“I’ve spent hours with this car driving it up and down Italy and think it is by far the most comfortable car in the Ferrari stable to drive on an everyday basis” says the instructor calmly carving his way through the esses at Kyalami while I’m being thrown around in the passenger seat. Having spent a day with Ferrari California recently I would’ve agreed sooner had he made the statement a minute earlier while we were still trundling out of the pit area.
I’m riding shotgun with none other that 2011 FIA GT3 champion Federico Leo, who is also a Corso Pilota precision driving instructor with the Italian brand – flown in especially from Europe to show us media rookies exactly how it’s done.
Slightly enhanced looks, and ability
But this isn’t the same Ferrari California that I drove in Cape Town with the rest of the CAR team (see June 2013 issue). No, this particular example had been kitted out with the Handling Speciale package, which includes “Magnetorheological” dampers that are managed by a 50 per cent faster ECO, with stiffer springs and a quicker steering ratio.
Certain trim elements allude to this car’s uniqueness, and also demonstrates a generous dip into the marque’s personalization programme for this car. Optional 20-inch alloys have been fitted, as well carbon-fibre “gills” in the front fender, and carbon-fibre door handles. Even the side-skirts are crafted out of the ultra-light, ultra-strong and ultra-expensive material.
My turn…
Back in the pit complex, Federico and I swop seats for my own laps around the 4,2 km circuit. Familiar with the layout of the cabin, I quickly get comfortable behind the wheel – though I must admit to feeling slightly disappointed when the driver’s seat didn’t drop as far I would have liked when heading out onto a race track.
Gentle helpings of throttle saw me easily join the track, heading into turn 1. In comfort mode, the Ferrari California is as cosseting and competent as any other GT cruiser. The ride is a lot more compliant than expected with the low profile 20-inch rubber wrapped around the optional alloys, but then of course Kyalami’s surface is a lot more forgiving than a number of other local circuits.
Nevertheless, satisfied with the basic setting I turned the Mannetino switch to sport mode, and attacked turns 6 and 7 in the same fashion as my passenger had demonstrated just minutes earlier. Immediately, I detect less roll and sharper reactions to steering input. Running up to turn 8, a blind approach leading into a tight left hander, I also noted that the throttle is quicker to unleash all 490 horses (360 kW) too while spooling the V8 up to 7 800 r/min.
While the California’s dual-clutch transmission is actually well suited to hard driving in full automatic mode, I made use of the manual override via the paddle shifters anyway. I was impressed with the downshift blips while the Prancing Horse’s hooves dug into the tarmac under braking – calling on most of what the 390 mm front and 360 mm rear discs have to offer.
I was enthralled by the thoroughly engaging experience, and was tempted to turn switch on the steering wheel one more notch to its race setting, but reason and my lack of Federico’s skill got the better of me (the fear of no nanny keep the 505 N.m of torque in check might also have had something to do with it), and I coasted another lap before pulling into the pits
Verdict
The obvious benefits of the Handling Speciale package sees to the grievances that the world’s motoring press had with the Ferrari California’s less than pin-sharp ride and handling characteristics. But to be completely honest I’m not sure that most California owners will opt for it. The need for competition-like abilities is lost in real-world driving conditions in a “fast cruiser” – as the CAR team recently discovered after our day with the California and its FF and 458 Spider siblings. Still, on an ideal day, with ideal conditions (i.e. a track day) there is little that can match a Prancing Horse at full gallop for driving thrills.
You can also read about the team’s day with three Ferraris in Cape Town in the June issue of CAR, the last feature scribed by Hannes Oosthuizen.
