2001 Ferrari 550 Barchetta Pininfarina

Design

The 550 Barchetta Pininfarina is the perfect interpretation of the classic, open-top front-engined V12 Ferrari sports car, complete with modern styling and technology. The 550 Barchetta Pininfarina has a traditional barchetta-style cut to the windscreen (around 4 inches lower than the 550 Maranello) with a body-coloured finish to the lower section of the surround. Furthermore it reflects the past as a model aimed exclusively at open-air use, providing just a manual soft-top for emergency use.

Functional and unadorned with a simple manual soft-top, the barchetta-style solution has enabled Ferrari's engineers to offset the additional weight gained by reinforcing the chassis and fitting rear roll bars. Consequently the 550 Barchetta Pininfarina weighs no more than the 550 Maranello.

The 550 Barchetta Pininfarina's exclusive design includes other distinctive features such as Ferrari badges on the wheelarches, two-piece alloy wheels and a unique aluminum fuel filler cap. The car can be ordered in any colour in the Ferrari range.

Aerodynamics

A creature of the wind tunnel as well as the outdoors, the 550 Barchetta Pininfarina's aerodynamic shape is the result of controlled tests that achieved the targets of constant vertical load on the wheels, minimal sensitivity to side winds, and minimal drag.  The car's undertray represents another step forward by Ferrari engineers, resulting in excellent stability and driving safety without the use of moving parts or unnecessary surfaces.

Bodywork

The 550 Barchetta Pininfarina's bodywork is an evolution of the 550 Maranello's. The car is built around a tubular steel frame to which the light aluminum alloy coachwork is welded with Feran. Apertures have been styled for efficiency and beauty. Fixed, integrated homofocal light clusters were designed to improve lighting, airflow, and wind noise. Fog lights are similarly incorporated into the front bumper and the door windows are flush with the windshield frame.

Chassis

The frame of the 550 Barchetta Pininfarina is welded from varied-section high tensile steel tubes. Torsional rigidity is 10,850lb-ft/degree, and flexional rigidity is 69lbs/inch. The highest standards of handling necessitate a strong chassis, especially in an open-top car. The frame's design benefits from Ferrari's many years of racing experience, which also guarantees total engineering safety in terms of unitary construction. The safety features are outstanding, particularly with regard to the strong central cage and protective peripheral elements constituting a high energy absorption system. Particular care has been taken with rollover protection, resulting in the twin hoops above and behind each passenger seat.

Engine

The 550 Barchetta Pininfarina uses the same 5474cc 65 degree V12 as the 550 Maranello. The engine produces 485bhp at 7000rpm, with a maximum of 420lb-ft of torque on tap at 5000rpm. The cylinder block, cylinder heads and sump are all in light alloy with Nikasil-coated aluminum wet liners. The con rods are in Ti6a14V titanium alloy for maximum reliability at high revs during lengthy high-speed running. The four-valve heads incorporate hydraulic tappets.

Suspension