Dream machine: Ferrari California

For petrol heads the world over, 2009 promises to bring a whole host of spine-tingling super cars to a road near you. Top of the list is the Ferrari California.

September 2008 saw the launch of the much anticipated, Ferrari California. The rumour mill, of course, had started churning a couple of years ago as to what guise the 2008 car would take. To begin with it seemed Ferrari was planning a new base model sports car, ala the Dino of the 60’s and 70’s. Instead they opted for an entirely new route – a fusion of the best parts of its super cars and its grand tourers. At a price of £143,000, it is clearly not the base model. This price also brings it into a rather crowded market with competitors ranging from the Bentley Continental GTCs to the high end Mercs.

But we all know what fierce competitors the Italians can be. Despite it being designed for wider audience than most Ferraris, deep down it still prances with the same ferocity as its siblings. The 454 bhp V8 proves that.

It tops out at 193mph, the first 62 being ticked off in less than four seconds. It also boasts a few new technologies. The most obvious being the folding hardtop roof and arguably the most important being the twin clutch transmission designed to curb the hair raising feel of its F430 cousin and, coupled with the optional magnetic damper system, offers a more serene driving experience.