On the morning of June 27, 2024, Dang Le Nguyen Vu was spotted driving a rare convertible sports car, the Mazda MX-5 Miata NA. His destination was a showroom owned by an acquaintance, and after nearly an hour of conversation, the Chairman of Trung Nguyen departed with a message stuck to the windshield of a Ferrari California T – his next potential acquisition.
Mr. Vu, or “Qua” Vu as he’s known, was seen behind the wheel of the Mazda MX-5 Miata NA before finalizing the purchase of the Ferrari California T this morning.
This particular Ferrari California T is one of only two such vehicles imported into the country, and it’s set to join Mr. Vu’s already impressive collection of nearly 40 Ferraris. Interestingly, the seller had previously been approached by several prospective buyers, but it seems that Mr. Vu was always the intended owner, as the car now finds its home in his collection of supercars worth thousands of billions of VND.
The exact price Mr. Vu paid for the Ferrari California T remains undisclosed, but it is believed to be upwards of 7 billion VND. This is a reasonable price for such a vehicle, especially considering it’s the missing piece in Mr. Vu’s extensive Ferrari collection. Interestingly, the car has only had a few owners, with Mr. Vu himself being the first. He later sold it, and it changed hands again before finding its way back to him.
The Ferrari California T boasts a deep blue exterior, complemented by silver-painted five-spoke alloy wheels and striking red brake calipers. The interior features a tan leather upholstery that remains in good condition, even after residing in Vietnam for over nine years. It’s unclear if Mr. Vu plans to change the exterior color to black, white, silver, or military green.
The Ferrari California T is an updated version of the California, featuring new body panels, a redesigned rear end, and a turbocharged engine. It was introduced in 2014 as a 2015 model, with the ‘T’ in its name standing for ‘Turbo’ – a technology Ferrari hadn’t used since the F40 street car. The California T’s front end takes inspiration from the F12, and it also features a revised interior.
In terms of design, the California T features a new front end influenced by the F12, a revised rear end, and an updated interior. The rear of the car has been modified, replacing the vertically stacked twin exhausts with four straight pipes. The California T also boasts a 15% reduction in emissions compared to its naturally aspirated predecessor.
To reduce turbo lag, the car utilizes a small turbocharger and a variable boost management system. It’s also the first grand touring car from Ferrari to introduce Apple CarPlay functionality into its integrated infotainment system. Under the hood, you’ll find a 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces 553 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and 755 Nm of torque. The car is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, an adapted MagneRide adaptive suspension system, and a new F1 Trac system. With this setup, the Ferrari California T can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 315 km/h.