Bueller? Bueller?

Anyone here remember Ferris Bueller’s Day Off?

That movie featured many memorable items. The first that comes to my mind, however, is the famous scene in which a Ferrari 250 GT California goes flying backwards through the window of Cameron’s dad’s garage. Of course, it was no real 250 GT; the car featured in the movie was actually a Ford Mustang with a special body kit. However, the 250 GT California is a real Ferrari, and perhaps one of the most well known (and best looking) Ferraris ever made.

Of course, Ferrari never likes to let a good car go by the wayside (think Superamerica), and so they have revamped their famous 60’s roadster and embodied its essence in something fully modern: the new 2009 Ferrari California. With that name, I like it already.

My God, she’s a gorgeous girl.

Let me try and explain the gravity of what Ferrari has done with the design of the new California: they have taken every palm tree, every sunset, every Pacific Coast Highway, every sea breeze, every beautiful beach and every spot of perfect weather, and infused it into this car. It’s a different look from other Ferraris like the 599 GTB Fiorino, the 599 GTO (from Vandenbrink), or even the original 250 GT California. This car is to Ferrari as Lamborghini is to Audi: it’s over the top, and built to theme.

There isn’t a whole lot of information out yet about the new California. The car does not get officially unveiled to the public until the Paris International Auto Show, but the boys from Modena have been nice enough to provide us with a press release, containing (among other things) the following:

The new Ferrari California will satisfy even the most demanding of owners in term of its superb vehicle dynamics and driving pleasure. The new model will be available exclusively as a convertible with a folding hard top. Both chassis and bodywork are aluminium, in line with the rest of the current range. The California will be powered by a new V8 engine mounted for the first time in the marque’s history in the mid-front position.

Yes; in case you haven’t noticed, there isn’t enough room behind the seats to mount an engine (at least not a V8). Instead, the engine is mounted just like in the 612 Scaglietti: in the front.

In line with Ferrari tradition, the new model also features several innovations. Apart from its folding hard top, these include the original 2+ concept which guarantees exceptional versatility of use in the rear of the car. The California’s 4,300 cc V8 engine features direct fuel injection and a “flat” crankshaft. It generates 460 CV at 7,500 rpm with a torque curve that enhances vehicle dynamics and provides maximum driving pleasure which is typical for Ferrari. As per the traditional Ferrari transaxle layout, the engine, which allows the Ferrari California to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 4.0 seconds, will be coupled to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission that boosts the car’s performance while enhancing the driving pleasure, improves ride comfort and reduces fuel consumption and emissions (c.310 g/km CO2).

So, the new Ferrari California might turn out to be both a looker and a performance powerhouse… but really, would we expect anything else from a car with such a name?

Photos courtesy Serious Wheels.