The Ferrari California HELE
has arrived in Australia and New Zealand, offering a CO2 figure better than some
Australian family cars, but with no loss of performance. The California HELE is
fitted with a range of technical advances that drop the carbon dioxide emissions
to 270 g/km, placing on a par with – or better than - some versions of
Australian and New Zealand full size family cars.
Ferrari say that in real life
usage an owner can expect a 23 per cent drop in CO2 emissions compared to the
standard Ferrari California.
But the improvement in
emissions has had no effect on performance, with the Ferrari California HELE
still capable of dispatching the dash to 100 kmh in less than four seconds and
going on to a top speed, where the law permits, of 310 kmh. Indeed, all the
changes that have been made to the California for HELE package actually enhance
driving performance, releasing torque from more mundane purposes to lift
responsiveness and enhancing the unique Ferrari driving experience, as well as
cutting CO2 emissions.
Ferrari’s engineers are
tackling the emissions challenge by optimizing the existing technological
content of the car and by introducing innovations designed to reduce its energy
requirements (vehicle efficiency) and increase the amount of power generated
(engine efficiency).
In short, the California HELE
uses less fuel to produce its energy and then uses less of that energy to
provide its remarkable performance – indeed, with an extra 25 Nm freed by the
HELE technology, this new variant is even more responsive than the standard car.
Together with the Stop&Start system, HELE incorporates new intelligent engine
fan and fuel pump control, electronic air-conditioning compressor displacement
control and a gear-shift pattern that adapts to driving style.
All of these solutions cut emissions and boost sportiness. In fact, in terms of
the cooling system, the introduction of the brushless motor and continual fan
speed control has allowed the Ferrari technicians to decrease current absorption
and cut the system’s weight by over 2 kg as well as reduce aerodynamic drag by 5
per cent at high speeds.
The fuel pump capacity is
controlled constantly by the engine CPU to limit power demands on the
alternator, while intelligent air-conditioning compressor displacement control
slashes the amount of torque absorbed by the system by 35 per cent and makes for
more rapid, efficient cabin cooling. The result of these refinements is that,
under normal running conditions, the engine can avail of an extra 25 Nm of
torque which in turn boosts responsiveness.
With regard to the transmission, in automatic mode the gearbox CPU automatically
identifies the driving style being used and adapts the gear shifts to match. If,
for instance, it recognises a driving style that demands moderate torque at low
engine speeds (typical of city driving), it optimises the gear shifts to cut
fuel consumption. If, however, a sportier driving style is adopted, then gear
shifting becomes more high performance too. There is also a pedal map for each
gear to guarantee maximum responsiveness to even small amounts of pressure on
the accelerator and very precise torque delivery at all times.
Added to this, the California
is the first Ferrari to sport the Stop&Start system which restarts the car in
just 230 milliseconds, so that there is no impingement at all on driveability.
Once again, the technicians’ goal with this technology was to improve fuel
consumption levels and sportiness in tandem. They have done so using features
designed specifically to allow the driver to restart the engine not just by
releasing the brake pedal, but also by using the accelerator pedal (ideal for
people who left-foot brake) or the UP paddle mounted on the steering wheel.
In keeping with Ferrari's
360-degree approach to efficiency and its commitment to environmental
sustainability, new technologies for its road cars are matched by the
considerable investments already made to reduce the environmental impact of the
company's production activities in Maranello.
After the inauguration of the
photovoltaic installation on the roof of the Mechanical Machining facility in
January 2009, which reduced the factory's power requirements by over 210,000 kWh
annually, 2009 also saw the opening of Italy's biggest tri-generation plant (the
simultaneous production of power, heat and cooling from a single source) - the
first of its kind to be implemented by a sports car manufacturer. Combined, the
two systems reduce CO2 emissions by 30,000 tons a year or 40 per cent. Thanks to
these ecological solutions, Ferrari is completely autonomous for its energy
requirements. This reduction also means that Ferrari will meet the Kyoto
protocol objectives a full 10 years ahead of schedule and with double the figure
imposed on Europe.
This represents another
significant step forward in the 'Formula Uomo' strategy implemented by Ferrari's
Chairman, Luca di Montezemolo, at the end of the 1990s and which has transformed
the Maranello production facility into one of the most advanced in the world. It
has also helped create a unique working environment which, in addition to other
initiatives for the well-being of employees, ensures that Ferrari has become a
model, as demonstrated by the fact that the factory has, in the past, received
the 'Best Place to Work in Europe' award.
The Ferrari California is now
available with the HELE system as a factory-fit option with a price of A$2,750
in Australia and A$2,650 in New Zealand excluding statutory charges, delivery
costs and dealer charges.
