Wednesday 27th October 2004

Ferrari promises topless 575

Launching early next year with folding roof

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Autocar reports this week that Ferrari is to launch a convertible 575 at the Detroit Motor Show in January 2005. It will be called the 575 Super America, have a strictly limited run of 500 and, unlike its predecessor (see the 550 pic), sports a fancy new folding roof.

The report reckons that it will have a more powerful version of the 575's 5-litre V12 engine, boosting power from 508 bhp to 540 bhp. Some UK customers have already had a sneak preview of the car.

The roof itself is allegedly made of a carbon-fibre frame surrounding a single pane of glass, which can be electronically tinted in five discrete steps to prevent the driver frying in direct sunlight -- like that's a problem in the UK 11.5 months of the year.

Originally developed by Italian styling house Fioravanti, it retracts by pivoting and then flipping upside down into a modified rear panel.

The price of the new machine is likely to top £180,000.

[v8thunder]

[TURBOSEI]

How does the roof fold away into the engine cover of a front engined car?

[dazren]

Superb.

A proper folding roof is exactly what is needed on this car. Clearly Ferrari have taken feedback from owners of the 550 Barchetta with it's temporary/fiddly hood, which must be removed if you intend doing over 70mph.

DAZ

[wedgie]

Nearly as nice as the TVR Tuscan " convertible

[Marki]

nice ,, but when is the 575`s replacement due must be some time soon ?

[anniesdad]

Looks like a last hurrah to me....If I had the choice I'd go for the hardtop.

Very lovely all the same though and more power is always nice.

[mr_tony]

hmm could be a total classic if they've got the roof right - not really been a V12 cabrio I can think of since the daytona spyder, and they're worth a bucket these days.

Only one downside I can see is that I will probably never own one at a starting price of 180k!

[Davey S1]

v8thunder said:

[sevenGreen]

sweetie

[v8thunder]

Davey S1 said:

v8thunder said:

well it just doesn't seem such an exciting prospect as Ferrari would like us to see it. I'm surprised they don't release the coupe and convertible at the same time and have done. This just makes them seem overtly commercial, like a band releasing every last song on their album as a single over the course of three years.

[burriana500]

TURBOSEI said:

How does the roof fold away into the engine cover of a front engined car?

Where did it say it folded into the engine cover?

[Davey S1]

v8thunder said:

Davey S1 said: v8thunder said: well it just doesn't seem such an exciting prospect as Ferrari would like us to see it. I'm surprised they don't release the coupe and convertible at the same time and have done. This just makes them seem overtly commercial, like a band releasing every last song on their album as a single over the course of three years.

I take your point but for a car like this it makes no difference for Ferrari. It will be a swansong for the 575 before it is replaced and even at over £200k they will instantly sell all of them to collectors.

Same with the 550 Barchetta. Even though it looks ugly with the roof up.

Personally I would still rather cough up some more dough and get the Murcielago roadster. The crap fiddly roof wouldnt bother me as I drive an Elise

[v8thunder]

Davey S1 said:

Same with the 550 Barchetta. Even though it looks ugly with the roof up.

550/575 looks ugly roof up, roof down, roof fixed, whatever. I seem to be the only person who thinks it's a badly proportioned mess, just another identikit coupe with a few Ferrari trademarks on it. Sooner it's replaced the better IMO.

[Blow Dog]

v8thunder said:

550/575 looks ugly roof up, roof down, roof fixed, whatever. I seem to be the only person who thinks it's a badly proportioned mess, just another identikit coupe with a few Ferrari trademarks on it. Sooner it's replaced the better IMO.

Speak your mind

[Thom]

Davey S1 said:

even at over £200k they will instantly sell all of them to collectors.

Given the relatively high number of 550 Barchettas available on the market they may not sell as well ...

[anjum]

I understand that the chassis works this time - i.e. no flexing and scuttle shake unlike to 550 barchetta - and that due to having a roof - no awful fezza helmets will be sold with the car......

I have to confess I like the barchetta - when parked - with roof down. And Tubis installed......with no helmets.....

hee hee hee

[Davey S1]

Thom said:

Davey S1 said: even at over £200k they will instantly sell all of them to collectors. Given the relatively high number of 550 Barchettas available on the market they may not sell as well ...

They will still sell like hot cakes.

I'm convinced if Ferrari offered a Rosso Red dog turd with Scuderia Shields on for a few grand they would sell a ton of them.

Where have you seen lots of Barchettas for sale? I regularly look in the Sunday Times and the various car mags and only see one occasionally. Unless you are seriously rich and can afford to have one just to use for a few weeks a year they dont make a lot of sense in this country

[maranellouk]

anjum said:

I have to confess I like the barchetta - when parked - with roof down. And Tubis installed......with no helmets..... hee hee hee

Absolutely seconded! Roof up is a rather disturbing sight but you have to buy it in a country where rain is not a daily problem.

[Thom]

Davey S1 said:

Where have you seen lots of Barchettas for sale?

Between mobile.de and autosalon-singen.de there are 13 for sale.
I think that's a relatively high number for some car that is supposed to be a collector's.

[turbosei]

burriana500 said:

TURBOSEI said: How does the roof fold away into the engine cover of a front engined car? Where did it say it folded into the engine cover?

Well it did at lunchtime - guess it's been edited.