By Ferrari standards, the California is a gentle supercar. It is easy to live with, and unlike Ferraris of the past it seems to be well suited for daily commutes.
Also by Ferrari standards, the car might seem like a soft option that threatens the Prancing Horse's image as a carmaker for performance purists.
But a £150,000 car that accelerates from nought to 60mph (0-100km/h) in just 3.8 seconds still delivers on Italian mountain roads, where precise cornering and controlled braking help its 490 horses keep up a steady canter towards the Ferrari factory in Maranello.
The California is a potent symbol of how Ferrari has changed since BBC News last visited Maranello in 2007, and inside the factory gates there are further signs of how the supercar company has evolved.
Much remains the same, of course, as Ferrari remains a virtually autonomous carmaker, complete with its own wind tunnel and a foundry that casts engine cases and parts such as cylinder heads.
But there are also signs of dramatic expansion, with the old assembly line having been replaced by an ultra-modern two-storey affair that offers both greater capacity and efficiency.
The cramped engine manufacturing operation, which also makes engines for Maserati, is also about to be replaced by a more modern operation in a building currently under construction.
New customers
New models such as the Ferrari FF have attracted new customers to the brand
The developments seen on the ground reflect how attitudes have changed in Maranello.
Until about a decade ago, Ferrari was deliberately limiting the number of cars it made to 4,000 in order to ensure the marque's exclusive image.
These days, the talk is instead of "different Ferraris for different Ferraristas", a reflection of the way the carmaker's model range has been extended to drive dramatic growth in sales.
"Ferrari does not have only one type of customer," says chief executive Amedeo Felisa in an interview with BBC News, pointing to how the California and the four-seater, four-wheel-drive FF model have helped attract a lot of new buyers to the marque.
Bolstered by these models' popularity, Ferrari's sales surged to almost 7,200 cars in 2011, along with record profits.
And judging by its recent performance, with new output and profit records hit for the first half of 2012, along with the ongoing investment in the assembly and engine plants, it seems clear the carmaker expects the growth to continue.
Hence, the V8-powered 458 Italia and 458 Spider models both represent dramatic efficiency improvements when compared with similar models from the past.
And the carmaker's latest V12-powered F12berlinetta supercar, which goes on sale this month, is not only 100kg lighter than its predecessor, the 599.
The F12 is also more powerful, with 730hp under the bonnet compared with the 599s 612hp, yet Ferrari says the F12 can deliver 18mpg (15.7l/100km) and carbon emissions of 350g/km - a 30% improvement over the 599.
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...And the Celebs have cashed in..
Also by Ferrari standards, the car might seem like a soft option that threatens the Prancing Horse's image as a carmaker for performance purists.
But a £150,000 car that accelerates from nought to 60mph (0-100km/h) in just 3.8 seconds still delivers on Italian mountain roads, where precise cornering and controlled braking help its 490 horses keep up a steady canter towards the Ferrari factory in Maranello.
Much remains the same, of course, as Ferrari remains a virtually autonomous carmaker, complete with its own wind tunnel and a foundry that casts engine cases and parts such as cylinder heads.
But there are also signs of dramatic expansion, with the old assembly line having been replaced by an ultra-modern two-storey affair that offers both greater capacity and efficiency.
The cramped engine manufacturing operation, which also makes engines for Maserati, is also about to be replaced by a more modern operation in a building currently under construction.
New customers
New models such as the Ferrari FF have attracted new customers to the brand
The developments seen on the ground reflect how attitudes have changed in Maranello.
Until about a decade ago, Ferrari was deliberately limiting the number of cars it made to 4,000 in order to ensure the marque's exclusive image.
These days, the talk is instead of "different Ferraris for different Ferraristas", a reflection of the way the carmaker's model range has been extended to drive dramatic growth in sales.
"Ferrari does not have only one type of customer," says chief executive Amedeo Felisa in an interview with BBC News, pointing to how the California and the four-seater, four-wheel-drive FF model have helped attract a lot of new buyers to the marque.
Bolstered by these models' popularity, Ferrari's sales surged to almost 7,200 cars in 2011, along with record profits.
And judging by its recent performance, with new output and profit records hit for the first half of 2012, along with the ongoing investment in the assembly and engine plants, it seems clear the carmaker expects the growth to continue.
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| It even comes with a power bike! |
And the carmaker's latest V12-powered F12berlinetta supercar, which goes on sale this month, is not only 100kg lighter than its predecessor, the 599.
The F12 is also more powerful, with 730hp under the bonnet compared with the 599s 612hp, yet Ferrari says the F12 can deliver 18mpg (15.7l/100km) and carbon emissions of 350g/km - a 30% improvement over the 599.
Click Here for further reading!
...And the Celebs have cashed in..
 |
| One of three Ferrari Californias owned by the radio presenter - the other two of a decidedly older vintage - this model really stands out thanks to its vivid yellow Giallo Modena finish and SPY 500 plate. It isn't Evans' first yellow Ferrari either, an equally bright 550 Maranello takes that honour. |
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