Ferrari is known for building staggeringly fast, red cars that only the wealthy few can afford. Their vehicles’ interiors are lined in creamy, painstakingly crafted leather.
The Italian speed machines are also dense with sophisticated technology, such as magnetorheological suspensions, side slip angle control, electronic differentials and dual-clutch transmissions. It makes perfect sense to take in the sights of the new Ferrari California T with some equally tech-rich headgear.
Recently, a gentleman with no sense of self-consciousness put on Google’s $1,500 specs to attend the world premiere of the new 552-horsepower tin-top convertible, which we told you about, here. After the artificial fog dies down in the Enzo Ferrari Museum, he reaches out to touch the new California T’s 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8. Good thinking.
He then gives us an eyeful of the baby prancing horse’s cockpit. The prominent tachometer’s needle will saw its way deep into the rev range as the vehicle goes from standing still to 62 miles per hour in 3.6 seconds.
The video ends with the cameraman opening the trunk to give us a glimpse of the open-air Ferrari’s custom luggage set.
If you’re upset that you can’t buy one of the cars in the clip, look on the bright side. Google Glass is more attainable… Relatively. It will cost you $1,500 (plus tax) to look like you’re from the future.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
