Ferrari California... what do we think, chaps?
Discussion
A few styling details are very nice... but overall it is a big disappointment. A lot of styles clashing, the front is blah, the rear is a huge mess, tail pipes are way overdone...
Could have been a lot better... curious what it will look like with the roof up.
Great performance and technology though... 454bhp, 7 speed dual clutch, sub 4 second 0-60 time, etc.
It is a shame Ferrari has lost their way in styling. I am waiting for them to produce a truly beautiful car again... ala Vantage, Alfa 8C, etc.
Could have been a lot better... curious what it will look like with the roof up.
Great performance and technology though... 454bhp, 7 speed dual clutch, sub 4 second 0-60 time, etc.
It is a shame Ferrari has lost their way in styling. I am waiting for them to produce a truly beautiful car again... ala Vantage, Alfa 8C, etc.
Ferris Bueller will not be impressed. The original is achingly beautiful and timeless. This one is not.
When did Ferrari lose the ability to make really pretty cars? I personally think it was around the time of the F355/F456. Fezzas went downhill from there. F550 not as nice, F360 less attractive, F575 not as good as the 550, Enzo a bit hideous, F430 not as nice as the 360, F612 pig ugly FXX frightful. Things have been improving but from a low base. F599 is better than a 612 (but not as good as a 360 or 550) and this new one looks better than the 599. But it still looks fugly compared to the current crop of Astons (but then what doesn't)- very fussy lines, over-styled vs the simple lines of a DB9, looks too tall, Peugeot grille at the front (though to be fair, it echoes the original California).
It's also the first Ferrari that will not be built at Maranello, uses a Maser / Alfa platform. Cue the Ferrari aficionados crying - "it's not a real Ferrari".
When did Ferrari lose the ability to make really pretty cars? I personally think it was around the time of the F355/F456. Fezzas went downhill from there. F550 not as nice, F360 less attractive, F575 not as good as the 550, Enzo a bit hideous, F430 not as nice as the 360, F612 pig ugly FXX frightful. Things have been improving but from a low base. F599 is better than a 612 (but not as good as a 360 or 550) and this new one looks better than the 599. But it still looks fugly compared to the current crop of Astons (but then what doesn't)- very fussy lines, over-styled vs the simple lines of a DB9, looks too tall, Peugeot grille at the front (though to be fair, it echoes the original California).
It's also the first Ferrari that will not be built at Maranello, uses a Maser / Alfa platform. Cue the Ferrari aficionados crying - "it's not a real Ferrari".
I think there are two different ways of looking at this. First I've studied the pictures and do think that despite thinking 'wow' after an initial brief scan like all good Petrol Heads I then start looking harder and being more picky over a lot of the details. However the reality is that if this car was on my drive and if it drives as well as my F430 then, frankly, I'd be a very very happy bunny. I was - and still can be - critical about areas of the F430's styling but having owned one do you know what - they somehow melted away.
Given I've got one on order lets hope I'm right!!
Given I've got one on order lets hope I'm right!!
AstonZagato said:
Ferris Bueller will not be impressed. The original is achingly beautiful and timeless. This one is not.
When did Ferrari lose the ability to make really pretty cars? I personally think it was around the time of the F355/F456. Fezzas went downhill from there. F550 not as nice, F360 less attractive, F575 not as good as the 550, Enzo a bit hideous, F430 not as nice as the 360, F612 pig ugly FXX frightful. Things have been improving but from a low base. F599 is better than a 612 (but not as good as a 360 or 550) and this new one looks better than the 599. But it still looks fugly compared to the current crop of Astons (but then what doesn't)- very fussy lines, over-styled vs the simple lines of a DB9, looks too tall, Peugeot grille at the front (though to be fair, it echoes the original California).
It's also the first Ferrari that will not be built at Maranello, uses a Maser / Alfa platform. Cue the Ferrari aficionados crying - "it's not a real Ferrari".
I agree, they have stepped too far from their core range with this one (anyone think that this looks a little too much like a Corvette?) but I think you are being a little blinkered; the early 575s weren't that great but with the Fiorano or even better, HGTC pack, they were a good step on from a 550. I've rarely driven anything so powerful that was so unintimidating. Also, it got much the same reaction as I've had in any Aston and as long as it isn't yellow or red, it is relatively understated. When did Ferrari lose the ability to make really pretty cars? I personally think it was around the time of the F355/F456. Fezzas went downhill from there. F550 not as nice, F360 less attractive, F575 not as good as the 550, Enzo a bit hideous, F430 not as nice as the 360, F612 pig ugly FXX frightful. Things have been improving but from a low base. F599 is better than a 612 (but not as good as a 360 or 550) and this new one looks better than the 599. But it still looks fugly compared to the current crop of Astons (but then what doesn't)- very fussy lines, over-styled vs the simple lines of a DB9, looks too tall, Peugeot grille at the front (though to be fair, it echoes the original California).
It's also the first Ferrari that will not be built at Maranello, uses a Maser / Alfa platform. Cue the Ferrari aficionados crying - "it's not a real Ferrari".
