Friday 15th August 2008

Ferrari California Virtual Video

Ferrari teams up with Gran Turismo maker to produce 'Virtual Test Drive'

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Ferrari may have been drip feeding us images, details and even sounds of the new California but clearly it has not run out of ways to hype the car before its launch. The Italian firm has now teamed up with Polyphony Digital - the company behind the Gran Turismo computer game - to produce a video of the car on road and circuit.

It's called a 'Virtual Test Drive' but I'm afraid us mere mortals can't get involved. The car is expected to be launched at October's Paris Motor Show. To see the film click here and then hit ‘Virtual Test Drive’ and then ‘Play Film’.

[monkey11477]

Pretty cool but I still think the car has awful proportions

[Milks]

+1

theres not one angle on this car that does it for me, or even close. It looks too soft to be a ferrari

[BigMacca]

Also quite off putting that twin horizontal exhausts are only for show. Could have sworn halford's stock those kind of things for a £200 Nova/Corsa/Chav mobile...

[clorenzen]

+1. I was asked by H.R. Owen whether I wanted an early slot for a California but I simply cannot warm to that design. It looks something between a Mazer and the ugly Lexus convertible from certain angles.

Edited by clorenzen on Friday 15th August 11:10

[OwenK]

It looks a lot better with the roof up than it does as a convertible. Should have made it a coupe from the start.

[mylesmcd]

still rather have an 8c and the difference (50k??)



o and a pint of carling.

[MogulBoy]

Makes me want Gran Turismo 5, but not the California.

[Mr Whippy]

Nice, GT5 engine sounds still that lacking they play a lame soundtrack in the background because they won't do it justice...

Looks to ride a bit stiff too, like it has loads of aero downforce and no dampers into Schwedenkreuz

All pants then. I'd rather no video than a ste one

Dave

[Goochie]

clorenzen said:

It looks something between a Mazer and the ugly Lexus convertible from certain angles.

Edited by clorenzen on Friday 15th August 11:10

I agree. In the footage above, it looks very much like an MX5 as it goes round "the ring"

[CypherP]

Jesus, all anyone seems to do these days is log onto PH and slate the first news article they can find, regardless of the content.

Personally, i think that its am awesome way to showcase a new car, regardless of the manufacturer. For some, the car might not be to their liking, but going so far as to say its a ste video? I'd put anyone to the challenge of doing it better.

Congrats to Polyphony for doing a great job with the video. Nice to see people using this kind of media to a marketing advantage.

[motormania]

CypherP said:

Jesus, all anyone seems to do these days is log onto PH and slate the first news article they can find, regardless of the content.

Personally, i think that its am awesome way to showcase a new car, regardless of the manufacturer. For some, the car might not be to their liking, but going so far as to say its a ste video? I'd put anyone to the challenge of doing it better.

Congrats to Polyphony for doing a great job with the video. Nice to see people using this kind of media to a marketing advantage.

Agree

As soon as GT5 is launched I'm going to get the PS3 as this will be the quality of the race environment too :0 Awesome

[RebelRed]

It's much better in that light blue with the roof up, but besides the questionable looks, there remains on the same site a reason enough for me to want one... desperately!

http://www.ferraricalifornia.com/webapp/hear.htm?l...

Play the 4th clip 'Embrace'. Close your eyes when playing it, picture the scene. 5am alone on the Fiorano test track... you are in a new front mid-engined V8 Ferrari with a DSG style box and trick handling.

Now tell me you're not interested.


EDIT: Just found this on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4BXaayj6go&fea...

Now to me, that looks really really good! (or should I have gone to Specsavers?!)

Edited by RebelRed on Friday 15th August 13:12

[Pugsey]

Saw the car in the flesh a few weeks ago and as is often the way, it looked SO much better in 'real life' - particularly roof up when it looks like a really good coupe rather than a convertible with the roof up. Oh, and then they fired it up! MUCH 'angrier' and louder than my 430. Awesome. Looked lower, leaner and more aggressive than it seems to appear in pics.

[CypherP]

motormania said:

CypherP said:

Jesus, all anyone seems to do these days is log onto PH and slate the first news article they can find, regardless of the content.

