General data  
Year/s of production 1998 – 2003
Presentation Geneva Motor Show 1998, S/N 111373
VIN span 109589 –
Number produced Approx. 1320
Design Pininfarina
Manufactured by Pininfarina
   
Technical specifications  
Chassis F 116 CL – Tubular steel chassis on which the aluminium bodywork is weld by a particular procedure
Length 4763 mm
Width 1920 mm
Height 1300 mm
Wheelbase 2600 mm
Front suspension Independent suspensions with anti-roll bars and anti-dive geometry unequal-length, non-parallel wishbones. The gas dampers are electronically controlled and adjust into two positions
Rear suspension Independent suspensions with anti-roll bars and anti-dive geometry unequal-length, non-parallel wishbones. The gas dampers are electronically controlled and adjust into two positions
Front track 1585 mm
Rear track 1606 mm
Front tyres 8 x 17 in., alloy rims, 5 spokes design Tyres: 245/45 ZR 17
Rear tyres 10,5 x 17 in., alloy rims, 5 spokes design Tyres: 285/40 ZR 17
Front brakes Brembo self-ventilated disc brakes with pneumatic servobrake, ABS system
Rear brakes Brembo self-ventilated disc brakes with pneumatic servobrake, electronic rear braking corrector
Weight Approx. 1690 kg
Body material Aluminium
Body type Berlinetta – 2+2 seats
   
Engine  
Type F 116 CL – front engine
Number of cylinders V12 – 65°
Displacement 5473,9 ccm
Bore and stroke 88 x 75 mm
Camshaft 2 overhead per cylinder bank
Valves 4 per cylinder
Compression ratio 10,6:1
Ignition Bosch static electronic ignition
Lubrication Dry sump lubrication, approx. 10 litres oil
Maximum power 442 hp – 7.250 rpm
Maximum torque 550 Nm – 4.500 rpm
Fuel management Bosch Motronic M 5.2
Gearbox 6 gears + rev., transaxle construction. ASR drive control system connected to the antiskid circuit: a substantial enhancement of safety even with the most difficult conditions
Engine weight 235 kg
Fuel tank 110 litres
   
Performance  
0 – 100 km/h 5,2 sec.
0 – 400 m 13,3 sec.
0 – 1000 m 23,3 sec.
Top speed Over 300 km/h
The new 456 M launched at Geneva
Copyright: Ferrari

Geneva, 4th March 1998 – Yesterday, at the Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari launched the new 456 M, an evolution of a particularly well received model to clients who in a real Ferrari appreciate roominess combined with flexibility of use: the 456 in its GT and GTA versions. Ferrari President, Luca di Montezemolo, and Managing Director, Paolo Marinsek, attended to the launch. A further step in the company’s tradition of 2+2 cars, the 456 M provides a high-performance 5,474 cu. in. V12 engine but at the same time guarantees the comfort and roominess typical of a GT car. The most rational way to roominess and maximum-performance in terms of safety and easy driving conditions is a layout with a front engine and a rear gearbox. The aerodynamics being a top priority, the front part was designed in a clear-cut way and a spoiler was integrated in the rear bumper. The particular shape of the front spoiler and bonnet and the development of the rear extractor guarantee an improvement in the 456 M forecarriage lift and penetrative capacity rate. Design by Pininfarina. Bodywork The car is built around a tubular steel chassis on which the aluminium bodywork is weld by a particular procedure. The two parts are united with the interposition of a special material named Feran. This process makes aluminium’s lightness come together with steel’s rigidity. To make the car lighter, the front bonnet is in carbon fibre. Interior Four-seater cockpit upholstered in Connolly leather. Electrically assisted seats with position memories. Analogue instrumentation with check-panel. Air-conditioning with solar climate sensor. Hi-Fi system. Chassis The stress-bearing chassis, in tubular alloy steel, is connected to the independent suspensions with anti-roll bars and anti-dive geometry unequal-length, non-parallel wishbones. The gas dampers are electronically controlled and adjust into two positions. Servotronic rack-and-pinion steering. Self-ventilated disc brakes with pneumatic servobrake, ABS system and electronic rear braking corrector. The car is equipped with a modern ASR drive control system connected to the antiskid circuit: a substantial enhancement of safety even with the most difficult conditions. Power train 65 degrees V12, 334.0 cu. in., 436 HP front engine. Four valves per cylinder and twin overhead cams. Bosch M 5.2 engine management system. Single-plate dry clutch and dry sump lubrication system. The car comes in two versions: GT with mechanical 6-speed plus reverse gearbox and GTA with automatic 4-speed plus reserve gearbox.

The Ferrari 456M voted best GT car of 2001
Copyright: Ferrari

Maranello, 16th January 2001. The editors of Automobile Magazine , the major USA automotive monthly magazine, awarded the Ferrari 456M with the All-Star Award for Best GT Car of 2001. The award was announced in the February issue of the magazine, and represents a further demonstration of Ferrari’s traditional excellence in the 2+2 sector. Designed by Pininfarina, the 456M embodies the ideal combination between the high performance offered by its 442hp V12 engine and the traditional dotes of comfort and roominess of a GT car. Its perfect mix of sporting temperament and space, power and safety, tradition and technological innovation has thus ensured the 456M this first, important international automotive award of the new Millennium. These are Automobile Magazine’s words: ‘When people try to tell you that there’s no such thing as a practical supercar, don’t believe them. The Ferrari 456M is practical, and it’s a genuine supercar, too. What makes the 456M the best grand tourer in the world are the amazingly smooth performance and incredibly creamy handling that go along with its style and speed. Character is precisely why the 456M is our favourite GT. If you’re going to go touring, this is as grand as it gets. 

