A prototype of the Ferrari California hardtop roadster has been captured on film testing at the automaker’s private circuit in Italy.
What makes this video of particular importance is not the lightly camouflaged car itself, but the sounds produced from its front-mounted engine, as it appears to be sporting a turbocharged powerplant.
The last time Ferrari offered a production model with a turbocharged engine was the legendary F40 back in 1987.
The testing of the force-fed California seems be related to a recent story from Car&Driver regarding the development of two new powerplants for the next Maserati Quattroporte, including a 520hp turbocharged V8 and 420hp supercharged V6. Both powerplants are said to be engineered by Ferrari, which would explain the California prototype.
The reason why Maserati would opt for turbocharged engines has more to do with improving fuel efficiency and cutting CO2 emissions than pure performance numbers.
It remains unclear if and when Ferrari would use one or both engines on its own vehicles.
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