Ciro De Siena realised his lifelong dream of driving a manual, open-H-gate Ferrari when he piloted a particularly special Ferrari 575M Maranello at Killarney.
These days, Ferrari doesn’t make manual gearboxes anymore, and so if you do want to drive a Ferrari with a “stick shift”, you need to convince someone who owns one to let you drive it. That’s not easy, but luckily, the stars aligned when Crossley & Webb in Cape Town had this particularly rare 2004 Ferrari 575M Maranello going up for auction and the dealership agreed to let us drive this special machine.
See also: Crossley & Webb: CT’s Collectable Car Specialists
The Ferrari 575M Maranello, introduced in 2002 as the successor to the 550 Maranello, represented a significant evolution in Ferrari’s front-engined V12 grand tourer lineage, and aimed to build upon its predecessor by integrating updated technology and enhanced performance.
The 550, launched in the late 1990s, had successfully reintroduced the front-engined, rear-wheel-drive V12 format to Ferrari’s road car offerings, but the 575M incorporated various modifications, hence the “M” in its designation (for modificata/modified) to elevate its capabilities and appeal.
Pininfarina’s design for the 550 was largely retained for the 575M, a testament to its enduring aesthetic. Minor revisions were made to the exterior, including a redesigned front bumper with larger air intakes, updated headlight clusters, and a subtly altered grille, providing a more contemporary appearance while maintaining the vehicle’s established lines.
The interior also underwent enhancements, featuring improved materials, a revised dashboard layout, and a more driver-oriented cabin, contributing to increased comfort and luxury for extended journeys.
Specification:
- Model: 2004 Ferrari 575M Maranello
- Engine: 5.7-litre, V12, petrol
- Power: 379 kW at 7 250 rpm
- Torque: 588 Nm at 5 250 rpm
- Transmission: 6-speed manual, RWD
- Weight: 1 730 kg
- 0-100 kph: 4.25 sec (claimed)
- Top speed: 325 kph (claimed)
A core focus of the Ferrari 575M’s development was its powertrain. The 550’s naturally aspirated 65-degree 5.5-litre V12 engine was bored out to 5.75 litres, and the bigger engine, featuring 4 overhead camshafts and 4 valves per cylinder, produced maximum power of 379 kW and peak torque of 588 Nm.
This power increase, combined with a 50-50 weight distribution achieved through a transaxle design, enabled the 575M to accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in 4.25 sec and reach a top speed of 325 kph.
See also: How to buy a new Ferrari: A beginner’s guide
The 575M also featured a new adaptive suspension system and a Fiorano Handling Package, which incorporated tiffer suspension settings, upgraded braking components (including optional carbon-ceramic discs and a revised steering system, was available as an extra-cost option.
We weren’t even aware of just how rare this car is. Most 575M units were equipped with an F1 electro-hydraulic automated manual gearbox – a 6-speed manual transmission remained available, but very few buyers specified it. As a result, only 246 units out of 2 056 produced had a 3-pedal configuration.
And this is a right-hand-drive example – there can’t be many of these around, and as far as we know, this is the only manual Ferrari 575M Maranello in South Africa.
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