Pics: India gets its first Ferrari California in Mumbai

v10 · 13th May 2009, 22:02

So mr Tata finally replaces his SL500. Was expecting this one to reach our shores pretty soon though not a fan of ferraris new lexus. And for the import questions, The guy owns major automotive companies like Tata, Jaguar & Land Rover. He could use any of those priveleges which companies with offices abroad enjoy. On the pretext of shifting goods/offices or testing/research etc. Dont think he would have paid any sort of duty. The question to ask though is why LHD?

Gurpartap Singh · 13th May 2009, 22:03

I guess some kind of gifting(or prize award) has an exception whereby one is able to register LHD vehicles?

Ratan Tata sure is having fun in his Fiat er.. Ferrari California.

ram_hyundai · 13th May 2009, 22:44

The car looks great but in LHD form a waste in the mumbai traffic.Rules are made so that it could be broken isnt it.Its so rediculous that such a fast LHD car was even thought of been brought to india.He could have sold it there and bought a RHD one here,
ram

hillram · 13th May 2009, 22:50

I reckon driving a left hand car wouldbe really tough and that too evading the thick trafffic on a Ferrari.

P180V1 · 13th May 2009, 23:08

Neat looking car. Congratulations to Mr. Tata on his new California.

CHEERS,
G D

AyAn! · 13th May 2009, 23:11

From the pics posted on Autocar.,that guy sittin' at the rear seems to be clingin in fear as well as dyin' from cramps! Pity!

Ash_vtec · 13th May 2009, 23:17

Wow ! Talk about privileges....LHD plying freely on Indian roads. Kudos Mr T. Have a feeling its here temporarily though.

Car looks pretty ok, we've come to expect these iffy designs from Ferrari after the sad demise of the F355...the last of the mohicans so to speak

But a prancing horse shall always be a prancing horse...theres something about it.

Dippy · 13th May 2009, 23:35

Nice to see a California here so quickly but even though being a hardcore Ferrari lover, I really dont like the way this car looks. It will be fast for sure but just doesnt have the character of a Prancing Horse. Looks more like a ladies' Ferrari. I would pay the price of a new California for getting a used 355. Really !!

karthik247 · 13th May 2009, 23:37

Another first in India! Nice spotting.

Not the best looking car, but hey.. its still a Ferrari

How much more would the F430 cost than this one?? If its not that much, would have been better getting that one. But i guess the California would be more exclusive as there are lots of F430s around.

anekho · 14th May 2009, 00:40

IMO, this car doesn't look like a ferrari at all.
To me it looks a lot like a maserati - elegant but sporty!
I dunno, without the horse, if I saw the front of this car I'd be sure it was a maserati.

btw, how did he pull of bringing a LHD!?! I guess deep pockets make anything possible.

cheers

Mayavi · 14th May 2009, 02:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by anekho

IMO, this car doesn't look like a ferrari at all.
To me it looks a lot like a maserati - elegant but sporty!
I dunno, without the horse, if I saw the front of this car I'd be sure it was a maserati.

btw, how did he pull of bringing a LHD!?! I guess deep pockets make anything possible.

cheers

I guess the same way numerous LHD vehicles are brought down to India for testing even though they don't intend to sell them. Ratan Tata being the chairman of a company that intends to sell Ferrari's can bring it down for testing

Mpower · 14th May 2009, 03:42

Special provision for Bharataratnas? Myself dont mind

Either carnet or testing is my guess.

quickdraw · 14th May 2009, 04:12

I dont see any point in discussing about why its a LHD or how he got it in. Ive seen many LHD's in India and many cars brought down with many jhols.

Its nice to see him actually enjoying fruits of labor finally.

f450 · 14th May 2009, 04:18

Forget how he got the exception...wouldn't it have been a whole lot easier if he just got the RHD instead?

If he was getting a Veyron or an SLR, it would be a different story, but Ferrari makes the California's in RHD also...

v12 · 14th May 2009, 09:45

If you had noticed, Ratan Tata's silver SL500 was also a LHD. Definitely its not brought down for testing / homologation. Cars costing above 40,000$ do not require to be homologated. It could have been brought for a upcoming show/expo/display. And maybe here for a short period of time and would be sent back when the time expires (or renewed).

