The New California Ferrari Goes 196 Miles per Hour, and Comes with a Cupholder

The Venerable Italian Sports Car Maker's 'Versatile' Model Gets Almost Too Much Right About the Golden State

When I finally got the keys to California, I wondered how fast it would go. So, on the 210 freeway, I floored the accelerator and within seconds I was driving 100 miles per hour.

I immediately felt exhilaration—and fear. This speed was totally unfamiliar to someone who has spent his life driving beaten-up Toyotas. In California we like to think we can move as fast as our imaginations can take us, but this shiny red convertible named California moved too fast for me.

I was not driving my own car. Ferrari let …