How do I put this delicately? The new Ferrari California looks like a Chevrolet Corvette crossed with a BMW Z4 tuned by Brabus. The front end is the best angle, but it's still busier than Sunday morning at a college health clinic. The Fezza's side and back, however, are a goddamn mess. The gills, no doubt an homage to the properly stunning 1957 Ferrari 250 GT California, look completely out of place on this car. The bizarre lines on the side are overdone. The back end is a disaster. Quad stacked pipes? Black plastic trim? It's more TVR or Lorinser than Ferrari. Folding hardtop? On a Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG, sure. A Ferrari with a folding hardtop is like a nuclear-powered toaster. Can you imagine the embarrassment at Wolfgang Puck's Spago in Beverly Hills when that thing gets stuck in full vertical? While the engine sounds phenomenal, the interior probably smells like Adriana Lima's cleavage and it's sure to handle with all the visceral panache that we expect from Ferrari's legendary death cars, it's not enough to save the California from pastiche-land. Then again, with guaranteed waiting lists and eBay adjustments, the men from Maranello will, once again, put their customers hands in the air like they just don't care. But I do.
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It’s definitely a “meh”. I’d still drive it, though.
Ferrari has never given a damn about their customers anyway. Why should they change now?
As for the looks, I agree… way overdone. But Ferrari also has a history of doing that too. Seriously, if you look at the whole lineage they have batted about .170 since their start. A handful of truly gorgeous designs (usually the simple ones) and lots of overly gaudy tripe in between.
–chuck
http://chuck.goolsbee.org
I didn’t think they could stoop below the looks of the ENZO…
justin , never argue about things, where there stand no numbers or facts behind it. because only numbers can something either prove or disaprove. Your personnal view of beuaty or ugliness belongs more to comments section.if you think something is wrong with exterior, point it precisely. if you have no words to express artistic delicacies of describing design and proportions, maybe it doesn`t belong to news section….What is new here? the ugliness? By the way I consider this ferrari ugly as well, but I could split it in molecular details point by point what I don`t like about this car.Sorry
Justin you are being polite. Let’s face it, the car is uglier than a flying vagina Tribeca.
Wow, talk about deign by committee. It looks like they tried to add every Ferrari visual cue possible, plus add on a Maser-like frontend. Too much on a small car.
I can’t think of a single Ferrari that didn’t strike me as at least good-looking if not downright gorgeous. Until now.
Was Bangle a consultant on this thing?
I disagree. Not Ferrari’s best work, obviously, but not ugly.
Looks like Ferrari’s homage to the Tiburon
By Justin Berkowitz
Can you imagine the embarrassment at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago in Beverly Hills when that thing gets stuck in full vertical?
Ummm, who really cares what the elites in Beverly Hills are thinking? Did TTAC change its target audience while I was sleeping?
But if you do care what the dysfunctional, soulless plastic people think, then maybe you should be driving a hybrid or some sort of a golf cart…
The area between the A and C pillars looks like a mid 90’s Dodge Avenger Coupe.
I don’t know if that was the look Ferrari was going for.
Give it 12 months and you’ll change your tune – so many cars are considered ugly before people become accustomed to them!
lth – you nailed it!
ZoomZoom, I think the remark was a bit “tongue-in-cheek”. Mainly because people will buy this car as a means to have the Prancing Horse and thus want to show it off to their peers. Of course, they’ll be embarrassed by the first blunder their Ferrari assaults on their egos.
This car was built and designed solely for the purpose of giving those who yearn for a Ferrari in their garage that opportunity. Especially to those who could otherwise could not afford a 430 (or above) or to those who really wanted a Ferrari but also wanted an AMG SLK type of car. Fast around town and comfortable in traffic, but also with a “no-muss” metal folding top.
And of course, that is why they named it “California”.
I’m stuck on the mental image of Adriana Lima… Wow.
Looks a little like that Nomad concept or a Neon from the ass end, not good images on a Ferrari.
Folding hard top are they not interested in keeping it lite, a fat Ferrari just what the world was asking for, I bet it gets great gas mileage too will all that added weight.
meh… Hasn’t been a nice looking Ferrari since the 70s as far as I’m concerned. The 360 Modena comes close though.
The Enzo was one of those “so ugly it’s cool” cars, like the early 60s Plymouth Valiant Pro stockers or the Aston Martin Lagonda. The Enzo had PURPOSEFUL styling that matched what it was. I have a giant poster of it on my wall for that reason, even though it’s in no way “beautiful.”
This thing though …. eeeeeh…..
I think there’s an important question that’s being left unasked, here:
How does Justin know what Adriana Lima’s cleavage smells like?
I like it. However, I do wish though that Ferrari (or is it Pininfarina?) would return to quad taillamps. TTAC’s Andrei should do a photochop to see the difference an extra pair would make.
P.S. the 599 needs quads, as well.
Read Page 3 for wittier response.
I like big butts, that I can’t deny….
Ah, the Ferrari J-Lo.
Nice to see Ferrari following Toyota’s lead on the flavor of the month stacked exhaust pipes. Also, when did rear visibility become uncool?
I like the single tailights…reminds me of afterburners (at least on the 599). I don’t like how the turnsignal and reverse lamps were incorporated…very early 90’s. Just single exhaust tips on each side would be much better too.
An Eclipse got it on with a lotus.
(Hmm… something happened to my original comment)
BEEP BEEP
Warning: SIMILE OVERLOAD
Can’t… write… witty… response…
Wait, I like the smell of Adriana Lima’s cleava…
BEEEEEEEEEEPPPPP
1993 Dodge Stealth.
the back end looks like a generic car from ridge racer or burnout
Glad to see I’m not the only one that thinks the ass of the California looks like a TVR. One of my friends absolutely worships Ferrari and loves everything that ever came out of Maranello, I’ve been trying to persuade him for weeks to see that this is a ugly car.
Vette front, Supra rear.
If you drive a Supra, watch out for those airbags!
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Supra-Blows-up-on-the_166893.htm
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/supra-two-stepbroken_163200.htm
Take the badges off and ask people to guess the car. Thats the best way to test a new model. I thought it was Korean……. That’s not good!
I guess I’m in the minority here but I think it looks incredibly hot with the top down. The FR layout gives it unique and fresh proportions for a Ferrari and the flame surfacing accentuates it’s sexy lines.
from that pix a 98 Buick Riviera springs to mind.