Friday 18th September 2009

Hamann's Take On The Ferrari California

German tuner takes on Maranello, again

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Not to be outdone by the numerous other tuners and coachbuilders at Frankfurt was German outfit Hamann.

Hamann's take on the Ferrari California sports a pretty heavily modified body, including a carbon fibre bonnet, redesigned front spoiler, aerodynamic side skirts and an integrated three-part rear diffuser. Lowered suspension also drops the car right down onto its bespoke lightweight forged alloys.

The Hamann website boasts that the considerable increase in downforce and stability and decrease in unsprung mass from all this gubbins allows them to give the Cali significantly more power - 'up to 20 per cent', according to the press release - but don't ask them how they've done it because, so far, they haven't. Apparently an ECU remap is 'in preparation', and a modified exhaust system is planned but yet to be designed. So this launch isn't really that 'launchy' after all.

The whole thing bears more than a passing resemblance to the Mansory 599 GTB, with its black and white colour signature and bulging stance, but perhaps that's just the fashion at the minute.

Hamann has mucked about with Ferraris before. It once offered a package for the 360 Spider, and in 2006 it had a go at an F430 Spider, with a package bizarrely titled the 'Black Miracle'. Among the other weird creations that Hamann currently produces are an extensively revised Bentley Continental known as the 'Imprerator' (we had to read that twice), and the 'Tycoon', a car that manages to make the BMW X6 even odder.

 

 

[andyroo]

Why is that company hogging the ugly stick?

[baz7175]

'Imperator' is another weird translation in German of Emperor, i.e. der Kaiser, der Imperator

[Spiritual_Beggar]

I much prefer that California to the standard one.

[dwilkie]

I was just going to say - it's Imperator not Imprerator

It's Latin btw

[LuS1fer]

[Garlick]

Yes, well, err

[Ralf Rockefeller]

I am the only one who thinks the California looks rubbish.

A front end similar to a Pug 406/407?

Too bland from the begining, so the extra garnish of Hamanns looks even worse.

You can not polish a turd.

[Mr Gear]

Serious question: Why do Pistonheads regularly run articles about Harmann and the like? Is it to start a "LOL look at these idiots" thread, or is it because they are getting £££ from Harmann for the promo?

I'm sure there would be more people interested in Honda's new V2/V4 adaptive engine or Renault's plans for world domination in the electric vehicle revolution. FOR EXAMPLE. Proper automotive news.

These hideous "tuners" just seem to plonk on some big rims and overpriced bodykits that even Maxpower readers would find tacky.

Edited by Mr Gear on Friday 18th September 15:42

[Bill]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha


Oh.

[TVR Guy]

Apparently you can even polish a turd!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiJ9fy1qSFI

Not sure if the Mythbusters can do much for the California though......

[markoc]

I don't like the california, so unsurprisingly turning it into a chav chariot doesn't elicit the usual "Why would you do that to a Ferrari" sentiments. It is however, sight numbingly bad.

[DP 1]

VERY similar to the 599 from Mansory:

Edited by DP 1 on Friday 18th September 16:17

[TOENHEEL]

I quite like the Cal but only with the roof up, its got a fat arse when you drop the roof and doesnt look in proportion.

[k-ink]

All tuners: Know your limits!

Arab tat

[JoePublic]

It's not as bad as I feared.

Expect to see them coming to an overpriced hotel on Park Lane soon (bearing UAE plates of course).

[JumpinJack]

Well i suppose it's not that bad, if not a little improvement on the standard.

And that Bentley is a thousand times better than that mansory monstrosity that burnt my eyes yesterday!

[MATT427]

gotta say i think they've made the california look more butch/ manly, i like

Edited by MATT427 on Friday 18th September 18:18

[baz1985]

I wouldn't even puke on that.....

[Steamer]

Why oh why oh....


...spells yo-yo

[loudlashadjuster]

Nice job, idiots. You've managed to turn a beautiful £150k Ferrari into what looks like a £30k fibreglass special produced on an industrial estate near Warrington.