Ferrari 550
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| Ferrari 550 Maranello, Barchetta |
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| Manufacturer | Ferrari |
| Production | 1996–2001 |
| Predecessor | Ferrari F512M |
| Successor | Ferrari 575M Maranello |
| Class | sports car |
| Body style | Coupe Barchetta |
| Engine | 5.5 L V12 |
The Ferrari 550 Maranello and 550 Barchetta were 2-seat Gran Turismo sports cars. Introduced in 1996, the 550 was an upmarket front-engined V12 coupe of the kind not seen since the Daytona. It shared its platform and 5.5 L (5474 cc) engine with the 2+2 456 (Engine Code: F133) but was positioned as the company's highest-end model. The car used a transaxle layout, with the 6-speed manual gearbox located at the back, in-line with the driven wheels.
The demise that same year of the F512M left the company with only the exotic F50 and V8 F355 as mid-engined models. Although the 550 was a softer GT model, it did take the place of the F512M as the company's upmarket coupe, discounting the F50 supercar.
The 550 featured a luxurious and roomy interior. The (rear) trunk was tall and wide, though not very deep, and could accept a full set of golf clubs or standard overnight bags. It also had performance to look up at, with a top speed at 323 km/h (199 mph) and a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of just 4.5 seconds.
The 550 line was replaced by the Modificata Ferrari 575M Maranello in 2002.
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[edit] 550 Barchetta
Ferrari introduced a convertible version of the 550 at the Paris Motor Show in 2000. This Barchetta was a true roadster with no real convertible top provided. The factory did provide a soft top, but it was intended only for temporary use as it was cautioned against using the top above 70 mph. A total of 448 Barchettas were produced, four more than initially planned due to concerns of superstition in the Japanese market. The 448 cars were preceded by 10 prototypes numbered P01-P10 on their interior plaques. To an observer the prototypes and production cars are indistinguishable.
[edit] Today
A strong performer at franchise and specialist retailers alike, the 550 is favoured by both buyer and seller due it's impressive reliability and relative ease-of-use (for a Ferrari). Problems exist of course, but are usually minor hindrances rather than fundamental failures.
[edit] Awards
The 5.5 L V12 engine won the "over 4 liter" class of the International Engine of the Year award for 2000 and 2001.
[edit] Appearances In Modern Media
- Director Michael Bay's own Ferrari 550 Maranello was used as a 'stunt double' for Mike Lowry's Ferrari 575 during the car chases in the 2003 action film Bad Boys 2.
[edit] External links
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| Supercar | 250 GTO | 288 GTO | F40 | F50 | F50 GT | Enzo | FXX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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