Are you a keen driver after a convertible V8 Ferrari, but can’t quite stump up the $526,888 ‘base price’ for the 488 Spider?

Never fear, Ferrari is here – with the $15,750 Handling Speciale package that promises to turn your cushy boulevard-cruising California T into something you want to take for a long, hard fang – all for a relatively sharp $425,638.

While the engine is untouched, the 3.9-litre V8 still pumping out a stonking 412kW and 755Nm to slingshot the 1730kg two-plus-two, rear-drive Cali to 100km/h in a claimed 3.6 seconds, the Handling Speciale pack focuses on making the Cali T sit flatter, swap gears more emotionally and sound meaner.

2017 Ferrari California T HS rear

On the aesthetic front, only those folk who climb trees beside the Fiorano circuit on weekdays would spot the Handling Speciale, some black accents giving the ghost away on the exterior and a few subtle badges in the interior.

And Ferrari has also sought to make the California T a little growlier with a new, much louder exhaust system. Thumb the HS’s steering wheel starter button and it gurgles to a rich, loud-and-fast idle that’ll have your neighbours wishing you bought a Tesla. It sounds good.

2017 Ferrari California T HS engine

The only drama is, we think the pack hasn’t gone far enough. The cushy Cali T feels ripe for transformation into something sublime and the Handling Speciale pack, while offering a ride/handling balance more up our alley, leaves us wanting a tad more.

2017 Ferrari California T HS side

The manettino’s Sport mode is cruelly restrictive for a rear-driven sports car with a glut of tyre-frying lowdown torque; if only the HS offered a 488-style, more lenient ‘CT Off’ setting. The exhaust sounds fantastic, and you’ll be making regular detours for nearby tunnels, but this is probably what the standard Cali T should have got, and the HS should have come with an active exhaust button and an even naughtier bit of kit.

The HS is an impressive, satisfying corner carver but those 1730 kilos make it reasonably easy to exhaust the P-Zeros’ front grip. If only it had slightly more focused rubber.

2017 Ferrari California T HS brakes and wheel

The engine is addictively flexible pulling hard and linearly from 2500rpm all the way to its 7500rpm limiter. And the dual-clutch seven-speed swaps its well-judged ratios crisply with a menacing blip on the downchanges.

2017 Ferrari California T HS rear turning

4.0 out of 5 stars

Like Makes the Cali T seriously fun to drive

Dislike Could have gone further with upgrades

Specs Engine: 3855cc V8, DOHC, 32v, twin-turbo Power:412kW @ 7500rpm Torque: 755Nm @ 4750rpm Weight: 1730kg 0-100km/h: 3.6sec (claimed) Price: $425,638