For Arguably the most usable Ferrari ever. It's a coupe or a convertible thanks to its folding metal roof, a sports car or a grand tourer, vibrant and exciting or calm and refined.
Against As a two-plus-two it doesn't really work, so you might as well just accept it as a practical two-seater.
The first of the new-age Ferraris, designed to slash fuel consumption and CO2, be genuinely usable as an everyday car and to appeal to more people, especially women – and it succeeds just brilliantly.
So, has Ferrari copped out by launching the California, a car aimed at a different clientele (think Mercedes SL AMG or Porsche 911 T Convertible) to that it is used to dealing with? Not a bit of it.
The California may have a folding metal roof, a new V8 that puts flexibility ahead of brute power and a chassis set up to match its grand tourer characteristics, but you only have to hear the shrill bark of the engine above 4000rpm and you're left in no doubt who made it. You still get the Formula 1-derived traction control system and brakes, a paddle-shift gearbox and enough speed to send the magistrates weak at the knees.
It's just that it's all done in a package that reflects the age we now live in, with lower emissions and fuel consumption, a switchable two-seater or two-plus-two cabin, space for golf bags or skis, touch-screen sat-nav and an iPod connection.
Does any of that make it less of a Ferrari? No way.
Love it. Use it pretty much everyday to take my…
i bought one of these had it for one day came home…