Ferrari: Doth he protest too much?

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

‘It’s a Ferrari,’ declared Massimo Fumarola, Maranello’s product development director. ‘Its DNA is Ferrari,’ he added. A few moments later, he said, ‘It’s a 100% complete Ferrari.’

I soon lost count of how many times he and other Ferrari execs assured us the Ferrari California, in its U.S. premiere at the L.A. show, was a...Ferrari.

The repeated reassurances that the car under the Cavallino Rampante badge was indeed a prancing horse was a sort of preemptive strike. Ferrari purists either are or are likely to be miffed by the car’s placement of its V-8 engine in the front of the car, rather than its usual mid-engine configuration.

Maybe that’s why the Ferrari big formaggio described the placement as ‘mid-front.’ Fumarola also noted the rearward gearbox ensured more than 50% of the car’s weight was biased rearward (47/53 front to rear, to be precise).

It’s also a hardtop convertible, which should be nifty to normal folks, but purists might think it adds weight and complexity. Fumarola pointed out that the all-aluminum top is lighter than a cloth top.

The California’s curb weight is 3,817 pounds, almost 500 pounds more than a Ford Mustang GT California. But with 460 horses prancing under the hood (in front), Ferrari says the California will do zero to 60 in less than four seconds.

Ferrari North America CEO Maurizio Parlato said because Ferraris hold their value so well, a California can be ‘the best investment.’

Let’s hope so. With a price Parlato said is ‘about $200,000,’ the Ferrari California costs about as much as a house in Riverside. Those were said to be great investments too.

-- Peter Y. Hong

For more on the Ferrari California, watch Dan Neil’s video.