Ferrari 456 GT

Ferrari 456 GT

Manufacturer Ferrari
Parent company Fiat Group
Predecessor Ferrari 412
Successor Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
Class GT car
Body style(s) 2+2 Coupé
Layout FR layout
Designer pininfarina
Production 1992–1997
Engine(s) 5.5 L V12

The Pininfarina designed original 456 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 the UK firm Ricardo. This was only the fourth automatic transmission ever offered by Ferrari.

The 5.5 L (5474 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 436 hp (325 kW) with 4 valves per cylinder and Bosch Motronic 2.7 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 passenger car. 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).

The name 456 is derived from the fact that each cylinder displaces 456 cc. It is essentially a detuned version of the engine that appears in the 550 and 575. Despite its supercar performance the 456 has a relatively unstressed engine, which has proven to be a very reliable unit.

The chassis is a tubular steel spaceframe construction with a one-piece composite bonnet and body panels of aluminium. The body panels are welded to the chassis by using a special "sandwich filler" called feran that, when laid between, allows steel and aluminium to be welded.

Approximately 3,289 of all versions where built worldwide. These consisted of the following versions: 456 GT: 1,548; 456 GTA 403;456M GT 688; 456M GTA 650.