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Marton Pettendy5 Feb 2014
NEWS

New Ferrari California countdown commences

Prancing Horse to reveal first turbo model in more than two decades next week

Ferrari has all but confirmed it is just a week away from revealing a heavily upgraded California, its first turbocharged model since the F40 built between 1987 and 1992.

The Italian supercar brand this week issued a press invitation to the world premiere of the “149M PROJECT” next Wednesday (February 12), ahead of its global public debut at the Geneva motor show on March 4.

The existing California, first launched in 2009, is known internally by the F149 codename and Ferrari has previous used the ‘M’ suffix (denoting Modificado) to designate previous model upgrades -- including the F430 (codenamed F136M), which was derived from the Ferrari 360 (codenamed F136).

Therefore the 149M is expected to be a replacement for the five-year-old California, which is Ferrari’s first coupe-convertible and first front-engined V8.

Released in Australia with the option of a fuel-saving idle-stop system dubbed HELE in May 2011 (pictured), the $459,295 California is positioned below the 458 Italia coupe ($525,417) and introduced a number of other Ferrari firsts, including a folding hard-top roof, dual-clutch transmission and direct fuel-injection.

As we reported in December, however, Ferrari CEO Amadeo Felisa has confirmed a facelifted California will be released this year, powered by a reworked version of the twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8 seen in Maserati’s new Quattroporte sedan, which was released here last month.

Marking the release of the first turbocharged Ferrari for 27 years – and the first turbocharged mainstream Ferrari ever -- the engine is expected to be accompanied by major cosmetic upgrades, although the model is likely to retain the California name.

The twin-turbo V8, which Ferrari already assembles for its Maserati sister brand at Maranello, is expected to receive a substantial power hike for the California, which is currently powered by a naturally aspirated 338kW/485Nm 4.3-litre V8.

It produces 390kW/650Nm in the Quattroporte but could deliver more than 400kW in the 2014 California.

Matched with an upgraded seven-speed dual-clutch transaxle, Ferrari’s cheapest model is therefore expected to improve on its predecessor’s 3.8-second 0-100km/h split and 312km/h top speed, thus moving one step closer to the performance of the 425kW/540Nm 4.5-litre V8-powered 458 coupe.

Motoring.com.au understands Ferrari dealers are already taking orders for the upgraded California, ahead of first deliveries around mid-year.

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