2004 Ferrari Maranello 575 GTC pictures and wallpaper

2004 Ferrari Maranello 575 GTC news, pictures, and information

Following on from the success of privately-entered 550 Maranellos in international GT racing, including a historic class win in the 2003 Le Mans 24 Hours, Ferrari has developed its own in-house evolution of the new 575M Maranello, the 575 GTC (where the C stands for Competizione).

Developed specifically for the FIA GT and GrandAm championships, the 575 GTC berlinetta features considerable modifications, starting with an increase in displacement from the production car's 5,748 cc to 5,997 cc with a slightly longer stroke. Specific cam timing and Marelli engine management with the FIA regulation 31.8mm restrictors see power increase to 600 bhp which, when matched by the longest gearing of the optional final drives available, ensures a theoretical top speed of 335 km/h (208 mph). The gearing for Monza allows an effective top speed of 288 km/h (179 mph) and that for Estoril 270 km/h (168 mph).

Front and rear track have both been increased while the car's dry weight has been drastically reduced to just over the minimum allowed weight of 1150 kg (2,530 lbs) thanks to the use of a specific tubular spaceframe chassis with composite body panels.

Lengthy wind tunnel testing has gone into developing the 575 GTC's aerodynamics and the car sports a flat underbody with rear diffuser to FIA/ACO regulations, and an adjustable front spoiler together with a split rear wing with Gurney flap. All-round double wishbone suspension features adjustable damping, and adjustable anti-roll bar and anti-dive geometry at the front. Braking is by courtesy of Brembo with 6-pot callipers at the front and 4-pot callipers at the rear.

Source - Ferrari

Debuted in 2002, the Ferrari 575M (Maranello) is a two-seat, 2-door grand tourer that is basically an updated 550 Maranello with just slight styling updates from Pininfarina. In 2006 the 575M was replaced with the 599 GTB. The model number ‘575' stood for total engine displacement in liters and the ‘M' is an abbreviation of ‘modificato' or ‘modified'.

Slight updates from the 550 included a completely renewed interior but it did feature major improvements that included larger disc brakes, and much more powerful and larger engine and a different weight distribution. The aerodynamics was much more refined and fluid-dynamics were revised also along with an adaptive suspension set-up. The Ferrari 575M offered Magneti Marelli's semi-automatic ‘F1' gearbox for the first time ever on a Ferrari V12, along with two six-speed transmissions available along with a conventional manual gearbox.

The Ferrari 575M had a max speed of 203 mph and could achieve 0-60mph in just 4.2 seconds with the semi-automatic gearbox. The 575M had an overall length of 179 inches, a width of 76.2 inches and a height of 50.3 inches.

3 years after it had been introduced, an all new GTC handling package and Superamerica version and raised the power from 515 Ps to 540 PS was developed in 2005. The Superamerica version was a limited run of 559 retractable hardtop variants of the coupe. The GTC package came with Ferrari's fourth Carbon fiber-reinforced Silicon Carbide composite ceramic composite brake system, constructed by Brembo. Other features on the GTC package included a more performance-tuned suspension system, 19 inch wheels and low-restriction exhaust system. The all-new brakes were based on the company's Formula One technology. The brakes use 15.7 inch discs with six-piston calipers in the front and 14.2 inch discs with four-piston calipers in the back. The GTC package was priced around $23,500

The 575M Superamerica was debuted in 2005 and was a much evolved convertible variation of the 575M Maranello. The Superamerica came with an electrochromic glass panel roof that was capable of rotating 180° (a production vehicle first!) and the rear to lay flat over the trunk. Marketed by Ferrari as the world's fastest convertible, the Superamerica used the higher-output tune of the V12 engine which was rated at 540 hp. The Superamerica had a top speed of 199 mph and the GTC handling package was optional. 559 575M Superamerica's were constructed, an odd production, but followed Enzo Ferrari's philosophy ‘that there should always be one fewer car available than what the market is demanding'.

Announced at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, Yoshiyui Hayash produced a one-off special 575M GTZ built by Zagato for Japanese Ferrari collector. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 250 range, the GTZ was endorsed officially by Ferrari. The 575M GTZ included Zagato's signature double-bubble roofline and two-tone paint.

The 575-GTC, distinguished from the 575M GTC Handling Package, was introduced in 2003 and followed the success of Prodrive in running the Ferrari 550, Ferrari wanted to offer their own racing vehicle to customers. The 575-GTC's were used primarily in the FIA GT Championship and succeeded to take a single win in their first season, with another one the following year. By the end of 2005 the 575-GTC's were not as good as the Prodrive-built 550-GTS's.

Jessica Donaldson

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