I would like to thank Ferrari for turbocharging the new Ferrari California T. The last time Ferrari used forced induction on a production car—the F40—I was too young to appreciate automobiles. Now, I’m old enough to soak up every angle, curve and statistic.
Speaking of angles and curves, the prancing horse’s new hardtop convertible was designed by the Ferrari Styling Centre and Pininfarina. Both studios were influenced by the pontoon fenders of the classic 250 Testa Rossa. I see hints of the F12berlinetta’s headlights, the FF’s front end and the 458 Speciale’s hood. The back end gets aggressive-looking quad pipes in a horizontal arrangement. The old pair of stacks looked novel, but not as purposeful as these.
Then there’s the statistics. Boy, does the new California have some good ones. Its blown 3.9-liter V8 creates 552 horsepower and 557 pound-feet (a staggering 49-percent increase in torque), while consuming 15 percent less fuel. Ferrari claims its new unit will have “virtually zero turbo lag” and “a torque curve that increases constantly across the rev range thanks to Variable Boost Management.” Sixty-two miles per hour will pass in 3.6 seconds, and the blast from the past will max out at 196 mph.
No word on the California T’s launch date, but it is on display at the Geneva International Motor Show.
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.