Ferrari at the Geneva Motor Show
Copyright: Ferrari

Geneva, 5 march 2002 ‘ The Ferrari Group is participating in the Geneva 72nd International Motor Show in a particularly positive moment for the Company. Just two days have passed since the beginning of the new F1 season – which promises to be even more interesting than the last one due to the presence of new, highly competitive teams – and Ferrari has started the year after a very successful 2001 with the introduction of new models and the announcement of a series of important communications.The year that has just passed was another record year for the Ferrari group, both in the racing and in the commercial and customer services sectors.The third consecutive Constructors’ World Title, together with the second Drivers’ Title, has again confirmed that Ferrari is capable, year after year, of maintaining its top position in F1 through its continual investment in technology and its team work. Thanks to the dedication of a strong dynamic team, once again Ferrari has achieved excellent results in a competitive environment that sees the world’s top manufacturers pitted against each other. A F1 season in which Ferrari has not only shown its superiority over two great rivals such as McLaren and Williams, but also its distinctly human side, with the feeling of deep loss it shared with the American population for the tragic events of September 11th which was manifest in the decision to race at Monza with unbranded cars with black nose cones.The success on the track was mirrored by significant progress in the commercial sector. Ferrari reached a new record in terms of sales to end customers (over 4,150 cars were delivered, with record sales for the year of 1,200 in the USA alone) and a further increase in its portfolio of orders. The preliminary 2001 financial figures show a very positive trend, with Group sales in excess of 1 billion Euros (893.3 in 2000) and a consolidated operating income of about 60 million Euros (45.6 in 2000).2001 marked another important record with the 550 Barchetta Pinifarina limited series: for the first time in the company’s history, a new model was designed, produced and delivered to its 448 clients within one year. Orders for the Barchetta had been received well before the start of production. This important achievement not only confirms Ferrari’s traditional know-how in the limited series segment, but also underlines the Company’s ability to constantly optimise the productive process based on a simple, dynamic and highly technological structure.Technological innovation is indeed the key to the Group’s success, and this success would not be possible without the continuous cooperation between Ferrari and its excellent technical partners worldwide. In order to officially acknowledge the commitment of Ferrari’s partners to supporting racing and GT production activities, the company announced the first edition of the ‘Podio Ferrari’ Award for Technological Innovation in 2001 which was won by Bridgestone and Brembo. The second prize-giving ceremony is due to be held in Maranello in the near future.2001 has also been marked by important organisational changes: Amedeo Felisa was appointed General Manager of the ‘Gestione Granturismo’ Department (road car production), and Jean Todt was appointed General Manager of the ‘Gestione Sportiva’ Department (all racing activities), joining the Board of Directors. This will guarantee an even more direct relationship between the racing and GT production activities, a crucial link for the continuous technological transfer from F1 to the road cars. A new Clients’ Racing Department, managed by Jean Todt, was created for the purpose of managing all non-F1 racing activities for both Ferrari and Maserati.The company’s increasing presence on the Internet, with the Ferrari (www.ferrariworld.com) and Maserati (www.maserati.com) websites, and with the recent launch of the new site dedicated to Ferrari owners (www.owners.ferrari.com), underlines Ferrari’s desrire to provide a new kind of service to customers and fans in addition to the more traditional technical, insurance and financial assistance services. The ‘Pilota Ferrari’ driving courses, taken by an increasing number of clients world-wide, the new product range offered by the Licensing & Merchandising Department, together with the new Ferrari Store to be opened soon in Maranello, are just a few moer examples of how the Group aims at excellence in all its areas of activity.In addition to this, a special International Exhibition will be held in Tokyo from April 25th to July 15th at the Contemporary Art Museum: ‘Ferrari and Maserati, Arte Dinamica’ will allow visitors from all over the world to see classic cars and the present-day production cars in a dramatic setting, especially created to underline their artistic value as well as their technological and performance characteristics.Finally, 2001 saw continual progress in ambitious projects aimed at continually improving the Group’s production facilities. The completion of the new Engine Manufacturing plant in Maranello and the construction of the new Maserati factory facilities in Modena are prime examples of the ongoing innovation process that is driving the Group towards the future.

Two-tone 456M GT ‘Scaglietti’
Copyright: Ferrari

At the Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari is also introducing a special two-tone version of the 456M GT as a further example of the personalisation opportunities offered by the Carrozzeria Scaglietti personalisation programme, presently adopted by 90% of Ferrari’s clienteleIn the case of the 456M GT displayed on the Ferrari stand, and expressly designed for Michael Schumacher, the dominant characteristic is the two-tone paint finish. This elegant ‘tone on tone’ personalised colour mix was obtained through a specific study ‘ personally commissioned by Schumacher – on the chromatic tones of grey, then also applied to other exterior details as the wheel rims and the radiator grille.The personalised options are also extended to the car’s interior with the new graphics for the dials, whilst the cross-drilled brakes contribute to adding a more sporty note to the two-tone 456M GT ‘Scaglietti’. The tailoring process has also been applied to many leather interior details, such as the steering wheel, the door trims and the rear parcel shelf. The seats are characterised by micro-perforated leather to the central part, whilst the crimson stitching contributes to the even more personalised style of the interior. The final personalisation ‘touches’ are a special version of the hi-fi stereo system and the radio-satellite navigation system.

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