A little tuning got an extra 30 hp and 15 Nm from the 4.3L V8 that sits up front, bringing the total to 480 hp and 505 Nm of torque. This slashes 0.1 second off the time in the dash to 100 km/h, which is now achievable in just 3.8 seconds and should peak at 312 km/h. The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, on the other hand, remains unchanged.
Scaglietti also managed to shed 30 kg from the California's aluminum body without sacrificing rigidity, luxury, and the retractable hard top that opens or stows in just 14 seconds.
But its sharp performance and even sharper looks won't be complete without a sharpened handling. This is taken cared of by an optional Handling Speciale Package, which improves suspension response while maintaining comfort that's essential in a Grand Tourer. The upgrade gets you “magnetorheological dampers,” stiffer springs, and a faster ECU to increase steering response by 10% and minimize body roll.
“The Ferrari California is very agile and easy to drive hard. The Ferrari bloodline ensures exceptional performance, as well as the California distinction of comfort and practicality in a a Grand Tourer (GT),” said Autostrada Motore Inc’s Chairman and President, Wellington Soong.
What's interesting though is how Ferrari actually offers an optional High Emotion Low Emissions (HELE) package for the California 30. The system includes an auto start/stop function and adaptive transmission to save fuel - a feature most customers don't concern themselves with when buying a 300 km/h V8.
We asked Autostrada Motore Inc. Executive Director Marc Soong how much the new Ferrari California 30 retails for. He replied that it should be around P20 million each. Do care to note that the price includes seven years of scheduled maintenance (every 20,000 km or once a year) - something you can't have when you buy grey.
