Test Drive Ferrari 456 M GT 1998 - 2003 coupe
Italian coupe in the British style
Those years have passed when even car experts could see Ferrari only in photographs (in Soviet times a chance to look at the real Ferrari appeared only once - at the Moscow exhibition of autotechnics - Italy-79, where, however, it was possible to get a little). Now Ferrari is found on the Moscow streets. There are few of them, less than a dozen, and until the end of the twentieth century will appear as much as much. But they are and normally fit into the overall stream - pits on equals with other cars, they are driving around, they are drunk from too large for the city of Kamaz and too nerastoropic for our quick life of Cossacks.
Recently, we learned that Ferrari 456 GT was finally appeared in Moscow. And immediately went with her to get acquainted, without waiting for a casual meeting on the street.
Ferrari S.p.A. After a short break, he rallied and in 1992 presented to the public civic model - 456 th. It is addressed to those who appreciate the speed, but tend to be more comfort and respectability than they can offer the usual Ferrari. Externally, the Ferrari 456 GT - a more conventional machine than any other modern Ferrari. Stylistically, it is closest to the British car. If, before the uninitiated to put in a series of Jaguar XK8, Aston Martin DB7 and Ferrari 456, then he will not guess that one of the machines - the Italian and especially Ferrari.
Ferrari 456 GT - the car is quite large. Design and manufacture of the body has been entrusted Pininfarina. Looking at you, standing in front of the car color dark blue metallic, you begin to be sensitive to the tradition of fashion designer (and creating clothes, and car) to choose for their products, not all colors.
Not every costume from the carden can be, say, Salad. Not every Ferrari is suitable traditional red. 456 - I am good dark color. For example, blue. PinInfarina has conceived this car very interesting. For example, spoilers made a considerable impression. They are located a little unusual - bottom. The aprons of the front and rear bumpers, fixed at first sight, actually come to life depending on the speed by changing the direction of the flowable air flows. Controls the position of the electronics spoilers, and the driver itself does not have to break her head over their optimal position.
When working on a car body, its aerodynamics was given a lot of attention. They thought even the bottom in the pipe, especially for this, making a large-scale layout. The bottom turned out to be smooth, all irregularities are closed with special plastic shields - in the instructions for the driver's car, it is especially warned to protect them and not to drive in a belly on the bumps. But the total coefficient of CK turned out to be amazing - 0.36, truck fit. The basis of Ferrari 456 GT is a spatial tubular frame of alloy steel, to which the external body panels from aluminum are welded. Despite this, the car turned out heavy, more than 1800 kg. By the way, the welding of aluminum and chromolibdden steel is complex, for this PinInfarina had to develop a special technology using a fairly exotic material - Ferana as a layer. It is difficult to imagine how it will be possible to privary a new wing in our country in the conditions of even the most exemplary car service.
The main thing in any Ferrari is the engine. We go to watch it. Under the hood everything is harmonious.
Air intakes, radiator, engine - of course, 12-cylinder. Some time ago, the company announced its intention to start the release of 6-cylinder engines. This caused the indignation of fans of the brand. And although the company did not refuse the idea to release a car with a small motor, the cylinders it will have at least eight. But still, the real Ferrari must be a 12-cylinder.
Machines such a rank should not be economical. They are always voracious. At the maximum speed, fuel consumption in the 456th is more than 30 liters per 100 km (AI-98).
Interestingly is the battery, it was not possible to find it immediately. It is placed under the washer tank, and to get to him, the tank will have to be dismantled. Immediately you can see, the engineers of the company did not expect that someone from the owners would like to climb the battery. The gearbox from the machine is 6-speed, from the German partner ZF. The reverse turns on the movement to the left forward. But first the lever must be drown and only after that move. The rear transmission is incredibly tight. But all the rest are switched without much effort and with excellent clarity. A switching scheme is drawn on the lever head. Lamborghini did not have this. Drive in Ferrari 456 GT rear. PPC combined with the main transmission. Differential self-locking. There is no direct transmission. The fifth is almost straight, and the sixth is boosting.
