Ferrari California

[WayneB]

Just was looking at some pics of the new Ferrari California, and It stuck me as to how similar the overall styling theme seems to be to the Lotus Evora, especially the pinched in waist on the doors and the front fascia.

The Evora styling is alot more unfussy and cleaner,the California is one of the most ugly Ferraris I have ever seen, a total cartoon.

Pininfarina being influenced by Lotus design, who would have thought!:ohmy:

http://static.blogo.it/autoblog/ferrari-california/Ferrari_California_06.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/WayneBarr/BlueEvora.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/WayneBarr/BlueEvoramule.jpg

http://www.innovationcars.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/ferrari-california-top.jpg

[GregWO]

I still like the Ferrari design but, I'd rather have the Evora..... It does look as if Ferrari borrowed some ideas from the Evora....

[Mark B.]

I prefer the Evora (but then I would!). I find this new Ferrari design rather weak. The head lights are compromised and the car looks like it's been designed by a Commitee.

Whats happened to Ferrari? For a Company that has produced some of the most beautiful cars ever made, their designs seem to be getting worst and worst recently.

The last jaw dropping design from them IMO was the 365 BB.

[Martin]

You said it, committee. That is the problem, and now with DOT regulations through out the world demanding certain bumpers etc. it will be likey that cars will get uglier as time goes on :(

[Autocross7]

I agree that the new California is just not pretty. I said so the first time I saw it in print. The old California was a beauty! I thought it was sad that Pininfarina died on such an unattractive note. The last couple Ferraris have not been pretty IMO. I don't care for the 599 at all, and it is one of the few cars that looks worse in person than on paper.


Cameron

[Mark B.]

I agree 599 isn't good, but the 612 is worst, it's just wrong. And today I saw a 430 parked at the side of the road and I thought it looked an over-designed kit car.

What gets me is people still buy them (even though it's more for the name I assume). Ok, they're probably great cars to drive, but who cares when they look as bad as that. Ferrari should take a leaf out of Lamborghini / Aston Martin's book if you ask me.

[WayneB]

The 360 Modena wasn't bad, but from then on it all went to hell at Marenello.:(

What do you guys think of the Aston-Martin 1-77?

Aparently Dave Richards wants to get away from the downmarket Ford image with the car, so they base the styling on the Ford Shelby GR-1 showcar.:lol:

http://img.worldcarfans.com/US/2008/9/30/9080930.001/9080930.001.Mini1L.jpg

http://www.digitalhooligans.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/shelby-gr1.jpg

There will probably be 10 parked around the corner from where Mark Blanchard works this time next year.:lol:

Autosystems no longer do lights for Aston-Martin so I am clueless about the car (unless I see something at the Aston-Martin factory when I visit in October):)

[clockwork]

They all brighten my day when I see them about,the pics.don`t give you a sense of scale,if the Aston were the size of an elise I would say it looked like a Max Power type of thing but if it were the size of a Lincoln town car I would probably marvel at the intricacies of the the scoops and hard edges so I will reserve judgement for now,the Ferrari on the other hand does nothing for me and like Mark I prefer the the Evora`s lines.Clockwork :)

[WayneB]

I was impressed by the Ferrari 456 Venice Estate Wagon.

Best looking Estate car ever IMO.:)

http://www.geekologie.com/2008/09/17/ferwagon-1.jpg

[Autocross7]

The above Aston looks a bit like the Alfa 8C in profile...


Cameron

[Mark B.]

Dave Richards is bad for Aston IMO. I think he's taking the Company along a similar rocky design path as TVR. Over designing cars is not clever and that recent effort is a good example (although the basic shape is fine, there's to much going on).

[GregWO]

I like the Aston. Had I not known it was based off Ford I think more highly of it...

I'd like to see it in the flesh. Bet it'll blow me away!

[WayneB]

To be honest I doubt that Dave Richards will be able to make Aston-Martin profitable in the long term.:(

Fords plan of mass producing them didnt work either.:(

Charging a million pounds sterling for the 1-77 may work is a short term solution, but who the hell will buy them after the Sultan, Beckham and a few others are fixed up?:confused:

I quite like the side profile BTW, but the front is ugly and grouper fish like the same way the Zagato DB7 was:(

http://img.worldcarfans.com/US/2008/9/30/9080930.001/9080930.001.1M.jpg
http://i.d.com.com/i/dl/media/dlimage/11/81/46/118146_large.jpeg
http://www.egyptfishing.com/graphics/Species/Egypt_Fishing_grouper_117.jpg