Ferrari 575M Maranello Design

The goal of the 575M's styling was retention of the elegant balance and appearance that invested the 550 Maranello with the status of an instant classic, fitting in perfectly with Ferrari’s return to a front engine high performance car. Modifications were limited to those required by the technical changes: different shape and size for the air intakes in the new front end of the car, with refinement of the aerodynamic and fluid-dynamic efficiency and a new treatment for the front spoiler providing negative lift and improved cooling for the new engine.

The air intake on the bonnet did not change shape, but it too is larger in size to match the greater demands of the engine. Finally, the light clusters have been redesigned to produce a new aesthetic, with colour-coded headlamp bodies and grey surround, combined with xenon technology for the dipped beam, with headlamp washers in relevant markets. The wheels also feature a new design.

Aerodynamics:

In terms of aerodynamics, the 575M Maranello represents the state of the art of applied Ferrari research in front-engined cars achieving targets of constant vertical load on the wheels, minimal sensitivity to side winds, and minimal drag. The increased demand for cooling made it necessary to increase the air flow inside the car and to re-examine the aerodynamics of the underbody, which was modified to introduce new raised channels that generate load but make the car insensitive to changes in ride set-up.

Every detail of the underbody was analysed with care to generate the desired load and to decrease resistance. The ultimate optimisation focused on the air flow around the wheels, and special small fairing elements were introduced at the front and rear. All these changes maintain the already excellent values of aerodynamic efficiency, in spite of the new engine's need for increased cooling.