FerrariCalifornia

Ferrari California by Novitec Rosso

Some look at a Ferrari and see the be-all-and-end-all of automotive perfection. Others see room for improvement. For the latter group, there's a variety of aftermarket tuners happy to oblige, and one of them is called Novitec Rosso.

The Dutch tuning garage recently graced us with its own take on the 599 GTB Fiorano, and has now turned its attention to its kid brother, the Ferrari California. Starting with the stock V8 convertible, Novitec has revised the engine management module to boost power up to an even 500hp, fitted a carbon-fiber aerodynamic kit, 22-inch modular wheels with Pirelli tires, an adjustable suspension system and a wide array of interior customization options. Pricing depends entirely on the buyer, but when you're talking about a Ferrari – a convertible one, no less – the sky really is the limit.

Gallery: Novitec Rosso Ferrari California

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Usain Bolt Shops for a Ferrari

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Celebrity Shopping

Fast men need fast cars. Take Usain Bolt, for example. In terms of runners, he's the fastest man in the world. He holds multiple Olympic gold medals, along with the records for the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and the 400-meter relay. Unfortunately his speed doesn't seem to translate to driving skills, and the "Lightning Bolt" reportedly flipped his BMW M3 right off the highway. So what is he looking for now? A Ferrari California. The Jamaican sprinter was seen shopping for the Italian roadster recently. If he decides to buy, we're sure he's got the cash on hand, but he might want to take some driving lessons first.

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Tags: bolt, ferrari, ferrari california, FerrariCalifornia, spas-awards, usain, usain bolt, usain bolt ferrari california, UsainBolt, UsainBoltFerrariCalifornia

George Michael Celebrates Getting His License Back In Style

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Celebrity Shopping

Singer George Michael is back behind the wheel after a two-year driving ban and he's celebrating in grand style. WENN caught him taking delivery of his new baby, a $200,000 Ferrari California. Michael lost his license in 2007 after being found slumped behind the wheel of his car. He pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of marijuana. Although there is a three-year waiting list for these cars since they were announced, George Michael may have jumped the list a bit to get his new toy.

The first example of the Ferrari California was sold during its American unveiling in Santa Monica in 2008 for a top bid of $520,000.

The California takes inspiration from classic Ferrari designs from the 1950s but with a modern Pininfarina spin. Under the hood there is a direct-inject, 460-hp version of the company's 4.3L V8. It is a performance machine but with a little more room and a more street-friendly style than some other Ferraris. The car goes from 0-60 miles per hour in under four seconds.

Gallery: Ferrari California

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Tags: ferrari california, FerrariCalifornia, george michael, GeorgeMichael

Big Auto Auction Has Disappointing Results

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

For a while now, classic cars, like other auction markets have been going up, up, up. But has an end been reached. A 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder was expected to be a big seller at the Automobiles of London event held by RM Auctions and comprehensively delineated by my colleague Jared Paul Stern earlier this month.

After all the red beauty is one of the last three short-wheel-base examples of the 250 GT California Spyder built and is was driven by Cameron Diaz in a ``Charlie's Angels'' movie. It had a presale estimate of 3 million pounds ($5 million) and as Bloomberg reports it didn't sell. The sale, which was held in association with Sotheby's, raised 14.7 million pounds way short of the low estimate of 20 million and also off of the 18 million pounds the sale earned last year.

Right after the ``Charlie's Angels'' Spyder failed to sell a silver 1997 McLaren F1 sports car sold for 2.5 million pounds, more than double its 1.1 million-pound low estimate. Overall though the news wasn't promising and 30 percent of the 129 lots were unsold. The auction house had asked some consignors before the sale to cut the reserve prices on their lots, predicting a poor sale to the economy. Some agreed to make an adjustment. Another item in the sale, a blue 1955 Ford Thunderbird, once owned by Hollywood actor John Travolta, who starred in the 1950s-inspired movie ``Grease,'' sold for 18,700 pounds against expectations of 20,000 pounds-to-30,000 pounds.

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Tags: ferrari, ferrari california, FerrariCalifornia, rm auctions, RmAuctions

The Ferrari California Wows Them In Paris

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Our sister site Autoblog is at the Paris Motor Show checking out the newest models. One of the most anticipated is the Ferrari California. The California is a new design that takes inspiration from classic Ferrari designs from the 1950s but with a modern Pininfarina spin. Under the hood there is a direct-inject, 460-hp version of the company's 4.3L V8. It is a performance machine but with a little more room and a more street-friendly style than some other Ferraris. So far the public seems to approve, the retractable-hardtop GT is already sold out until 2011.

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Tags: ferrari, ferrari california, FerrariCalifornia, sports car, SportsCar