Ferrari California F1 review

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Ferrari California 4.3 V8 Road Test

Test date 15 July 2009 Price as tested £152,086

For Smooth, fast and versatile gearbox, supple ride comfort, all-weather traction

Against Restrictive range, excessive body roll, outsourced navigation screen

During the past few years we’ve become accustomed to Ferraris arriving in quicker succession, but never before have we seen a Ferrari quite like this one.

This is the new California, named after the 250GT California of 1957, and it opens up a new market to the brand. It’s a softer, more approachable Ferrari for those who like the idea but perhaps not the sharply honed execution of a normal Modenese car.

The California is Ferrari’s fourth current model series – and its most radical. It’s the first Ferrari road car to have a front-mounted V8 engine, the first to have a dual-clutch gearbox and, although not the first to have a removable hard-top, is the first to follow the current trend of having a fully retractable one that electrically folds into its boot.

However, there is a fear that the California may be a little too soft, with not enough focus; a Ferrari that cannot perform as a sports car is like a Land Rover that cannot clamber over a muddy hill. So is the fear justified? Or is the California every inch worthy of the badges that adorn its flanks?