13th May 2009, 22:02	#16
v10 BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 793 Thanked: 45 Times	So mr Tata finally replaces his SL500. Was expecting this one to reach our shores pretty soon though not a fan of ferraris new lexus. And for the import questions, The guy owns major automotive companies like Tata, Jaguar & Land Rover. He could use any of those priveleges which companies with offices abroad enjoy. On the pretext of shifting goods/offices or testing/research etc. Dont think he would have paid any sort of duty. The question to ask though is why LHD?
	() Thanks

13th May 2009, 22:03	#17
Gurpartap Singh BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chandigarh — PB Posts: 209 Thanked: 4 Times	I guess some kind of gifting(or prize award) has an exception whereby one is able to register LHD vehicles? Ratan Tata sure is having fun in his Fiat er.. Ferrari California. Last edited by Gurpartap Singh : 13th May 2009 at 22:04.
	() Thanks

13th May 2009, 22:44	#18
ram_hyundai Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Calicut ,trisur Posts: 2,020 Thanked: 53 Times View My Garage	The car looks great but in LHD form a waste in the mumbai traffic.Rules are made so that it could be broken isnt it.Its so rediculous that such a fast LHD car was even thought of been brought to india.He could have sold it there and bought a RHD one here, ram
	() Thanks

13th May 2009, 22:50	#19
hillram Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 2,942 Thanked: 1,326 Times View My Garage	I reckon driving a left hand car wouldbe really tough and that too evading the thick trafffic on a Ferrari.
	() Thanks

13th May 2009, 23:08	#20
P180V1 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 143 Thanked: 4 Times	Neat looking car. Congratulations to Mr. Tata on his new California. CHEERS, G D
	() Thanks

13th May 2009, 23:11	#21
AyAn! Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Durgapur/Calcutta/Pune Posts: 2,169 Thanked: 869 Times	From the pics posted on Autocar.,that guy sittin' at the rear seems to be clingin in fear as well as dyin' from cramps! Pity!
	() Thanks

13th May 2009, 23:17	#22
Ash_vtec BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: BLR Posts: 385 Thanked: 361 Times	Wow ! Talk about privileges....LHD plying freely on Indian roads. Kudos Mr T. Have a feeling its here temporarily though. Car looks pretty ok, we've come to expect these iffy designs from Ferrari after the sad demise of the F355...the last of the mohicans so to speak But a prancing horse shall always be a prancing horse...theres something about it.
	() Thanks

13th May 2009, 23:35	#23
Dippy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 7,557 Thanked: 2,459 Times	Nice to see a California here so quickly but even though being a hardcore Ferrari lover, I really dont like the way this car looks. It will be fast for sure but just doesnt have the character of a Prancing Horse. Looks more like a ladies' Ferrari. I would pay the price of a new California for getting a used 355. Really !!
	() Thanks

13th May 2009, 23:37	#24
karthik247 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: BLR, HYD Posts: 2,710 Thanked: 30 Times	Another first in India! Nice spotting. Not the best looking car, but hey.. its still a Ferrari How much more would the F430 cost than this one?? If its not that much, would have been better getting that one. But i guess the California would be more exclusive as there are lots of F430s around. Last edited by karthik247 : 13th May 2009 at 23:38.
	() Thanks

14th May 2009, 00:40	#25
anekho Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: . Posts: 1,995 Thanked: 684 Times	IMO, this car doesn't look like a ferrari at all. To me it looks a lot like a maserati - elegant but sporty! I dunno, without the horse, if I saw the front of this car I'd be sure it was a maserati. btw, how did he pull of bringing a LHD!?! I guess deep pockets make anything possible. cheers
	() Thanks

14th May 2009, 03:42	#27
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,729 Times View My Garage	Special provision for Bharataratnas? Myself dont mind Either carnet or testing is my guess.
	() Thanks

14th May 2009, 04:12	#28
quickdraw Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Delhi Posts: 1,284 Thanked: 2,692 Times View My Garage	I dont see any point in discussing about why its a LHD or how he got it in. Ive seen many LHD's in India and many cars brought down with many jhols. Its nice to see him actually enjoying fruits of labor finally.
	() Thanks

14th May 2009, 04:18	#29
f450 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 794 Thanked: 7 Times	Forget how he got the exception...wouldn't it have been a whole lot easier if he just got the RHD instead? If he was getting a Veyron or an SLR, it would be a different story, but Ferrari makes the California's in RHD also...
	() Thanks

14th May 2009, 09:45	#30
v12 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6,739 Thanked: 7,212 Times View My Garage	If you had noticed, Ratan Tata's silver SL500 was also a LHD. Definitely its not brought down for testing / homologation. Cars costing above 40,000$ do not require to be homologated. It could have been brought for a upcoming show/expo/display. And maybe here for a short period of time and would be sent back when the time expires (or renewed).
	() Thanks