What is it?
2002 Ferrari 575M Maranello
What's special about it?
Endowed with more power and torque, the new 575M Maranello is essentially an updated version of the 550 Maranello that was launched in the summer of 1996. The new name is derived from the car's 65-degree 48-valve four-cam 5.75-liter V12 engine (hence the 575), up from 5.5 liters in the previous model. In Ferrari parlance, M stands for modificata, or modified.
The increased displacement motor makes 515 hp at the 7,250 redline and 434 pound-feet of torque at 5,250 rpm, with more of the twist available between 1,000 and 4,000 rpm than before. Ferrari claims the 3,815-pound 575M will blaze from 0 to 60 mph in a shade over 4 seconds flat.
However, the most notable feature of the 575M is that it is the first road-going V12 Ferrari to use F1-style paddle shifting for its sequential gear shifter. Utilizing both Sport and Normal modes, the driver shifts the transmission using paddles mounted to the steering wheel. Or, if preferable, a fully automatic mode can be selected. There's even a setting for low-grip driving, such as in the rain or snow, and the traction control system can be dialed in for Sport or Normal driving.
This available rear-mounted transaxle (buyers can also select a conventional six-speed manual) is also linked to a new adaptive four-wheel independent suspension. The system selects the optimum ride height based on the driver's selection of Sport or Comfort modes. A perfect 50/50 weight distribution is made possible, in part, by the location of the transmission at the rear of the car.
Other updates include brakes that have been improved to resist fade and provide more response, quieter tires that last longer and perform better in the wet, and available 19-inch tires. Tire pressure sensors are standard, and the 575M rolls out of the factory on 255/40ZR18 front tires matched to 295/35ZR18 rears, a combination that helps ensure stability on the way to this Ferrari's top speed of 202 mph.
Styling modifications have been limited to those needed to accommodate technical changes, such as revised air inlets and a new front spoiler. Redesigned headlamp clusters employ xenon lighting and washers. Improvements have also been made to streamline airflow around the restyled wheels and to the underside of the car to generate more downforce and less drag when the 575M is traveling at speed.
Redesigned to be more sporty and functional, the 575M's dashboard features dials that are grouped together in a single pod with a centrally mounted tachometer. New seats feature six-way adjustment and memory, and there's a revised steering wheel. As before, Carrozzeria Scaglietti can tailor the 575M's colors and materials to the customer's tastes and preferences.
Why should you care?
From a general consumer standpoint, you shouldn't, unless you've got hundreds of thousands of dollars to pour into a depreciating asset. But Ferraris are always fun to dream about, aren't they? And this one comes with a big V12 engine mated to a transmission that does away with that finicky shift gate. — Christian J. Wardlaw
2002 Ferrari 575M Maranello
What's special about it?
Endowed with more power and torque, the new 575M Maranello is essentially an updated version of the 550 Maranello that was launched in the summer of 1996. The new name is derived from the car's 65-degree 48-valve four-cam 5.75-liter V12 engine (hence the 575), up from 5.5 liters in the previous model. In Ferrari parlance, M stands for modificata, or modified.
The increased displacement motor makes 515 hp at the 7,250 redline and 434 pound-feet of torque at 5,250 rpm, with more of the twist available between 1,000 and 4,000 rpm than before. Ferrari claims the 3,815-pound 575M will blaze from 0 to 60 mph in a shade over 4 seconds flat.
However, the most notable feature of the 575M is that it is the first road-going V12 Ferrari to use F1-style paddle shifting for its sequential gear shifter. Utilizing both Sport and Normal modes, the driver shifts the transmission using paddles mounted to the steering wheel. Or, if preferable, a fully automatic mode can be selected. There's even a setting for low-grip driving, such as in the rain or snow, and the traction control system can be dialed in for Sport or Normal driving.
This available rear-mounted transaxle (buyers can also select a conventional six-speed manual) is also linked to a new adaptive four-wheel independent suspension. The system selects the optimum ride height based on the driver's selection of Sport or Comfort modes. A perfect 50/50 weight distribution is made possible, in part, by the location of the transmission at the rear of the car.
Other updates include brakes that have been improved to resist fade and provide more response, quieter tires that last longer and perform better in the wet, and available 19-inch tires. Tire pressure sensors are standard, and the 575M rolls out of the factory on 255/40ZR18 front tires matched to 295/35ZR18 rears, a combination that helps ensure stability on the way to this Ferrari's top speed of 202 mph.
Styling modifications have been limited to those needed to accommodate technical changes, such as revised air inlets and a new front spoiler. Redesigned headlamp clusters employ xenon lighting and washers. Improvements have also been made to streamline airflow around the restyled wheels and to the underside of the car to generate more downforce and less drag when the 575M is traveling at speed.
Redesigned to be more sporty and functional, the 575M's dashboard features dials that are grouped together in a single pod with a centrally mounted tachometer. New seats feature six-way adjustment and memory, and there's a revised steering wheel. As before, Carrozzeria Scaglietti can tailor the 575M's colors and materials to the customer's tastes and preferences.
Why should you care?
From a general consumer standpoint, you shouldn't, unless you've got hundreds of thousands of dollars to pour into a depreciating asset. But Ferraris are always fun to dream about, aren't they? And this one comes with a big V12 engine mated to a transmission that does away with that finicky shift gate. — Christian J. Wardlaw
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