Ferrari is ramping up the power and turning on the style but also cutting fuel consumption for the second-generation California drop-top.

Like the original California, launched back in 2008, the new model, known as the California T, has a metal folding roof, front-mounted V8 and has been designed to offer boulevard cruising and supercar thrills in equal measure.

However, this time around the engine is smaller — 3.8-liters — but, thanks to a pair of turbochargers, pumps out more power — 553bhp, compared with 483bhp from the first-generation California.

Other improvements include torque — the engine somehow manages to produce 755Nm — a 50 percent improvement on the outgoing model’s.

Put together, these improvements mean a 0-100km/h time of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 316km/h (196mph). Yet, remarkably fuel economy is better at 26.9mpg (10.5l/100km), and CO2 emissions have also been cut.

In terms of styling the car looks more like part of the wider Ferrari family with a number of design cues lifted from the F12 Berlinetta and the FF.

Making sure the car’s good looks remain that way are carbon ceramic brakes as standard, a new suspension set-up and an all-new steering system plus the latest generation of Ferrari’s F1-Trac traction control system for maximum acceleration out of corners.

Then there’s the use of accelerometers (like those found in a smartphone) that monitor body movement in order to eliminate pitch and roll.

Inside, the cabin has also been brought into line with those of the latest Ferraris. There’s a new 6.5-inch touchscreen display and something called the Turbo Performance Engineer. This is a dedicated secondary display mounted between the air vents that allows the driver to scroll through information screens relating to the engine’s performance.