Ignition Drives the Ferrari California T Handling Speciale
By Kelly G.
Host Jonny Lieberman sets out to find if the latest Ferrari is worthy of being a California Special.
More from Art of Gears
- 3 Reasons the 2024 Mazda CX-50 Is Among the Best Small SUVs
- The Jeep Renegade Is Discontinued: Here’s a Look at Its Legacy
- 2023 Nissan Armada: A Decent Full Size SUV With 1 Glaring Issue
- Best Minivans: 3 Options for Families With Solid Performance
- Here’s Why the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E Is So Popular
Being a native of Southern California, I have always enjoyed seeing a Ferrari California cruising the streets of SoCal. There is just something about that car that puts a smile on my face. Maybe it’s the beautiful lines, that convertible top, or just the fact that it wears the name “California” on the badge. It seems perfect for a proper drive along the PCH. But let’s be honest. The Ferrari California has always been known as kind of a “tame” Ferrari. Not because the older model lacked any power. The previous model packed a 438hp V-8 engine, but it just left most true Ferrari lovers wanting more.
Well now that the new 2017 Ferrari California T Convertible has hit the market, I want one even more. And leave it to Ferrari to “beef up” the performance enough to be worthy of the Ferrari name. The 2017 California comes with an all-new 3.9-liter twin turbo V-8 producing 552 hp and 557 lb-ft of torque. The seven-speed twin-clutch automatic transmission is the only available gearbox but in my opinion, is just about perfect for those weekend runs to Palm Springs. Still not sold? Well, for those of you that demand getting the most out of your weekend warriors, Ferrari is also introducing a new Handling Speciale (HS) package for its California T. For a mere $8,120, the HS option includes retuned magnetorheological dampers and a revised spring rate which is 16 percent stiffer up front and 19 percent at the rear. The HS package also replaces the standard mufflers with straight-through pipes attached to a Helmholtz resonator which effectively opens up the exhaust to deliver more power and an aggressive tone.
2017 Ferrari California (Photo YouTube)
The video starts off overlooking the city of Genoa, Italy and man does it make you want to drive one. Check it out for yourself and let us know what you think.