Ferrari 456 | |
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Ferrari 456 GT
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Ferrari |
Production | 1992–1997 (456) 1998–2003 (456M) |
Designer | Pietro Camardella and Lorenzo Ramaciotti at Pininfarina |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Grand tourer (S) |
Body style | 2-door 2+2 coupé |
Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 5.5 L Tipo F116B/F116C V12 (456) 5.5 L Tipo F116C V12 (456M) |
Transmission | 6-speed manual 4-speed automatic |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,600 mm (102.4 in) |
Length | 4,730 mm (186.2 in) 4,763 mm (187.5 in) (456M) |
Width | 1,920 mm (75.6 in) |
Height | 1,300 mm (51.2 in) |
Kerb weight | 1,690–1,770 kg (3,726–3,902 lb)(dry) |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Ferrari 412 |
Successor | Ferrari 612 Scaglietti |
The Ferrari 456 and 456M (Type F116 and F116M) are front-engined grand tourers which were produced by Ferrari from 1992 to 2003. The 456 was a replacement for the defunct front-engined 412 as the company's V12-powered four seater. The updated 456M, which was the last Ferrari model to use pop-up headlamps, was replaced in 2004 by the 612 Scaglietti.
Pietro Camardella and Lorenzo Ramaciotti at Pininfarina designed the original 456 which was available in GT and (from 1996) GTA forms. The difference in name signifies the transmission: the former has a six-speed manual and the latter has a four-speed automatic developed in partnership with FF Developments, in Livonia, MI (which was later purchased by Ricardo Engineering in the UK). This was only the fourth automatic transmission ever offered by Ferrari. The 5.5 L (5473.91 cc) 65° V12 engine was derived from the Dino V6 rather than the more conventional 60° V12s used in the 412 and Daytona. It produced 442 PS (325 kW; 436 hp) with 4 valves per cylinder and Bosch Motronic M2.7 engine management. It could push the 1690 kg car and four passengers to 302 km/h (188 mph) making it the world's fastest production four-seater. Acceleration to 100 km/h (62 mph) was just 5.2 seconds, with a 13.4 second quarter-mile time. At the time of its development it was the most powerful road car ever developed by Ferrari (aside from the F40). In 1996 engine was changed with Motronic M5.2 management and typed as F116C.
The name 456 is derived from the fact that each cylinder displaces 456 cubic centimeters. This was the last Ferrari to use this naming convention until the 488. Despite its supercar performance, the 456 has a relatively unstressed engine, which has proven to be a very reliable unit.