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550
First introduced at the Nürburgring
in 1996, the Pininfarina-designed
front-engined 550 was Ferrari’s
answer to a powerful V12 coupe,
with a top speed of 200 mph,
utilizing 480 bhp. With a 5.5L
engine and six-speed manual
gearbox, this new aerodynamic
design was built as a high-
performance production vehicle.
The 550 Maranello obtained critical
acclaim when it established new
records for a production car during
speed tests carried out in Marysville,
Ohio, in October 1998, when it
was recorded as having an average
speed of 188.88 mph over a distance
of 62 miles. The construction
of the rear-wheel driven 550
boasted a steel tubular frame with
Produced
1996-2001
Engine Size
5474 cc
Cylinders
12
0-60 mph
4.6 secs
Top Speed
200 mph
Power Output
480 bhp
Transmission
Manual
Gears
6 Speed
Length
179.3 in (4554 mm)
Width
76.2 in (1935 mm)
Height
50.3 in (1278 mm)
Weight
3730 lb (1692 kg)
Wheelbase
98.4 in (2500 mm)
(Specifications refer to the 550
base model)
aluminum panels that were bolted
on in order to support its sturdiness
and rugged visual aesthetic. In
2000 the Barchetta design was
unleashed at the Paris Motor Show.
The Barchetta, simply being the
convertible option of the 550, was
manufactured without a hard top,
but with a soft top that was issued
with an advisory caution that it
should not be used above speeds of
70 mph. The 550 was a faster and
more practical sports car than its
predecessor, the F512 M.
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