There is no doubt that when it comes to exotic cars, The Ferrari is the most iconic. Even if it is done subconsciously, we compare every engine rev to the sound a Ferrari makes. As a culture, we dream about driving these cars, about having the money to own one, about how much better our lives would be if we sat behind the wheel…but why is Ferrari so popular, and does it live up to the hype?

     Ferrari and Formula One

     In order to understand the popularity of Ferrari, one must know the company’s history. It was founded in 1928 by Enzo Ferrari, and originally it manufactured only race cars, and sponsored race car drivers. This continued for nearly twenty years, when the first Ferrari road care was produced, but even then, rumor has it that Enzo Ferrari was concerned that people were buying his cars for the prestige of owning a vehicle so closely connected to the Formula One circuit,
than for the car’s ability to perform well.

     In fact, Formula One success may well be the root of the Ferrari’s appeal to the general public. After all, the company debuted in the first year Formula One racing even existed. The Ferrari team won the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix (part of that year’s Formula One World Championship), dominated the 1952 season, and took the championship in the 1953 season, then continued to be highly successful in Formula One racing throughout the next fifty years, and in the early part
of the twenty-first century.

    Today, amidst controversy over budget caps for Formula One teams, there is concern that the series may not be able to even survive without Ferrari’s presence, though Max Mosely, FIA president, said last week that in the Financial Times that,  “The sport could survive without Ferrari.” He added, however, that, "It would be very, very sad to lose Ferrari. It is the Italian national team."

    Celebrity Drivers

    Even people who have zero interest in Formula One racing still love Ferraris, and one of the factors contributing to that love may be the number of  famous Ferrari drivers. Who could forget watching Tom Selleck driving along the coast in Magnum, P.I., for example, or disagree when Top Gear  host Jeremy Clarkson refers to the F430 as his favorite car. And let’s not forget that famous Ferrari fans include celebrities as diverse as Brigitte Bardot, Steve McQueen,
Wyclef Jean, and Seal.

   Clearly, there is a sort of “elite by association” fascination attached to these cars. But do they live up to the hype?

   The 2009 Ferrari F430

   If the 2009 Ferrari F430 is anything to judge by, we think Ferraris are worth the hype, and the price. Here are just some of the features of the new model:

-   Like most Ferraris, it’s largely hand-built.

-   A personalization program that offers 16 exterior colors, 12 leather colors, and eight carpet choices.

-   A nearly-flat back window, which allows the V-8 engine to be seen from outside the car.

-   A specially designed flat underbody which helps off-set the extreme lack of ground clearance.

-   Long nacelles behind the seats in the convertible version extend into the rear deck of the car, flanking the engine-viewing panel.

-   Interior customization options that include a choice of aluminum or carbon fiber inserts

-   A cheery red start button for the engine, with paddle controls for the automatic gearbox on F1 models.

-    4.3 liter V-8 engine providing 490 horsepower (at 8, 500 rpm) and 342 pounds/feet of torque (at 5,250 rpm).

-   Choice of a traditional six-speed manual or six-speed sequential manual transmission.

-   Acceleration from zero to 62 mph in 4 seconds.

      Does all this come with a hefty price tag? Yes. The base model starts at $186,925. Insuring  your  Ferrari also comes with at quite a price. But is it worth it? Is any Ferrari worth it? Consider this: when you buy a Ferrari, you are not paying for a mere car. You are paying for the legacy of more than fifty years of Formula One racing. You
are paying for the legendary drivers who have gone before you, both on the track, and on Hollywood Boulevard. You are also paying for the performance that comes with Italian fine-tuning, and a hand-built car. Finally you are paying for the personalization that makes every Ferrari unique.

   Power. Prestige. Performance. Personalization: These are the things that make us love Ferraris, and these are the reasons such cars do live up to their hype.

See here a few pictures …

If you like Ferrari California and you need a mobile wallpapers with this now model then you can choose one from here…

176×220 mobile wallpapers with Ferrari California:

240×320 mobile wallpapers with Ferrari California:

