Ferrari 550 Maranello / 575M History
Catalog record
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History
Unveiled at the Nürburgring in July 1996, the Ferrari 550 Maranello marked a deliberate philosophical return to a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout for Ferrari's 2-seat V12 grand tourer — a formula abandoned since the 365 GTB/4 Daytona in 1973. Its 5.5-litre V12 produced 485 hp, offering effortless long-distance pace alongside supercar performance.
The 575M Maranello replaced it in 2002 ('M' for 'Modificata') with a 5.75-litre V12 producing 515 hp and the option of Ferrari's F1-style electrohydraulic paddle-shift gearbox. A 575M Superamerica with an electrochromic rotating glass roof (559 examples) and the track-focused 575 GTC were notable derivatives.
The 550/575 family was critically acclaimed for combining grand touring comfort with genuine supercar performance; together they laid the template for the 599 GTB Fiorano and ultimately the current 12Cilindri.
Generations
550 Maranello
485-hp 5.5-litre V12; Ferrari's first front-engine 2-seat GT since the 1973 Daytona.
1996 Photo: “Ferrari 550 Maranello (1996) (55080753804)” by Charles from Port Chester, New York / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1998 Photo: “1998 Ferrari 550 Maranello” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
2001 Photo: “Paris - Bonhams 2016 - Ferrari 550 Maranello coupé - 2001 - 002” by Thesupermat / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
575M Maranello
Enlarged 5.75-litre V12, 515 hp; F1-style paddle-shift gearbox available.
2002 Photo: “Paris - RM Sotheby's 2018 - Ferrari 575M Maranello - 2002 - 001” by Thesupermat / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
2003 Photo: “Paris - Bonhams 2017 - Ferrari 575M Maranello coupé - 2003 - 001” by Thesupermat / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Body styles
- Coupé
- Barchetta (limited)
Related models
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