New car news

25 November 2008 - 14:00

Californification

The latest entrant in ‘Top Gear’s Mission to Make Sure You Do Absolutely No Work Today’ comes courtesy of Ferrari, in the shape of the California configurator.

The whatnow? You know, configurators – where you get to choose the colour and interior and wheels and soforth on your new car. Or, if you’re anything like us, choose a ridiculous combination of paintjob and appallingly mismatching leather for a car you’ll never be able to afford.

It’s curiously addictive, though, this one. Maybe it’s the challenge of finding exactly the right colour to set off the California’s curves without making it look massive-arsed. Maybe it’s the 217 subtly different shades of leather.

Or, more likely, it’s the happy realisation that someone, somewhere out there, is speccing their real California in beige with blue leather and orange wheel calipers and thinking, ‘Hell, I’m going to look hot in this…’

We’re just disappointed there isn’t a ‘blonde, silicone-enhanced passenger’ option. Gotta know your audience, Ferrari…