before 2012,” Fumarola said. “This is an important step for us. I don’t know if all of our competitors will follow the same strategy.”
Although the new model’s fuel economy hasn’t been rated by the Environmental Protection Agency, Fumarola said it emits 20 percent less carbon dioxide than other Ferrari cars.
The California sports a new direct-injection V8 that’s mounted in mid-front position-a Ferrari first. The engine makes 460 horsepower, propelling the car from zero-to 60 in less than 4 seconds to a top speed of 193mph. The car also features a retractable hard-top roof.
The California will cost approximately $250,000 and is sold out until 2011; 60 percent of the buyers had not owned a Ferrari before.
Source: biz.yahoo.com and nytimes.com
Photo by: vhcoppola and Mondial de l’Automobile 2008
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