Ferrari 456

The Ferrari 456 is a front-engine grand tourer built by the Italian maker Ferrari from 1992 to 2003. It succeeded the 412 as the company's V12-powered four-seater and was introduced in October 1993. Pininfarina designed the body, which uses aluminium panels over a tubular steel space-frame, and its 5.5 litre 65 degree V12 is rated at 325 kilowatts. Buyers could choose a six-speed manual in the GT or, from 1996, a four-speed automatic in the GTA. Ferrari claimed a top speed of 309 kilometres per hour, which at the time made it the world's second fastest production four-seater after the Porsche 959. The name comes from the 456 cubic centimetres displaced by each cylinder. The 456M of 1998 revised the aerodynamics, cooling and interior and was the last Ferrari with pop-up headlamps. Total production reached 3,289 cars before the 612 Scaglietti replaced it in 2004, and a few special bodies, including saloons, an estate and spyders, were built on request for members of the Brunei royal family.