One thing is undisputed, like its predecessor, this new Ferrari is eye-candy! Perhaps the high rear-end makes it difficult to see what's happening behind the car, but it does reduce the visual impact of the front-end, even though this is where a monster of a front-mid-mounted engine does its work.

Why a monster? This is a V8, but that's not all. Because all the crankshaft counterweights are on one plane (flat plane), it's anything but a growling American engine. This one has a racing soul, which according to the manufacturer produces 107 kW (145 hp) per litre, the highest in its class.

The only thing that would have prevented the total enthusiasm, would be the lack of sound given off by a high-revving concept. However, Ferrari says that particularly in this field a great deal of development work has been done. As far as relaxation is concerned, this is more something for business men and women with a high-pressure daily routine.

With Ferrari, the world of car-engines has taken an interesting development. Compared with a twelve-cylinder, the California T(urbo) has somewhat more torque, compared with the 2008 conventionally aspired engine even more than 250 Nm (49%). Having an emission value of 100 g/100 km less CO₂ compared with the twelve cylinder, the only difference is the sound, and at the moment, they're doing a lot of work on that.

The manufacturers always falls back on something new. Since the performance is continually increasing and the CO₂ emission values are constantly being reduced by the authorities, there is a new value, which shows the achieved results of the engine constructors in a better light: CO₂-emission through performance with the unit being g/hp (g/kW would have been better).

It's great to once again, hear something about MagnaRide. This is that phenomenally simple method of stiffening the shock absorbers. The unbelievable responsiveness has apparently, been increased by 50 percent. 02/14