The best Ferrari is the next Ferrari. Whether you consider that to be a statement of fact or an opinion largely depends on how you define the term. It’s an opinion like a Supreme Court justice’s ruling is called an “opinion”. Or better yet, like billions worldwide would view the Bible as God’s “opinion”. Coming from the mouth of the legendary Enzo Ferrari himself – famously expressed in response to a journalist’s query – for the congregations of the faithful around the world, it’s the gospel truth.
From a technical perspective, the California certainly lives up to Enzo’s idiom. The product of ceaseless development, racing dominance and collaboration with its technical partners, the California comes standard with all the bells, whistles and bar-room bragging rights you can shake an aluminum-alloy stick at. The brakes, developed with Brembo, are carbon-ceramic. The 460-horsepower 4.3-liter V8, based on the same engine architecture that motivates such lust-worthy machines as the Alfa 8C Competizione, Maserati GranTurismo and Ferrari’s own 430 Scuderia, incorporates direct injection for optimal fuel delivery. The lightning-quick transmission, specially developed by Getrag, features seven speeds and twin clutches. The ingenious roof mechanism is the fastest and lightest in the industry. We could go on and on, but like many of the finer things in life, the whole of a Ferrari is more than the sum of its parts.
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Understanding the California’s position requires proper historical perspective. While its racing cars were racking up trophies and championships in the early years on circuits across Europe and around the world, Ferrari earned its reputation on the road with the iconic 250 series of the 1950’s and 60’s – including the eponymous 250 GT California – that remain the epitome of the classic GT. But even after the later Daytona gave way to the mid-engined supercars of the 80’s, Ferrari never lost touch with its stoic GT heritage. The California, for all the cutting-edge technology, is the latest embodiment of that legacy, not as a superfluous sibling to the F430 but as a more compact alternative to the elongated Scaglietti.
The engine comes alive with the sweetest rasp that only grows more vivacious under way. Feathering the throttle hints at how much power lies under the command of your right foot, and summoning up even just half demonstrates vividly and instantly that the California has earned its Prancing Horse as much as any that have come before. Throttle response is instant and speed builds urgently with the next corner coming up fast as you thank the boys from Maranello for including state-of-the-art carbon-ceramic brakes as standard equipment.
Brake feel is as tactile as its grip is astounding. Speed scrubs off as fast as it built up and you turn in to discover the steering as precise, communicative and direct as the splendid brakes. It’s a sensation with which the driver becomes intimately familiar as the miles pass by like mere meters. The chassis is poised and smooth, but make no mistake about it: the California is eager to demonstrate its pedigree. Even with the manettino set to “comfort”, the tail is all too happy to step out, leaving any skeptics flattened by an arc of burnt rubber. “Sport” mode lets it play even more, but on unfamiliar public roads, we were happy to leave the “CST off” setting to Ferrari’s legendary test drivers Dario Benuzzi and Luca Badoer who joined our team for the drive.
Ferrari calls the California a 2+. That’s not a typo, and while the California is homologated as a four-seater, the rear seats are severely short on leg room – like those found in the Aston DB9 Volante, Porsche 911 Cabrio or Lexus SC430 – leaving them usable only by small children or for a spin around the block with friends. They’re more useful for extra baggage and can fold flat to allow pass-through from the generous trunk, which together with the trick folding hard-top makes the California the most versatile Ferrari in the company’s range, if not in its history.
Reluctantly walking away from the car also gave us perspective to answer the essential question: Was Enzo right? Is the next Ferrari really the best Ferrari? After spending a day behind the wheel of the latest to roll out the factory gates at Maranello, we’re left with little doubt. But even that would be erased if one day behind the wheel turned into every day. Of course that’s just one writer’s opinion… but opinion can count for a lot.
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