Ferrari to Unveil Turbocharged California Supercar

Ferrari SpA is replacing the naturally aspirated V-8 in its California two-seater with a thriftier and more powerful turbocharged powerplant this year.

The company will publicly unveil the redesigned and repowered California T next month at the Geneva auto show. The front-engine, rear-drive car will debut this summer in Europe and in the U.S. a few months later.

The current California is fitted with a 4.3-liter V-8 rated at 483 hp. The California T's 3.9-liter turbocharged V-8 makes 552 hp and hikes torque 49% to 557 lb-ft. Ferrari claims the car has zero turbo lag.

The new engine also is 19% more fuel efficient on the European test cycle. Ferrari says the car will deliver about 15% better fuel economy in actual daily driving.

The car carries over the current model's power folding hardtop. Besides exterior styling tweaks, the California T will come with a revised suspension, improved steering response, new springs and 50% faster-acting Magnaride dampers and the latest iteration of the company's F1-Trac traction control system.

Inside, the car has been fitted with a new infotainment system controlled by a 6.5-inch touchscreen.

Ferrari has not announced pricing for the new car. But its sticker is likely to be higher than the current model, which starts at about $255,000 making it the lowest-price model in Ferrari's lineup.