The Ferrari 550 Maranello and 550 Barchetta were 2-seat Gran Turismo automobiles. 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 demise that same year of the F512M left the company with only the exotic F50 and V8 F355 as mid-engined models.
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 550 was replaced by the Modificata Ferrari 575M Maranello in 2002.
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.
