First Drive: 2013 Ferrari California

All 2013 Californias get more power and less weight. The Handling Speciale option adds the chassis dynamics you may have always been looking for. So is the toughened up new Ferrari worth the upgrade? We send our European editor Peter Burgess to Maranello to find out. I’ll be upfront right away. I respect you Teamspeed guys (and gals) too much to pull the wool over your eyes. I got to drive this Handling Speciale version of the 2013 Ferrari California in the wet. In the hills above Maranello I had three hours in the car. The roads were awash with water streaming down the grass banks. Roberto, Ferrari’s brilliant photographer, huddled with his assistant holding the umbrella and did his usual impeccable job. Moody? Yes. Good conditions for subtle car evaluation? No