1996 Ferrari 550 Maranello

Once again, Pinifarina came through with a design that stands alone, compliments the nature of Ferrari tradition, while heralding state of the art technology to deliver the Ferrari that drivers wanted. Modern concept melted together with the Enzo Ferrari tradition to produce the 1996 Ferrari Maranello.

The designers were given a basic mission before the concept of the Maranello even began to blink in Pinifarina’s shining eyes. Build the car that driver want. Design the car that provides the performance, the ease, the sensual experience that is Ferrari, but do it without sacrificing comfort or drivability.

This sweet and seductive two seater Gran Turismo sports car lured the Ferrari fanatics to a new level of ecstasy with her grace under pressure and her commitment to style. The Ferrari company was known for its tendency to allow form to follow function, producing performance cars that performed, but left aesthetics as a by product of that performance.

The Maranello was unique in her attention to detail, both inside an out. With a top speed of 200 miles per hour and the well earned International Engine of the Year award in both 2000 and 2001, this little coupe exuded sophisticated craftsmanship with functional but clean lines.

Her body emanated strong impressions while her 12.90 second ˝ mile emanated an equally strong impression. She was the completion of sport car and refined user friendly success. Ferrari enthusiasts heralded the new addition and found her to be as impressive on the streets as she was in the showroom.
With a six on the floor design and a strong delivery of 485 horsepower when the tachometer hit 7000, her delivery was unmistakable. The 5.5 liter V 12 engine purred instead of rumbled, and her debut was an ultimate success.

Creating a lighter car with full function-ability was a simple choice of construction materials and making those design changes where it was bound to pay off without sacrificing anything else. The oil sump, the cylinder block, and the head were all crafted from a light alloy. The crankshaft, which was faithfully supported by 7 journals, gave way to lighter anti friction bearings. The con rods were crafted from a lighter titanium alloy, which naturally led to the obvious ability to reduce the necessary counter weight of the crankshaft. All of this led to a lighter design that not only enhanced performance but improved upon responsiveness and balance.

Her award winning V12 delivers nearly all her torque from around 3000 rpm, with peak torque at an easy 419 pound per foot ratio when the needle hits 5000 rpm. Rounded out by a 10.8 : 1 compression ratio, which obediently sits under the Bosch Motronic M5.2 management system. A higher level of thermodynamic efficiency was reached with the Mahle forged aluminum forged alloy pistons, a cooled dry sump lubrication system, and a 4 valve per cylinder head system, fitted with hydraulic tappets. The entire drive train system not only significantly reduces emissions, but creates near flawless engine performance with almost no need for even periodic adjustment.

Ferrari added to its list of patented uniquely Ferrari designs with the addition of the torque and power enhancement derived through the variable geometry intake. Completely unique to Ferrari, they added a third chamber which was linked to the manifold by 12 unique throttle valves, of course with electro pneumatic control. The addition of the third chamber actually created a pre-designed and reshaped airflow, blowing out new levels of efficient power. Utilizing a high speed serial line, this system was additionally linked to the Bosch Management 5.2 System, using a separate line for each row of cylinders.

The designers were aiming for the optimal weight distribution factor, and came up with a transaxle system that integrated the gearbox and the differential that achieved this goal. With the use of a hydraulic single plate dry clutch, naturally flywheel mounted, the gear box has 6 dual cone synchronized speeds and of course, reverse. They utilized their own unique design that delivered pressurized, cool lubrication throughout the gears. Transitions that were as smooth as butter resulted from this, and of course Ferrari used their signature gear box control with the aluminum knob.

The engine management system was once again utilized to monitor backflow pressure from the exhaust system. The use of bypass valves that rest neatly on the rear silencers and variable backpressure, the system monitors both engine speed and throttle opening which in fact created optimal performance levels for various conditions. The higher the back pressure becomes the greater the torque, while lower back pressure can then easily be utilized to maximize the full load efficiency range. This design eliminates that drag feeling associated with lesser vehicles as their loads and back pressure vary with each driving experience.

Despite the skepticism Ferrari received for their transition from all or nothing performance attitude to their notion that speed and function didn’t need to eliminate comfort and desirability, the actual release of the Ferrari Maranello 550 quieted those skeptics. The car turned out to be a unique achievement that many heralded only Ferrari could have pulled off.

Ferraris come with a significant price tag for all of their technological advancements in function and performance, and they depreciate rather intensely. Yet they are still considered a good value for the money. Their unmistakable design features, their development of attention to detail and their incredible ingenuity has led them to some remarkable industry innovations. Those who drive her found her irresistibly deceiving.

While the Maranello was “reminiscent of Daytona legends,” she still managed to sit in a class uniquely her own. She was Ferrari’s first honest mesh of performance and function, reaching speeds of about 200 miles per hour yet sporting a roomy interior, a trunk large enough for standard luggage or a set of gold clubs, and her own clean profile. Despite her relative significant success on the market, she was readily replaced by the 577 Maranello in 2002.






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© 2007 Kiersten Stetser and Benjamin for www.sport-cars.org