2010 Ferrari California

Through a fluke in timing or just plain luck, I'm fortunate enough to have now been behind the wheel of every single current Ferrari currently on sale. That's a rarity even for automotive journalists, and it's an honor I don't take lightly. Today's drive of the California marked a special occasion, since this was not just the only Ferrari I haven't driven, it's also an all-new kind of Ferrari.

The California is full of firsts: it's the first-ever front-mounted V-8-engined Ferrari, it's the first use of direct injection in a Ferrari, and it's Ferrari's first dual-clutch automated manual transmission. It's also the first Ferrari built on a modular architecture, and the first built on a new production line that is downright spooky in its modernity. I was able to tour the facility last month, and the California's production line is spotlessly clean, eerily quiet, and freakishly automated. On the one hand, computerized, precise mass production makes the California seem somehow less special; on the other, it ensures the highest level of quality. I think it's a worthwhile tradeoff, especially for a Ferrari that's inherently less special than some others.

Screeeetch -- less special? I mean the California no insult by that. It's the least expensive offering in Ferrari's stable, but that's only part of the reason why. The other reason is that I equate "special" with "insane." I, a certified automotive nutcase, adore the F430 for its insanity. I love the way it crackles and barks and screams. I love how it scares small children and grown men alike with its acoustic assault; how it accelerates and shifts with such violence that it renders its passengers hysterical. I love how its occupants are assaulted with the feel of every pebble on the road after luring them in with the sight and aroma of the world's finest materials.

New Ferrari 458 Italia looks to deliver 17-mpg fuel economy as well as 201-mph performance

For what seems like ages, Ferrari has focused on taming the world's most sophisticated engines to make their machines the fastest and most agile on the planet. Now, just in time for global warming, Ferrari's engineers have added a new element: efficiency.

The just-unveiled 458 Italia will rate 17 miles a gallon, which may not sound like a lot unless you consider that it's more powerful than the V-8s that preceded it. It aims to reduce CO2 emissions as well. The mid-rear engine italia is due to be shown this fall at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Price? We're not there yet.

The two-seater is powered by a new 4499-cc V-8, which is Ferrari's first direct-injection engine to be mid-rear mounted. Best of all, it still sounds like a Ferrari. The 458 Italia will come with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. It has an aluminum chassis, with nearly 60% of its weight over the rear wheels. Weighing in at 3,042 pounds, the car will be able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 3.4 seconds. Maximum speed is more than 201 mph.