Ferrari 575M Maranello

The Ferrari 575M Maranello is a two-seat, two-door, grand tourer built by Ferrari. Launched in 2002, it is essentially an updated 550 Maranello featuring minor styling changes from Pininfarina. The 575M was replaced by the 599 GTB in the first half of 2006.

Updates from the 550 include a renewed interior, but with substantial improvements mechanically, including bigger brake discs, a larger and more powerful engine, a different weight distribution, refined aerodynamics and fluid-dynamics and an adaptive suspension set-up (the four independent suspensions are also controlled by the gearbox, to minimize pitch throughout the 200-milliseconds shift time). Two six-speed transmissions are available, a conventional manual gearbox and, for the first time on a Ferrari V12, Magneti Marelli's semi-automatic (Electrohydraulic manual) 'F1' gearbox. The model number refers to total engine displacement in litres, whilst the 'M' is an abbreviation of 'modificato' or 'modified'. For 2005, the company developed a new GTC handling package and Superamerica version (a limited run of 559 Retractable hardtop variants of the coupe), along with raising the power from 515 PS (379 kW; 508 hp) to 540 PS (400 kW; 530 hp). The Ferrari 575M Superamerica was an innovative convertible version of the 575M Maranello; it featured an electrochromic glass panel roof which rotated 180° (both are production car firsts) at the rear to lay flat over the boot. The Superamerica used the higher-output tune of the V-12 engine, rated at 540 hp (403 kW) and Ferrari marketed it as the world's fastest convertible, with a top speed of 199 mph (320 km/h). The GTC handling package was optional. A total of 559 Superamericas were built; this awkward number followed Enzo Ferrari's philosophy that there should always be one fewer car available than what the market is demanding.