Test Ferrari California Handling Speciale (Sport Mode)

As agile as accurate, the Ferrari California
is much more playful ...

With a few more horses and a little diet to reduce weight, the 2012 vintage California maintains its shape. It even appears transfigured once equipped Special Handling pack which makes it sharper convertible "Four Seasons". An essential option for cutting curves.

Here, a 458 Spider. Here, a FF. And that happens there sends a very big sound!
This is the F12 Berlinetta, in an outfit barely camouflaged ... It is amazing how many Ferrari that you come around Maranello. We discovered that almost all of Renault Scénic parked on the parking of our supermarkets! It must be said that the Fiorano circuit, the small roads of Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy, are the breeding ground of the house testers. They develop future models, but are also changing the current as at Ferrari, there is not one to rest on its laurels. The California Special Handling with which I twirls winding road in the green Italian countryside is surely came here a few months ago on these very demanding roads, refine his last suspension settings ...

If the front passengers do not complain really,
the fate of the occupants ...

Benefits
    Behavior agile and precise
    Versatile Ferrari
    Ultrafast box and soft
    Impressive V8
Pitfalls of
    Toothless braking
    Rear seats symbolic
    Elitist Price

Since its launch in 2009, the smallest Ferrari has found its "public" and captured 70% of new customers, surely attracted by its versatility symbolized by its retractable hardtop GT making it an "all seasons". The problem is that other, often already own a Ferrari (sometimes even more), found it a little bland, not efficient enough and especially not sharp enough for handling. So Ferrari has refined its copy. Deeper than it appears. For if aesthetically, almost nothing changes, mechanical side, however, the changes are numerous. Starting with the 4.3 liter V8 direct injection, strong mapping review, new pistons and an exhaust manifold redesigned pass 460-490 hp while torque, more generous to low speed, see its maximum value increased to 505 Nm at 5,000 r / min, 20 Nm more.'

Bright red blood feeds the veins of fabulous V8,
which now displays ...

For its part, the chassis which benefits from four new types of aluminum alloys (12 in total) has been totally revised to 60%, a diet of 30 kg on the whole (1705 kg, against 1,735 kg) without compromising the structural rigidity. With 30 more horsepower and 30 pounds less, this "new" California does not appear so far transfigured performance side. How to talk you say, because V8, coupled with the soft and ultra box Zero Lift dual-clutch 7-speed (the best of its kind) impresses as much by his tone that you bristling hair, his brilliance to climb up to 8.000 rpm, but also by his docility to evolve "normally" in traffic. Pure happiness that California, especially with his new magnetic suspension driven Special Handling (pack), it becomes much more exhilarating to drive.

From an aesthetic point of view,
this version differs Special Handling

Compared to its counterpart Dual Mode, also magneto-rheological (loaded with magnetized particles, oil circulating in the shock becomes more or less viscous depending on the applied magnetic field option), the suspension is characterized by management 50% reactive springs and shock absorbers with firmer calibrations (15% front and 11% rear). All with a new rack and a steering ratio reduced by about 10%. The impact of this pack on the road behavior is such that it seems not to have to do the same car. Especially when you select Sport mode via the Manettino on the steering wheel. Management much more incisive, updates and more free support, less roll, better maintenance of body motions over bumps, changes significantly strongest Course: California reacts indeed so sharper, and thus provides a sportier driving.

In addition to being a versatile Ferrari California
is a GT

All while maintaining the fine balance in curves, excellent traction and a comfortable ride despite increased firmness. In Sport only because repositioning the Manettino on Comfort mode, so we found a softer GT on its suspension, the wisest behavior, perfect for a relaxed driving. Too bad the brake entrusted to carbon ceramic discs as on all Ferrari do not really put in trust because of its lack of bite. This is the only complaint that most orthodox "Ferraristi" will be able to it. For the rest, this multi-faceted California, needed more than ever as one of the most exhilarating and the most advanced GT ever. And as one of the most expensive too ...