2002 Ferrari 575M Maranello

Any time Ferrari appends the name of one of their models with an “M” — for modificato, or modified — it generally means that it’s the final version of that model incorporating all the refinements and upgrades. In other words, it’s the best, which is a fair assessment of the 575M Maranello, a heavy revision of the 550 that preceded it. Ferrari sent the classically proportioned grand tourer back to Pininfarina for a nip and a tuck (mostly revised aerodynamics, intakes, and body-colored headlight surrounds), and then plunged under the hood to revise the Tipo F133A motor, punching it out a fifth of a liter to produce the 508-horsepower F133E, an increase of nearly 30 hp over the 550. The 575M marked another significant milestone for the Scuderia, as the first road-going V12 car to feature an F1-style gearbox. Few cars have the poise, effortless grace and startling performance as the 575M Maranello, one of the best front-engined grand tourers ever produced.