In the autumn of 1994 the F512 M, the new version of the 512, was presented (M stands for ‘modificata’ or modified). Radical improvements were made to the whole car: the power/weight ratio was improved as was the styling, while still keeping the original Pininfarina basic design.

The F512 M was the replacement for the 512 TR, and was presented at the Paris Salon in the autumn of 1994. The new model was born at a time when it was decided to use an “F” (for Ferrari) prefix to the model number, which as with the 512 TR referred to the 5 litre engine capacity and number of cylinders. Thus it was not only the most highly developed of the series, but also the rarest. It was also the last in the mid engine flat 12 cylinder engine production car range, that had started two and a half decades earlier with the presentation by Pininfarina of the 365 GT4/BB concept, at the 1971 Turin Salon.

As with the previous models in the series the bodies were mounted on a 2550mm wheelbase chassis, that carried factory type reference F 110 HB, and which was of virtually identical construction to that of the earlier models. All chassis numbers were in the continuous number sequence, with various world market models produced in either left or right hand drive form. The new alloy road wheels were quite an aerodynamically vaned interpretation of the traditional Ferrari five spoke “star” design, which featured split rims. The front ones were 8J x 18″ diameter and the rear ones 10.5J x 18″ diameter, covering ventilated and cross drilled brake discs actuated by four piston callipers, with separate front and rear hydraulic circuits, ABS and servo assistance. The curved spoke design, as fitted to the 512 TR, were available as an option, for those who found the new design to radical.