Summary
Originally made available in 2008, the Ferrari California represented a number of firsts for the iconic Italian manufacturers. Not only was it the first model to be equipped with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and aluminum folding roof, but the Ferrari California was also the first Ferrari vehicle to be designed by the in-house creative team. Thought to be an entry-level model for those unfamiliar with the brand, the convertible featured Ferrari's trademarked luxury and blistering power. Its final year of production was 2017, as the vehicle was effectively replaced by the Ferrari Portofino in 2018.
Safety
Although it was outfitted with the manufacturer's traditional Brembo brakes and Carbon-Ceramic Material (CCM) discs, the Ferrari California was designed to offer a braking system with much more everyday functionality than is usually found on Ferrari vehicles. Typically, these brakes are particularly aggressive, owing to the vehicle's rich history of performance racing. The 2010 Ferrari California comes standard with several safety features, including anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control, which combine to improve traction and stop the vehicle from skidding when fully braked. Drivers also have the option to cherry-pick features and packages from an exhaustive list, including adaptive headlights, front parking sensors and cruise control.
Interior
With an interior befitting its luxurious price tag, the Ferrari California is built to impress. Adorned throughout with fine Italian leather and premium accents, the vehicle has an undeniably sharp cabin design. Due to its slightly compact size, the Ferrari California offers a 2+ seating concept option rather than the traditional 2+2. While this means that passengers are likely to find the vehicle's rear seats too small for long-distance rides, the vehicle is configured to make the most of its limited space. Drivers can opt to have rear seats up, fold them down or replace them entirely with a rear bench for additional storage.
Technology
As its luxury status might imply, even older models of the Ferrari California feature a reasonable number of technological systems. The 2010 Ferrari California comes standard with:
- Steering-wheel-mounted Manettino dial to control a wide selection of dynamic driving functions
- Infotainment system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display
- Hard-drive music storage and iPod connectivity
Newer models of the Ferrari California add even more value, updating the vehicle with USB, Bluetooth and SiriusXM satellite radio. The 2017 model also includes the Turbo Performance Engineer (TPE), a round touchscreen display with five display modes: time, outside temperature, turbo pressure, turbo response and turbo efficiency.
Space
Built for fun-and-sun-filled drives along the coast, the Ferrari California features a compact convertible design. While the front seats are spacious and comfortable, giving passengers plenty of room to stretch out, some drivers have noted that the rear seats are cramped. Thanks to the vehicle's versatile design, however, the Ferrari California can be reconfigured to make the most of its available space. The vehicle offers an impressive 12 cubic feet of trunk space when the top is up and 8.5 cubic feet when the top is down.
Comfort
The rear-wheel drive 2010 Ferrari California is equipped with a 460-horsepower 4.3 L V8 engine to capture the brand's signature power. Capable of going from 0 to 100 km/h in under four seconds, the sporty convertible delivers a smooth ride with responsive steering. The direct-injected V8 engine, another first for the Italian brand, sounds and performs great. While some Ferrari purists might dislike the innovative additions to the Ferrari California on paper, they're likely to forgive and forget after one turn behind the wheel.
