Every once in a while, a car comes along that really shocks us. Cars like the Bugatti Veyron and the Melling Hellcat, cars that are not only built for speed, but also for comfort. The Ford GT was a perfect example of this, Top Gear proved its usefulness in the epic voyage to southern France a few years ago. In fact, Jeremy Clarkson liked it so much, he went and bought one. Now however, we have another contender. Ferrari have stepped up to the mark with the California, their new Grand Tourer for the modern age. So, I’ve been snooping around to see whats what.
The California is being hailed by Ferrari as the car to carry on the company’s traditions of powerful, luxury models. Ever since the famous 612 Scaglietti, the company has been working on improving this rapidly-developing area of the market. The California has been designed to just keep going, and going, and going. It is the kind of car that could quite easily travel across entire continents without breaking down, or even needing to stop at all. However, as is the way with such cars, they very rarely live up to the hype of the company. In the course of testing the vehicle, some catastrophic fault usually becomes apparent, some feature that either doesn’t work properly, or simply doesn’t work at all. And of course the California is no exception; it has one simple flaw that could very easily spell the downfall of its creators. It is hideous.
Even though the engine powering the California is the company’s new V8, and even though it can sprint from 0-60 in 4 seconds, I can’t help feeling a prang of intense disappointment every time I see it. Yes it may have a 7 speed dual clutch transmission, but to be honest even if you have all this power under the engine, and trust me, there is a lot of power, if the car looks like the rear end of a Rhinoceros it simply is not going to sell. The California just isn’t a Ferrari, it may be a car it may be a very good car, but it just doesn’t carry the same sense of occasion that Ferrari’s usually do. Think back to their last “big” car, the Enzo. When you were driving that you didn’t feel like you were heading to a party, you felt like you had already arrived. The California doesn’t give you that same sense of satisfaction, it is, and there is no other phrase for it, just a car.
The problem is that for me, Ferrari simply aren’t trying any more, they’ve given up and as such are making cars that are sub-standard to the golden boys of the company’s past, cars like the 599 GTB Fiorano and the Dino. Cars that weren’t just cars, they were gods. But now, all the company seems to be interested in is making money, they’ve lost their passion, and they’ve lost their soul. What Ferrari need to realise is that people don’t buy their cars because they are either very very fast or very very expensive. People buy a Ferrari because it is a Ferrari, and with that comes a certain heritage, a certain sense of style that just doesn’t come with any normal car. Porsche has the same appeal, so does Noble. If you buy a car from any of these companies you are assured that you are buying into a very special breed, a racing pedigree that will very rarely disappoint, and will never fail to impress.
So I have a message then for Ferrari. Stop messing about, stop making rubbish, and start giving us some of the passion back. Start making cars that we might actually want to buy. The California is a disappointment, there is no mistake about that, but hopefully, next time around, Ferrari won’t just make a car, they’ll make it with love, and as a result; give us something truly special.
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