Personally, i think that its am awesome way to showcase a new car, regardless of the manufacturer. For some, the car might not be to their liking, but going so far as to say its a ste video? I'd put anyone to the challenge of doing it better.

Congrats to Polyphony for doing a great job with the video. Nice to see people using this kind of media to a marketing advantage.

Agree

As soon as GT5 is launched I'm going to get the PS3 as this will be the quality of the race environment too :0 Awesome

Sounds like a good plan. I bought my PS3 a few months back purely for F1 and the prospect of further Gran Turismo games. Just can't beat it. And more on the subject, this video just goes to show us what Polyphony are increasingly capable of.

Regardless of peoples opinions of the California, the car has been represented extremely well in a simulator and these guys have done a bloody good job doing so!

[CypherP]

Pugsey said:

Saw the car in the flesh a few weeks ago and as is often the way, it looked SO much better in 'real life' - particularly roof up when it looks like a really good coupe rather than a convertible with the roof up. Oh, and then they fired it up! MUCH 'angrier' and louder than my 430. Awesome. Looked lower, leaner and more aggressive than it seems to appear in pics.

Can i just ask where you saw the California? Not saying I don't believe you, but it was my understanding that it wouldn't be officially showcased until the Paris Motor Show in a couple of months?

[skimmo]

If GT5 is going to look like that I'm defo getting my order in..... as for the car..... hmmmmmmmm....... w@nk.

[anonymous-user]

CypherP said:

Pugsey said:

Saw the car in the flesh a few weeks ago and as is often the way, it looked SO much better in 'real life' - particularly roof up when it looks like a really good coupe rather than a convertible with the roof up. Oh, and then they fired it up! MUCH 'angrier' and louder than my 430. Awesome. Looked lower, leaner and more aggressive than it seems to appear in pics.

Can i just ask where you saw the California? Not saying I don't believe you, but it was my understanding that it wouldn't be officially showcased until the Paris Motor Show in a couple of months?

There was a launch do at the Hurlingham Club a week or so ago!

[Dr S]

Acquired taste, that car. A Scud, however, anyday

[Pugsey]

garyhun said:

CypherP said:

Pugsey said:

Saw the car in the flesh a few weeks ago and as is often the way, it looked SO much better in 'real life' - particularly roof up when it looks like a really good coupe rather than a convertible with the roof up. Oh, and then they fired it up! MUCH 'angrier' and louder than my 430. Awesome. Looked lower, leaner and more aggressive than it seems to appear in pics.

Can i just ask where you saw the California? Not saying I don't believe you, but it was my understanding that it wouldn't be officially showcased until the Paris Motor Show in a couple of months?

There was a launch do at the Hurlingham Club a week or so ago!

CypherP - thanks for believing me. As Gary says there was a 'private' preview (for people who are down for early cars) at the Hurlingham Club recently. Sounds posh I know - but they let me in! A few guys who post on here went.

Edited TWICE for spelling - good grief!

Edited by Pugsey on Friday 15th August 16:08

Edited by Pugsey on Friday 15th August 16:14

[CypherP]

Pugsey said:

garyhun said:

CypherP said:

Pugsey said:

Saw the car in the flesh a few weeks ago and as is often the way, it looked SO much better in 'real life' - particularly roof up when it looks like a really good coupe rather than a convertible with the roof up. Oh, and then they fired it up! MUCH 'angrier' and louder than my 430. Awesome. Looked lower, leaner and more aggressive than it seems to appear in pics.

Can i just ask where you saw the California? Not saying I don't believe you, but it was my understanding that it wouldn't be officially showcased until the Paris Motor Show in a couple of months?

There was a launch do at the Hurlingham Club a week or so ago!

Thanks for believing me. As Gary says there was a 'private' preview (for people who are down for early cars) at the Hurlingham Club recently. Sounds posh I know - but they let me in! A few guys who post on here went.

Hehe, well its only 'cause im envious as I'd quite like to see the Cali in the flesh, and actually appreciate its differences to alot of past Ferrari designs. Lucky gits! Mind you, i occasionally get a new view from my office of the orange Murcielago LP640 belonging to a guy across the way.. Normally appears there when we get a decent amount of sun.

Well played to you guys that managed to go along! Think i must be friends with the wrong crowds!

Edited by CypherP on Friday 15th August 16:14