Fall in Love Again with the Ferrari California T

I think I’m in love. I just spent the weekend with a beautiful, sexy and incredibly smart Italian who took me for a wild ride that left my head spinning, heart pounding and my entire body wanting more.

She is the new Ferrari California T, a fantastic touring/sports car featuring graceful lines, a perfectly manicured interior and the extreme power to take charge at any instant. She’s intelligent, anticipating my every driving need and delivering with ease and grace, all while whispering a soft and soothing purrrrr into my ears. But when the mood strikes and we get the urge to accelerate our passion, she growls that unmistakable Ferrari roar that can only be produced from a vehicle carrying the "Prancing Horse" on its bonnet. Yes, I am clearly in love.

There’s a certain standing that one must possess to dance with such an exquisite machine as a Ferrari. One must be pre-qualified to own—or even to borrow—a Ferrari. You must belong to a class that’s beyond reproach and above most others in sophistication, elegance and status. That, or you’ve already owned one of the super cars and are therefore qualified for continuous membership in the Ferrari family.

Today I am neither owner nor borrower, but more like an invited guest being treated to the once–in–a–lifetime thrill of driving the Ferrari California T along the Pacific Coast Highway and through the Malibu Hills. She’s everything that I thought she would be and much more. With a finely tuned, turbo–charged V–8 engine that can produce upwards of 500 horsepower, the California T offers seven speeds of seamless, rocket–like power that will take you from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds, if you are so inclined.

With a touch of a button, the hardtop convertible transforms the California T from a stately, racecar–like sedan into a topless touring ride with an oversized windscreen that provides plenty of protection from the wind so as not to muss up your hair. The two–plus seating configuration provides a back seat for children or adults on short rides and folds down to extend the trunk cargo space to accommodate longer items such as golf clubs or skis.

 As you ease into the sculpted leather driver’s seat of this beautiful machine, you notice that the two–tone dash is particularly simple, almost sparse, as most of the driver’s controls are located on the steering column, allowing you to keep your hands on the wheel at all times. Column stalks have been eliminated and paddle shifters offer a more manual driving experience and remain attached to the steering column—not the wheel itself, as in most vehicles—for easy up and down–shifting when desired.    

On the road, the California T growls with excitement as we head toward the ocean, cruising comfortably at city speeds, yet always ready and willing to jump at the chance to prove that its Formula One race car lineage is still very much a part of its DNA. We hit the open road and quickly pick up the pace to test the T’s ability to run. And true to its thoroughbred heritage, the car sprints quickly to the century mark with ease. We back off a bit to align with local traffic laws, our hearts pounding and eyes wide open, like a kid just off his first ride on a roller coaster. Wow… wow… WOW!

But the T is much more than a speedster, which becomes evident when we take on the tight twists and turns of the mountain roads. With a low center of gravity and Ferrari’s F1–Trac traction control, the vehicle is tuned to accelerate faster out of corners than previous models, providing a greater sense of security and stability on tight turns.

Innovation is everywhere in the California T, as Ferrari’s designers made certain that drivers have all the technological comforts, such as a 12–speaker JBL professional sound system, while never forgetting that owning a Ferrari is all about fun. With a starting MSRP of $198,973, our well–appointed date for the weekend carried significant options to push the total price tag to $270,839. As with all Ferraris, new or pre–owned, an exclusive seven–year scheduled maintenance program ensures that the car is being kept at peak performance and safety standards.

Yes, most definitely, I am in love… with the Ferrari California T.