2013 Ferrari California

Ferrari California is the first ever front-engined and V8-powered chariot to wear the highly desired prancing horse badge. Ferrari recently updated this hardtop convertible with more power, a more aluminum-intensive chassis (resulting in a lower curb weight) and a Handling Speciale package. The California's direct-injected 4.3-liter V8 now makes 490 horsepower - an increase of 37 ponies - thanks to revised engine mapping and an upgraded exhaust manifold. Torque also grows from 357 lb-ft to 372 lb-ft.

All that power continues to be transmitted to the wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. This gearbox boasts shifts as quick as the automaker's earlier single-clutch gearboxes but with a much higher degree of refinement. Reigning in the momentum generated by the above-mentioned partners in crime are standard carbon ceramic brakes at all corners, which also keep the forged alloy wheels clean of brake dust.

Weight reduction isn't typically part of a mid-cycle refresh, but latest California arrives 66 pounds trimmer than the outgoing model. As a result of that increased power and reduced weight, the California now takes just 3.8 second to sprint from 0-62 - an improvement of 0.2 seconds. Ferrari was able to realize that weight-savings by using "cutting-edge aluminum fabrication techniques and construction technologies" in the making of the California's Maserati-based chassis. 2013 Ferrari California Engine View.

Interestingly, the California actually started life as a Maserati. It was developed under the codename M139 M for Maserati and was intended to complete Maserati's current lineup, giving the Italian Marque the Quattroporte sports sedan, the GranTurismo coupe and a hardtop convertible. After Ferrari's 2005 split from Maserati, the prancing horse automaker decided to keep the M139 program entirely for itself. As a result, the California rides on the GranTurismo platform.

The California boasts a hardtop convertible design that reduces wind noise and creates a more coupe-like aesthetic in the upright position, though it does weigh more than a traditional fabric top. For extra versatility, this GT sports a pair of cramped back seats that are better utilized for carrying luggage than passengers. An optional Handling Speciale package adds faster-acting Magnetorheological dampers, stiffer springs and a revised steering box with a 10 percent quicker steering ratio.

Source: http://www.leftlanenews.com/new-car-buying/ferrari/california/

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2013 Ferrari 458 Italia

Inside, the 458 Italia duo is luxurious and modern, though not particularly striking in terms of design, though the race-style seats will turn some heads. Ferrari forged no fundamentally new territory here, instead choosing to execute a handsome, simple, familiar interior. It's just behind that interior that the heart of the 458 lives, in the form of the 4.5-liter V-8 engine.

Rated at a stout 562 horsepower at the 9,000 rpm redline, and 400 pound-feet of torque, 80 percent of which is available from 3,250 rpm, the 458 Italia's V-8 is, in a word, magnificent. It's not the most powerful in the supercar world, but it's one of the most sonorous, and located right behind the passengers with only a thin divider between, it transforms from mellow and quiet to raucous and race-inspired with just a short sweep of the throttle pedal.

As the sound awakens, so does the speed, vaulting the 458 Italia forth in frenetic style, hitting 60 mph in under 3.4 seconds and carrying on to a top speed of 202 mph (or 198 mph for the Spider). Both the Spider and the standard 458 Italia use the same Getrag seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, inspired by Ferrari's F1 race cars. Gas mileage barely tips the 12 mpg city and 18 mpg highway mark.

Handling is, as you'd expect of a mid-engine Ferrari, remarkable. Balance, grip, and stability are all at such a high level that they can only be partially accessed on the street. Steering feel is almost otherworldly, communicating through the driver's hands with exquisite detail the surface of the road and the behavior of the tires, while requiring relatively light inputs.

 

The synergy of the engine, gearbox, suspension, chassis, and the overall setup of the 458 Italia makes it one of the most engaging, rewarding, and simply fun-to-drive cars on the planet. Safety is generally expected to be good, but Ferraris aren't often crash tested by the major rating bodies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

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