THE FERRARI CALIFORNIA was always going to be a popular car, there’s no doubt about that. Nary a month after it was unveiled, word travelled that the entire world’s allocation for 2009 and 2010 had been snapped up, and little wonder.
The California represents a number of firsts for Ferrari. It’s the first front-engined V8 to hail from Maranello, the first hard-top convertible to wear the prancing horse badge, the first Ferrari to use a dual-clutch gearbox and also the first to be powered by a direct-injected engine.
With the entire world’s richest and most famous clamouring to get their butts into a California, it’s remarkable that the first Australian deliveries for the car will commence this month.
As to its positioning in the Ferrari lineup, General Manager for Ferrari in Australia and New Zealand, Ken Wall, says the California breaks new ground and expands the marque’s range.
“The Ferrari California does not extend the Ferrari range up or down the market,” Mr Wall said.
“Rather, it broadens the appeal of Ferrari within its existing price sector.
“Thus Ferrari now has two aggressive sports cars, the 599 GTB Fiorano and the F430, complimented respectively by two grand touring cars, the 612 Scaglietti and, now, the Ferrari California.”
The Ferrari California is on sale now with a retail price of $472,000 (before on-road costs). If you’re thinking about bagging a California of your own, you’d better do so quicksmart.
With a waiting list that long, odds are it’ll be quite some time before you’ll see one in your driveway.
