Car magazine in Britain recently made a statement that would at first appear to shock some: Ferraris “aren’t gorgeous anymore.”

The writer of that piece was a Mr. Gavin Green and his contention was the new Ferrari California.

(The Ferrari California)

He noted how the end of the Ferrari is obtuse or fat. He also went after other Ferraris, such as the 612 Scaglietti for being “fussy and ill-proportioned”.

(Ferrari 612 Scaglietti; I can see problems with the California, but looks like a damn fine car to me.)

Others are not sparred either, the Enzo is derided as “more bug than bird” and the F430 “lacks the visual grace and profile poetry of the old F355, the last loverly Ferrari.”

(Enzo)

(430 Scuderia)

Mr. Green makes note that both of Ferrari’s drivers in a recent Formula One were both plaid men, asking if Ferrari has lost its image as the Italian cool car for ‘cool cats’?

Part of the reason for the change in the Ferrari style is what the president of Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo, calls the issue of aerodynamics. Mr. di Montezemolo stated that style is dictated by aerodynamics to ensure that a Ferrari going at 180-mph plus stays on the road.

“That big fat rump of the California — more bustle bum than bikini bottom — helps aero performance...,” writes Mr. Green.

O’ well, at least we’ll always have the classics.

(1961 Ferrari 250 California Spyder)