Ferrari slashes price of hot new California

FERRARI has surprised with the announcement that its potent new turbocharged California roadster will have an Australian sticker price of $409,888 – some $50,000 less than the outgoing non-turbo model.

Ferrari expects the first California Ts to be delivered to Australian customers late this year.

The California T receives a number of changes over the six-year-old original, most notably the switch to an all-new 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 that propels the car from 0-100km in just 3.6 seconds, four-tenths faster than before.

The new engine produces 412kW and 755Nm, a considerable step up from the 338kW/485Nm of the current 4.3-litre non-turbo V8.

It is also more economical, returning an official fuel consumption figure of 10.5L/100km compared to 13.1L/100km.

Styling changes include a Ferrari F12-inspired front end update and a new triple-finned rear diffuser with horizontal exhaust pipes that addresses criticism of the original rear end.

The California retains its folding hardtop.

Ferrari Australasia CEO Herbert Appleroth said at this week’s local launch that demand for the car will, as usual, outstrip supply, with a waiting list of about two years.

“It’s a conscious decision since Enzo Ferrari created our company; he always said to produce one car less than demand,” he said.

Significantly, the California T is the first turbocharged production Ferrari since the F40 went out of production in 1992.