Rome, February 13 - Ferrari's new version of its venerable and beloved California model, a turbocharged speed machine which somehow manages to combine superlative performance with lower emissions, has set pulses racing in Italy and abroad.

BBC's cult TV show Top Gear hailed the climate-friendly innovations of the Ferrari California T, saying: "Here's an exotic convertible with a proper V8 that sneaks out 250g/km of CO2 (based on Ferrari's own cycle, rather than the one used by other carmakers). "That's about 15 per cent less than its naturally-aspirated predecessor".

Automobile Magazine said the California T, which premieres March 4 at the 2014 Geneva auto show, had "sharper edges and more aggressive exterior lines, in keeping with the car's boost in performance".

Motor Trend magazine said it was the kind of car Tom Selleck would have liked to be seen driving around Hawaii in hit series Magnum P.I..

"It's a big-time performer fully capable of running from and chasing down bad guys on Oahu's volcanic back roads when necessary. "And now the California has more power, less weight, and better handling. "In other words, it delivers "Ferrari performance in a comfortable way," as senior members of the House of Enzo put it during our recent visit", Motor Trend said.

Caranddriver hailed the "more muscle (and) less fat" on the new car.

"The automaker was able to strip out 66 pounds via improved chassis fabrication techniques and construction technologies," it said.

The new model T is a "radically" different and "greener" vehicle, Ferrari said. The iconic Italian supercar maker hailed its latest offering - whose 3.8 liter bi-turbo V8 allows it to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100kmh) in 3.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 316 kmh - as a "perfect synthesis of innovation and technology". It said the car - an update of the 2013 model - had 15% lower emissions than its naturally aspirated predecessor. "Sporty, elegant, versatile: that's the Ferrari California," Ferrari said on its website.

"Since the 1950s, in fact, this particular model has been the Prancing Horse's finest embodiment of all three characteristics. "Now, however, the new California T adds a radical innovation to that honourable tradition whilst still retaining the model's highly renowned versatility.

"The T in its moniker refers, of course, to the development of a new 8-cylinder turbo engine that combines reduced emissions and fuel consumption with exceptional performance underscored by blistering pick-up due to zero turbo lag and a torque curve that adapts to suit each gear change.

"Equally, the retractable hard top or RHT transforms the California T from a chic coupé into a sleekly sophisticated spider in a mere 14 seconds. "A refined semi-aniline leather-trimmed cabin also offers the modular spaces of the signature 2+ configuration and underscores the car's extraordinary versatility," Ferrari said.