I agree with you about 355 being the last 'pretty' Ferrari, and the accompanying 456 and 550 gave Ferrari a very good looking, elegant range in the mid-late 90s/early 00s. However, things have to move on, and Ferrari have done that to a far greater extent than Aston. The basic lines of the DB7 have not changed that much on newer models, which I think is unacceptable after 15 odd years.
I have been in a few 612s, and it is a car that grows on you, rather than being instantly seductive. In my mind, that tends to make a design philosophy last much longer than one that is instantly easy to appreciate but easily forgettable.
Re the FXX, Enzo and F430, you can't disregard the fact that these cars (599 also included) are more function over form than Aston which shows just how far they've moved the game on in technology-wise as well. And, the way the F430 has moved things on since the 360 is incredible. Pretty it might not be, but the technical features incorporated in its design will never make it boring to look at, regardless of personal taste.
NDA said:
Just in terms of style, I found myself staring at those pictures and thinking 'what's not to like?'.
I'm not a Ferrari person - never owned one - but that looks very beautiful. I'm still sort of tempted by the 599 too but am currently poor.
'ish.'
Having glanced at your profile I was preparing a witty retort but then noticed the 'ish'. Made me chortle that. How goes sales of the Big Issue?I'm not a Ferrari person - never owned one - but that looks very beautiful. I'm still sort of tempted by the 599 too but am currently poor.
'ish.'
AKA8 said:
AstonZagato said:
Ferris Bueller will not be impressed. The original is achingly beautiful and timeless. This one is not.
When did Ferrari lose the ability to make really pretty cars? I personally think it was around the time of the F355/F456. Fezzas went downhill from there. F550 not as nice, F360 less attractive, F575 not as good as the 550, Enzo a bit hideous, F430 not as nice as the 360, F612 pig ugly FXX frightful. Things have been improving but from a low base. F599 is better than a 612 (but not as good as a 360 or 550) and this new one looks better than the 599. But it still looks fugly compared to the current crop of Astons (but then what doesn't)- very fussy lines, over-styled vs the simple lines of a DB9, looks too tall, Peugeot grille at the front (though to be fair, it echoes the original California).
It's also the first Ferrari that will not be built at Maranello, uses a Maser / Alfa platform. Cue the Ferrari aficionados crying - "it's not a real Ferrari".
I agree, they have stepped too far from their core range with this one (anyone think that this looks a little too much like a Corvette?) but I think you are being a little blinkered; the early 575s weren't that great but with the Fiorano or even better, HGTC pack, they were a good step on from a 550. I've rarely driven anything so powerful that was so unintimidating. Also, it got much the same reaction as I've had in any Aston and as long as it isn't yellow or red, it is relatively understated. When did Ferrari lose the ability to make really pretty cars? I personally think it was around the time of the F355/F456. Fezzas went downhill from there. F550 not as nice, F360 less attractive, F575 not as good as the 550, Enzo a bit hideous, F430 not as nice as the 360, F612 pig ugly FXX frightful. Things have been improving but from a low base. F599 is better than a 612 (but not as good as a 360 or 550) and this new one looks better than the 599. But it still looks fugly compared to the current crop of Astons (but then what doesn't)- very fussy lines, over-styled vs the simple lines of a DB9, looks too tall, Peugeot grille at the front (though to be fair, it echoes the original California).
It's also the first Ferrari that will not be built at Maranello, uses a Maser / Alfa platform. Cue the Ferrari aficionados crying - "it's not a real Ferrari".
I agree with you about 355 being the last 'pretty' Ferrari, and the accompanying 456 and 550 gave Ferrari a very good looking, elegant range in the mid-late 90s/early 00s. However, things have to move on, and Ferrari have done that to a far greater extent than Aston. The basic lines of the DB7 have not changed that much on newer models, which I think is unacceptable after 15 odd years.
I have been in a few 612s, and it is a car that grows on you, rather than being instantly seductive. In my mind, that tends to make a design philosophy last much longer than one that is instantly easy to appreciate but easily forgettable.
Re the FXX, Enzo and F430, you can't disregard the fact that these cars (599 also included) are more function over form than Aston which shows just how far they've moved the game on in technology-wise as well. And, the way the F430 has moved things on since the 360 is incredible. Pretty it might not be, but the technical features incorporated in its design will never make it boring to look at, regardless of personal taste.
Edited by AstonZagato on Wednesday 14th May 15:16
Awful, and I like Ferraris rather a lot. Their styling took a nosedive after the 550, really. It's just incredibly tacky. I don't think that even if I was in the fortunate position of being able to own a Ferrari I'd want to buy one. Their brand image is atrocious nowadays, far worse than even the height of the '80s stockbroker type preconceptions. The 612 is the best of a bad bunch, but is only desirable to me because it smacks of old money in the way none of the rest of the range can: it's all logos and electronic gizmos and lack of passion. I'd feel like a t
t driving that full stop, let alone with the roof down, whereas I can't imagine a Vantage inspiring anything other than a thumbs up.
t driving that full stop, let alone with the roof down, whereas I can't imagine a Vantage inspiring anything other than a thumbs up.Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff