Whether the look of the new 2009 Ferrari California turns you on or makes you want to dig out your eyes with a dull paring knife (I'm still on the fence), you've got to give the car demerits for its exhaust pipes. Not only are they stacked, an unusual look we've chided the Lexus IS-F for, but those chrome tips aren't actually part of the exhaust system.
That's right. Just as they are on the Lexus, those shiny tips are part of the bumper cover and don't actually have any contact with the car's exhaust system. They're just eye candy. I'm not a fan. This is a Ferrari. A mechanical beast and everything about it should express that.
If this trend keeps up, automakers will begin faking everything. Next thing you know, phony hood scoops that don't actually feed air into the engine will be everywhere. Oh, wait a minute, that already happened. -- Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
dougtheeng says:
06:04 AM, 10/ 3/08
exhaust tip concept good.
fake exhaust tip execution bad.
sabastian says:
07:00 AM, 10/ 3/08
Lame.
redliner says:
07:32 AM, 10/ 3/08
sabastian
I second your opinion.
Stil, if ferrari is going to do this, then Lexus gets a free pass. after all, they did come up with it first.
billt9 says:
08:13 AM, 10/ 3/08
As if "real" exhaust pipes actually do anything more than these.
They're also decorative dressings around the pipe, except that they're fixed onto the pipe.
felonious says:
08:42 AM, 10/ 3/08
I hated the fake exhaust tips on the IS-F, but that's not strong enough to describe my feelings for them on a Ferrari. "Heresy" comes closer.
rick8365 says:
10:51 AM, 10/ 3/08
+1 felonious!
altimadude00 says:
01:50 PM, 10/ 3/08
If you don't like them, rip them off. I'm surprised that no one commented on the bad panel line-up and inconsistent gap width. *GASP* It's the downfall of Ferrari!!!
estreka says:
02:37 PM, 10/ 3/08
I do like the look, and a 14 second hardtop is amazing (I didn't even know it was a convertible until I saw the vid, kudos).
That being said, I hate fake exhausts. That alone would keep me out of this car. Also, while the front end is very handsome, it's far to reminicent of Masarati. Also, a plush Ferrari!? Next thing you know Lamborghini is going to start making family cars...oh, n/m.
jederino says:
04:04 PM, 10/ 3/08
I agree with billt9. Looks to me as if the exhaust does pass through those "fake" holes, so I don't see a big deal. It does have the appearance of a fake dual exhaust, however, since they're on the same side.
7driver says:
06:10 PM, 10/ 3/08
It's not just the IS-F and Ferrari California. The Lexus LS460 and new Mazda6 also have unconnected "exhaust finishers", although they're admittedly not stacked like here and the IS-F.
ateixeira says:
12:31 PM, 10/ 7/08
The overall styling is a bit cartoonish.