LOOKS AREN'T EVERYTHING; THE CALIFORNIA IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF FERRARI.(NEWS)

Byline: ROGER HART

FERRARI BOSS LUCA DI Montezemolo is famous for saying that the company's cars are like beautiful women, and for car lovers, it's easy to see why. When you drive a Ferrari around town, any town, people will notice you as if you had a supermodel on your arm. Driving a Ferrari makes you look better, too.

But Ferrari's latest model, unveiled at the Paris motor show in October, hashow should we say?a nice personality. It might not be your first choice at the dance. Its bone structure does not appeal to everyone. In fact, the California failed to win an awardand barely even a second glancefrom AutoWeek editors at the show. That's the first time anyone on staff can remember a new Ferrari failing to garner such attention at an international show.

At the heart of the issue, frankly, is the California's large ass. There, we've said it. Yes, honey, those pants do make your butt look big.

But the rear end on the California is shaped that way to hide all of the mechanical and hydraulic bits needed for the car's folding hardtop and to allow for some luggage space. The California is trying to be the best of both worlds, a coupe and a convertible. Compromises had to be made.

While the car's profile may not be to everyone's likingsome have even gone so far as to say that the Pininfarina design looks like, egads, the Lexus SC 430it is still a Ferrari. But it is a slightly different kind of Ferrari, appealing to a different Ferrari customer. Was it a coincidence that at the Paris introduction, Montezemolo noted how many new Ferrari customers, especially in emerging markets such as China and Russia, were women? We think not.

This is not a car meant for the racetrack, and its 2+ layout means that there's a back seat with seatbelts. If you prefer, the car can be fitted with a parcel shelf instead. All of the Californias coming to the United States will have seats and seatbelts standard, the parcel shelf optional. It's not a 2+2, because the rear seats will hold a small child at best, but for the first time in a Ferrari, the rear seatback folds down to allow for carrying luggage or golf clubsor groceries, for that matter. Ferrari California project manager Vittorio Dini said many times that the goal of the car was "versatility. We got the message: a little something for everyone. Well, everyone with deep pockets.