Tunisians Destroy Ferrari California Allegedly Owned by a Family Member of the Exiled President [with Videos]

Earlier this week, a video showing ousted Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano dangling from the forks of an industrial truck made world headlines. But that wasn't the only car from Maranello to be targeted by the angry protesters. New videos and photos showing yet another Prancing Horse model being 'liberated' have now surfaced online.

This time it's a red-colored Ferrari California claimed to be owned by a member of the former Tunisian Preseident's family named Sofiane Ben Ali. In their mad rush, Tunisian rioters utterly destroyed the hardtop convertible relieving it from tires, badges and anything else that could get their hands on.

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Paris Show: Ferrari California HELE gets Stop- Start Tech, Emits 23% Less CO2

Visitors to the 2010 Paris Motor Show may have noticed a rather innocuous looking, black-topped Ferrari California on display at the automaker's stand. This is the Ferrari California HELE, which stands for High Emotion Low Emissions. Think of it as a Ferrari for the environmentally conscious.

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Anderson Germany Rolls Out 515HP-Tuned Ferrari California Edition

If the factory version of the Ferrari California isn't quite to your liking, then perhaps the tuning folks over at "Anderson Germany" can help you spruce up the Italian hardtop convertible. On the speed side, the California's 4.3-liter V8 gets a 55-horsepower jump from 460HP to 515HP thanks to a recalibrated ECU and new valve controlled stainless steel exhaust system, which can be set to three different sound modes via remote control.

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Ferrari Readies Bi-Colore California Special for Goodwood Festival

A special version of Ferrari's California will make its first public appearance at this week's Goodwood Festival of Speed. Set to race in the Sunday Times Supercar Run, the California special features a two-tone finish with the body painted in Argento Nurburgring (metallic silver) and the roof and A-pillars in Nero (black), a theme that the company claims echoes its bi-colore berlinettas of the 1950s and 1960s.

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Novitec Tunes Ferrari's California and Creates a Sleeper, if That's Even Possible

Novitec's take on Ferrari's California goes something like this: one 4.3 liter V8 boosted by a supercharger system that ends up pumping output to 606 horsepower. That's a 166 horsepower increase thanks to a boost pressure of 0.4 bar, making the Novitec California good for a 60 mph sprint in 3.8 seconds.

Top speed comes in at 325 km/h or 202 mph, while torque grows from 485 Nm (358 lb-ft) to 603 Nm / 445 lb-ft.

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Novitec Tunes Ferrari's California and Creates a Sleeper, if That's Even Possible

Novitec's take on Ferrari's California goes something like this: one 4.3 liter V8 boosted by a supercharger system that ends up pumping output to 606 horsepower. That's a 166 horsepower increase thanks to a boost pressure of 0.4 bar, making the Novitec California good for a 60 mph sprint in 3.8 seconds.

Top speed comes in at 325 km/h or 202 mph, while torque grows from 485 Nm (358 lb-ft) to 603 Nm / 445 lb-ft.

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VIDEO: Ferrari Scuderia Spider, California and 599 GTB HGTE Tackle the Goodwood Hill Climb

One of the most popular events at the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed is the Sunday Times Supercar Run which sees some of the fastest and most powerful cars in the world race up the 1.16 mile hill climb. At this year's run that was completed on Sunday, June 5, Ferrari showcased three of its latest supercars - the limited run 510HP F430 Scuderia Spider 16M, the new California hardtop-convertible that's moved by a 460HP V8 and the 599 GTB Fiorano equipped with the HGTE sport package.

Below you can watch all three Prancing Horse models at the Sunday Times Supercar Run through an inboard video camera while we've also added an additional "over-the-shoulder" film of the California. According to the Italian sports car maker, the Scuderia Spider 16M was the fastest of the bunch completing the Goodwood hill climb in just 59 seconds.

Spy Shots: Ferrari Testing California with HGTE Sport Package at the Nurburgring?

Our spies have caught a mysterious Ferrari California performing test runs on the Nurburgring race track. According to our photographers, there were two Ferrari test drivers on hand that changed positions behind the steering wheel every so often and that the California featured the usual electronic equipment you find on test cars. Since the California has already been launched, there are two plausible explanations.

The first thing that leaps into mind is that Ferrari may be tweaking the California for future updates while another explanation is that the Italian automaker is readying a Handling GT Evoluzione sport package for their entry-level coupe cabriolet supercar, similar to the one offered on the 599 GTB Fiorano. Let's not forget that Ferrari's marketing team loves special edition models and packages.

Before we say anything else, let us not that besides the special antenna on the rooftop and the masked patch on the left-hand side of the front bumper, the California test car did not feature any other distinct features.

If Ferrari is indeed working on a HGTE sport package for the California, expect to see a modified suspension setup along with a lower ride height, special tires and a recalibrated seven-speed twin-clutch transmission. If the HGTE sport package for the 599 Fiorano is anything to go by, then minor styling enchantments inside and out as well as new alloy wheels and a sportier exhaust system should also be in the mix.

Ferrari to Perform Three British Debuts at Goodwood Festival of Speed

Italian supercar maker Ferrari will be showcasing three new models for the first time in the UK at next month's Goodwood Festival of Speed: the California coupe-convertible, the limited edition Scuderia Spider 16M and the beefed-up 599 GTB Fiorano with the HGTE package. All three supercars will participate at the Sunday Times Supercar Run.

Ferrari will also be represented at Goodwood by the Scuderia Ferrari team that will show off the 2008 Championship-winning F1 car driven by Marc Gene throughout the weekend while privately-owned cars entered in this year's event include a 1956 Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta, a 1961 Ferrari 196 SP Dino and a 1980 Ferrari 512 BBLM.

Ferrari California Spider with 500HP V8 Tuned by Edo Competition

Supercar specialist Edo Competition is one of the first tuning firms to present a complete package with performance and styling accessories for Ferrari's newest creation, the California Spider. Modifications to the 4.3-liter V8 engine include a recalibrated ECU and an optional newly-developed high performance exhaust system featuring adjustable butterfly valves and custom designed high flow catalytic converters with a 200 cell per square inch metal core.

The result is an additional 40 horsepower and 12-lb/ft for a total output of 500HP and 369 ft-lb of torque at 5,200 rpm. The Edo Competition-prepped California Spider can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.9 seconds and achieve a top speed of 315 km/h or 196 mph (+5km/h compared to the factory model).

Customers can choose from a variety of newly-developed wheel and tire sets in 20 and 21 inches while the German tuner also offers a sport spring kit that lowers the Spider's ride height by 35mm as well as a sport suspension system with adjustable compression and rebound damping.

For the convertible's appearance, Edo Competition provides an array of upgrades including special interiors and specific leather upholstery while the company said that it also fulfills individual requests.