This nameplate marked Ferrari’s updated, turbocharged evolution of the California concept, introduced for the 2014 model year. It built on the formula established by the earlier California: a front-mid-engined, 2+2 grand tourer with a retractable hardtop, aimed at blending everyday usability with traditional Ferrari character. The updated car kept that dual personality but moved the line forward technically and stylistically, with Ferrari emphasizing its lower-slung engine installation, improved balance, and aluminum construction. The model sat in Ferrari’s range as a more accessible grand touring Ferrari rather than a pure track-focused machine, and it was positioned for drivers who wanted open-top touring, genuine cabin space, and a more relaxed side of the brand without giving up performance pedigree.
The name also mattered historically. Ferrari had previously used the California designation on a 1950s-era sports car, and the modern California lineage revived that heritage in 2008 before this turbocharged successor arrived in 2014. The updated model carried the California idea into a new era with a different mechanical character and a more contemporary interpretation of the same concept. In 2017, Ferrari replaced it with the Portofino, which carried forward the same GT roadster role in the lineup. As a result, this nameplate had a single, continuous production period from 2014 through 2017 and did not return in a later revival.