(from Ferrari North America Press
Release) All Ferraris are limited edition pieces, some more so
than others. With only 448 produced, the 550 Barchetta Pininfarina is a
very special car indeed. It is a salute to the 70th anniversary of the
house that has styled more Ferraris than any other, the 50th anniversary
of the two company's first joint endeavor, and a celebration of the
Scuderia Ferrari's 2000 and 2001 World Championships for Formula 1
Constructors. With a shape and a name that harkens to the sports racers
and legendary sports spiders of the 1960s, and all the technology of a
modern Ferrari GT car, the 550 Barchetta Pininfarina is perhaps the
ultimate expression of a sun-lover's Italian automobile.
From every angle the 550 Barchetta is exciting, and with the tasteful
addition of Carrozzeria Scaglietti equipment as standard, it elegantly
stands out from the crowd. The most striking aspect of the Barchetta is
its open top. Its structure having been specially modified to maintain
strength and rigidity on par with the 550 Maranello, the Barchetta is
designed for al fresco motoring; the removable roof panel is an
occasional solution for leisurely driving in inclement weather. A
Barchetta Pininfarina's fortunate owner will revel in the glorious sound
of the 485bhp Ferrari V12, the stupendous dynamic sensations provided by
driving, and the sheer joy of communing with nature from the road or
track.
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
Unsprung weight of the
Barchetta Pininfarina has been safely lightened to provide pinpoint
steering and perfect control of the car in all conditions, especially
those necessitating excellent overall dynamic balance. The 550 Barchetta
Pininfarina has four wheel independent suspension with a transverse
parallelogram structure and triangular arms, aluminum gas dampers with
coaxial coil springs, and anti-roll bars front and rear. The suspension
incorporates a variable logic, multiple parameter driver-adjustable
system to vary damper settings.
