California is a rather hallowed name in Ferrari parlance. It harks back to the legendary 250GT of the Fifties, and the 365 California that came in the following decade. In 2008, Ferrari added the California model as a separate entry in its V8 convertible line-up. Sporting a four-seat cabin and retractable hardtop, the California is a more relaxed, grand-touring option to the Maranello automaker’s hardcore sports cars. This 2013 Ferrari California comes to you from Washington with a light 31,800 miles, and is ready for action.

Exterior and Interior

Styled by Pininfarina, the Ferrari California marked a number of firsts for Ferrari. Notably, it is the automaker’s first ever folding metal roof convertible. There are several more firsts that the California brought upon in the mechanicals department, that we shall discussion the Engine section. This particular 2013 Ferrari California wears a very un-Ferrari like black paintjob, which is great if you don’t want to drive a stereotypical red Ferrari. The exterior has been ceramic coated for added protection and the Ferrari badges have been blacked out. However, there’s still a splash of red in the brake calipers to remind you that Rosso Corsa (Racing Red) is intrinsic to Ferrari’s DNA. Venture aboard the black interior, and you are greeted with seating for four, including the luckiest of them all, the driver. However, the rear seats are more suited for children and smaller-built adults on shorter journeys. Front passengers get electrically adjustable seats, and there’s dual-zone climate control plus a Ferrari-branded touchscreen infotainment system. Moving on to the steering wheel, it features the engine start button, paddle shifters and the drive mode switch, known as the Manettino.

Engine

Let’s talk about the firsts that the California brought to Ferrari’s line-up under the skin. It’s the first Ferrari to pack a front-mounted V8, the first to feature a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the first to enjoy engine stop-start for better fuel economy, the first with direct gasoline injection, and the first to have multi-link rear suspension. That’s what makes this 2013 Ferrari California all the more special, and as for the engine, it’s the soulful F136 4.3L V8 that puts out 453hp at 7,750rpm and 358lb-ft at 5,000rpm. Drive goes to the rear wheels via the aforementioned gearbox. The performance figures are said to be a top speed of 193mph and zero to sixty in four seconds flat.