Rev the engine past 6,000 rpm and shifts take even less time to process than the already split second they do if set to Sport mode. Normal mode is set for softer, slower shifts, more conducive to relaxed driving. That said, for the morning commute, Ferrari has included an automatic mode that takes care of shifting just like a modern fully automatic transmission - but not quite as smooth.
If you happen to be a fan of F1, or managed to have caught news clips of Rubens Barrichello's F2002 car prostrate on the starting line while its competitors are speeding off, you'll be savvy to 'Launch Control', for better or for worse. Designed to optimize the engine's revs, throttle input and rear wheel traction during take off, this new technology is usually quite reliable - or at least has been for Michael Schumacher. The new 575M incorporates a version that improves acceleration times from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.2 seconds. Top speed is a celestial 325 km/h.
With speed comes the need for control, a Ferrari forte. The 575M comes equipped with an active damping suspension system that uses Mannesmann proporsioning-valve shocks fed by six accelerometers. The valves can open and close in 80 milliseconds, responding to driver input, the selected drive mode and changing road conditions to optimize the tire's contact patch and maximize total grip. The tires themselves are 255/40ZR18s up front and 295/35ZR18s in the rear on 18-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels - 19-inch rims and tires are optional.