NEW FERRARI CALIFORNIA REVEALED: A HUGELY VERSATILE, INNOVATION-PACKED GT

The Ferrari California joins the Prancing Horse’s 8-cylinder family which has always been defined by power and performance. It also flanks the flagship 612 Scaglietti in the prestige sporty Grand Tourer segment.
The new Ferrari California will satisfy even the most demanding of owners in term of its superb vehicle dynamics and driving pleasure. The new model will be available exclusively as a convertible with a folding hard top. Both chassis and bodywork are aluminium, in line with the rest of the current range. The California will be powered by a new V8 engine mounted for the first time in the marque’s history in the mid-front
position.
In line with Ferrari tradition, the new model also features several innovations. Apart from its folding hard top, these include the original 2+ concept which guarantees exceptional versatility of use in the rear of the car. The California’s 4,300 cc V8 engine features direct fuel injection and a “flat” crankshaft. It generates 460 CV at 7,500 rpm with a torque curve that enhances vehicle dynamics and provides maximum driving
pleasure which is typical for Ferrari.
As per the traditional Ferrari transaxle layout, the engine, which allows the Ferrari California to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 4.0 seconds, will be coupled to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission that boosts the car’s performance while enhancing the driving pleasure, improves ride comfort and reduces fuel consumption and emissions (c.310 g/km CO2). The comfort is further enhanced by a new multilink rear suspension system. The Ferrari California is also equipped with the exclusive F1-Trac traction control system which made its debut on the 599 GTB Fiorano and has been further honed to suit the typical driving conditions expected for this new GT. Brembo brakes featuring carbon-ceramic material disks as standard guarantee superbly efficient braking.
In addition to sporting the marque’s classic styling cues, the cabin has also been beautifully trimmed using quality materials by Ferrari’s own skilled artisans. New accessories and equipment, such as the seats, steering wheel, instrument panel and infotainment system, together with optimised aerodynamics ensure that this is a highly ergonomic and enjoyable car to drive regardless of whether the top is up or down.

The Ferrari California is aimed at owners who desire a car which embodies everything the Prancing Horse represents in terms of sporty design and innovation, but also seek a car with greater versatility than ever.

The Fastest Ever Road Going Ferrari: Enzo

Buyers will be invited to the Ferrari factory to have the cockpit of their car tailored to their specific needs. There will be a choice of four width fittings for both the cushion and backrest of the leather trimmed multi-adjustable Sparco seats. The position of the accelerator and brake pedals can be adjusted fore and aft – and sideways to accommodate drivers who prefer to use left-foot braking.

Base Price: 2002 Ferrari Enzo - Approx. $1,000,000 (last update: 2/21/2007)

Power and Glory

The Enzo Ferrari has the engine in a compartment behind the driver — the mid-engine design that is almost universal among high-performance supercars.

The engine itself, which was designed specifically for this car, is a 366-cubic-inch (6.0 liter), aluminum-block V-12, with four valves per cylinder. It cranks out 660 horsepower at 7,800 RPM, and goes from zero to 100 mph (161 kph) in 6.6 seconds. The top speed is estimated at 217 mph, a speed few owners will ever reach. With a compression ratio of 11.2:1, the Enzo needs some high-octane fuel to run properly — just another symptom of its F1 heritage. A dry-sump lubrication system keeps everything running smoothly.

Despite stripping away many of the comforts associated with luxury cars (the Enzo has no radio), the Enzo is not the lightest car in the world. Its curb weight of 3,009 pounds (1,365 kg) gives it a power-to-weight ratio of 4.56 pounds per horsepower (or .219 horsepower per pound). Here are the power-to-weight ratios* of some of the top supercars so you can see where the Enzo fits in:

• Chrysler ME Four-Twelve- .295 hp/lb
• McLaren F1- .251 hp/lb
• Bugatti 16/4 Veyron- .230 hp/lb
• Ferrari Enzo - .219 hp/lb
• 1965 Ford GT40 Mk1- .213 hp/lb
• Ferrari Koenig 360 Modena- .174 hp/lb
• Lamborghini Countach- .139 hp/lb
• Dodge Viper RT/10- .131 hp/lb
• Chevrolet Corvette Z06- .123 hp/lb
• Porsche 911 Turbo- .119 hp/lb
• Ford Mustang Cobra R- .107 hp/lb
• Ferrari Testarossa- .104 hp/lb

*Stats calculated from info at http://www.supercarstats.com

The six-speed transmission is considered manual-only — no automatic transmission is available. However, many enthusiasts argue that in order to be considered manual, a car must have a foot clutch. Since it doesn’t have one, these people prefer to call the Enzo’s transmission “sequential,” or SM (sequential-manual). The term “semi-automatic” is also used.

Almost all of the controls are on the F1-style steering wheel, including the shifting paddles. A series of LEDs on the wheel lets the driver know when the RPMs are high enough to shift, which can be done without removing a hand from the wheel. Other buttons control the selection of gear modes (Sport or Race mode) and a traction control system that can be deactivated.

All that power gets the Enzo from point A to point B very quickly, but European supercars aren’t built to go in a straight line. Next, we’ll look at how the Enzo handles.

Specifications