Model: Ferrari California
Bodystyle: hard-top convertible
Engine: 4.3 V8 (460bhp/357 lb/ft torque)
Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
GALLERY: Ferrari California
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What is it?
The swooping styling of the Ferrari California is a modern take on the Coke-bottle, and the human curves in that 1980s poster of a Testarossa with a naked woman over it.
Whereas the Testarossa and modern Ferraris are bloated parodies of what a Ferrari should be the California is neatly proportioned.
It's not petite like a 1970s Ferrari Dino or as elegant as the original California, but the new car is as compact and chuckable as a 200mph supercar can be and still pack in airbags, air-con, crushable panels, four seats and a metal convertible roof.
Where does it fit?
Ferrari sees the California as an introduction to the brand and expects many of the two-plus-two convertibles to appeal to women who may be put off by more hairy-chested Ferraris like the F430 or new 458 Italia, the flying-buttressed 599 GTB or the bulging four-seat 612 Scaglietti.
The California starts at £143,320, which might sound like a lot for an 'entry-level' car. And it is. But it's well-equipped car with a sporty 1960s-style punched and stitched leather interior with rear slots for a pair of small people. Options include leather luggage to make the most of the 240-litres of boot space left with the roof down.
Is it for you?
You expect blistering performance from a Ferrari but do you expect a docile and relatively economical city car as well? That's the combination that impressed me about the California. Yes, it snaps, crackles and thunders like a Ferrari should but its flexibility around town surprised.
In automatic (press down the 'Auto' button on the gorgeous metal arm) the California ambles up and down the gearbox at any speed in town. Rarely does the engine rise above 2,500 revs. That makes it almost eerily comfortable to drive in a civilised and law-abiding fashion.
That pliability, still with the gorgeous exhaust note, makes the California seem more real and usable than the extreme 430 Scuderia.
Open it up on the motorway and the California proves it is still all Ferrari. The explosive crackle as the rev limiter cuts in and the car changes gear on its way up the seven-speed transmission is intoxicating. The sound all the way up and down the rev range is never less than stirring, even in Auto.
Top up or top down the noise is fantastic. As the Ferrari California press pack states: "Special attention has been paid to the quality of sound perceived in the cockpit both with the vehicle open and closed..." They weren't lying.
What does it do well?
Composure is a speciality of the California. Top down at any speed the car is loud but wind-buffeting is minimal. Air conditioning and the heated seats are great. Top up, the car is snug and quiet.
On broken surfaces the car always felt firmly planted. On fast, open roads it was as solid as a rock at high speeds - though well shy of its 193mph top speed in my hands. Around town, the pliability combined with good ground clearance means speed bumps can be handled at some speed. It made it a much easier supercar around town than expected.
Though still a wide car, the California seemed wieldy and pronounced bulges above the front wheels give the driver a good sense of the width of the car - again making it more drivable in town.
Brakes were outstanding. Carbon composite brakes, they gave great feedback to the pedal and while making more of a squeak than might be expected they gave a great sense of security.
With that fantastic V8 in the front and all the transmission in the rear there is a little bit of forward and aft thunking from behind you as you accelerate up or down the gears.
What doesn't it do well?
Making use of the rear seats, I tried to fit a pair of lanky teenagers into the two small spaces supposedly called seats. Not only would they have had to break both legs to fit in but they may have needed decapitation.
However, with the top down and their hairy bonces well exposed to the elements they fitted in fine - albeit with legs folded like an origami crane.
The Ferrari press pack has a picture of a gorgeous child seat - complete with Ferrari logo and Sabelt shoulder straps. Others show golf clubs poking through from the boot to the rear seat area, or a set of specially made luggage strapped into the rear space. These are more like the sort of passengers you'll be carrying as opposed to two adult friends.
What's it like to live with?
I liked the brown interior with its stitched dashboard and punched leather seats. It seemed classy and well screwed together. At least it seemed classy until the left hand electric window switch popped off in my hand and I noticed just how plasticky the prominent air vent binnacles are.
However, the stereo was superb and the sat-nav pretty good. Driver and passenger seats are heated, snug and offer an almost infinite range of movement.
How green is it?
Well, we couldn't find the trip computer read out for fuel economy - or more accurately, we don't think Ferrari fitted one. However, Ferrari claims 21.5mpg combined though adding up our petrol receipts we don't think we were getting anywhere near this figure.
Would we buy it?
The ultimate mid-life crisis car for the super-well-heeled gent? The ultimate car for the wealthy woman who has always wanted a Ferrari but didn't want the hairy chest that went with it?
Yes, and yes! The California is a fantastically drivable package, outstanding around town for a supercar and simply super out on the open road.
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