Ferrari California pops its top

We've already shown you the first pics of Ferrari's all-new California roadster (more here), but the prancing horse has now followed up by revealing the first images of the car with its roof up.

Ferrari has also issued a press release stating that a "very special test-driver" --company boss Luca di Montezemolo -- has put the California through its paces over several laps at Ferrari's Fiorano circuit.

"I am very satisfied indeed with the work that the women and men of Ferrari have done," gushed di Montezemolo. "The California is an extraordinary car and I was delighted with the performance, comfort and driving pleasure it delivered."

The California is billed as the "epitome of cutting-edge innovation" and its gearbox, suspension and chassis have been designed from the ground up.

New for the California is a folding hardtop that retracts or deploys in just 14 seconds, and Ferrari claims it doesn't overly impinge on luggage space -- the boot can swallow a respectable 360 litres with the roof up, and 260 litres when it's lowered.

As reported earlier, the California is powered by a 339kW 4.3-litre V8 hooked up to an all-new seven-speed dual-clutch sequential gearbox. However, the latest press release issued by Ferrari also boasts of "significant (aerodynamic) downforce values" -- 70kg at 200 km/h.

Ferrari has also revealed the car's exact dimensions -- it's 4560 mm in length, 1900 mm wide and has a wheelbase of 2700 mm.

To put these figures in perspective, the California is roughly 50mm longer than its F430 sibling, but 23mm narrower. Its wheelbase is 100mm longer, which liberates enough space for the so-called +2 seating configuration.

While the images released a few weeks ago were of a car resplendent in Maranello Red, the latest pics show the roadster in Azzurro California livery.

This hue was the colour chosen for the hallowed 1960s spider's appearance at the New York Auto Show in 1962 and proved one of the firm favourites with owners of that model too.

In keeping with Ferrari's newfound greenie-friendly initiatives, the California has CO2 emission levels of around 310g/km, while fuel consumption is quoted at a not-overly-thirsty 13.2 litres/100km.

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