Suspension - with a variable stiffness of shock absorbers, completely independent, each wheel on two parallel levers fixed directly on the frame. In front and rear in the stabilizer. Remember, Diablo stabilizer was only front. Electronics controls the position of each wheel. In addition, Ferrari 456 GT has an antique program in the computer. When acceleration, the rear shock absorbers become tougher, when braking - front.
And in total in the car installed 23 electronic blocks of various purposes. The total length of the wires is 1.5 km.
The brake system is equipped with both ABS, and APS. By the way, Ferrari 456 GT is one of the few models of the firm that has brake discs unsubstituted. Just ventilated. In the salon, deeply under the torpedo there is an ABS shutdown button. It is located in such a secluded corner that it is not possible to disable it. Only intentionally.
We start the engine. He works surprisingly quiet. Unfortunately, modern requirements for noise deprived owners of one of the pleasures - hear the motor. But what works loudly, this is a system forced cooling. The electric motor of the fan screamed so that people who passed past were starting to look around, not understanding where the noise comes from.
The most surprised leather interior of an unpleasant white color. From the car of this level involuntarily waiting for perfection in everything. And so I can not even believe that the company has suffered such a failure with interior decoration. Work on the skin Italians, to put it mildly, failed. She sews all inaccurated and crooked stitches. It seems that some of the younger apprentices in the absence of masters decided to practice in a new business. Unsuccessful. Even less, he managed to install velor pads on the doors. Gleil, glued, and it turned out crooked. Skin quality is some kind of dubious. Leather Salon of any serial Volvo looks much luxurious. The nameplate with a VIN is not the most good place on the steering column. But that's not all. You probably imagine the steering wheel Ferrari? This is not just a steering wheel. This is the steering wheel of the pilot of the real Ferrari! Rim, covered with black leather - succeeded. In the middle of a yellow emblem - also succeeded. What can not be said about the central part of the steering wheel, where the Klasson button is located. She looks like a paint painter painted her by Silver. Our Soviet, which in the parks painted earlier lampposts.
Unlike the remaining Ferrari models, the 456th in organizing the driver's seat with ergonomics is all right. The pedals are exactly in the middle (work gently), the ugly steering wheel is also in the middle, the lever of the gearbox in the area of \u200b\u200breach, a wonderful review, a sufficient range of seats adjustments with electric drives, left (!) Parking brake handle. This is one of the traditions of the company, the parking brake on all Ferrari models is installed to the left of the driver. Since the thresholds of Ferrari wide, there is enough space for the handbrake. In the working position, it does not stick down. For Ferrari to put on the parking brake, the lever must be swollen two or three times, like on liaz, and lower down. And to remove from the handbrake, the lever must be pulled out and lower back.
Devices in front of the driver on the panel are only two: speedometer, digitized to 320 km / h, and a tachometer marked up to 10,000 rpm. The red zone begins with 7500 rpm. Some part of the information is given to control lamps. And the rest of the instruments lined up in a row under the three deflectors of the ventilation system: the level of fuel, oil pressure, coolant temperature (digitization up to 130 ° C), oil temperature (up to 160 ° C), then all the driver are located very elegant shooting hours. The devices as they remove from the driver are turned to it at an increasing angle. Under the instruments, six buttons: adjusting the stiffness of shock absorbers, fog lights, rear window heating, gas tank opening, turning on the backlight for rear passengers and the opening button of the trunk. The vertical console goes into a wide tunnel, on which the gearbox lever is located, many different buttons and the Ferrari XTC-F11RDS CD Changer Control. Climatic installation is controlled by five handles. Multimito, but you can master it. For them - two more buttons: Mirror control mirrors and alarm. The latter is not familiar red, but the same disgusting and silver, like the knob's needles.
The powerful tunnel smoothly goes into the rear seat armrest. It is believed that the car with the body 2 + 2 rear seats are children's. In the Ferrari 456 GT child seat armrest - a huge ashtray with a cigarette lighter. To make children what on the road to do?
Any Ferrari is a glove box of a tiny size. Typically, the manufacturer puts the lamp there. And the 456th GT glove is free. Carrying lies in the armrest, between the rear seats.
Ferrari 456 GT is one of the few models of the firm with a full-fledged trunk. It has three large leather suitcases in special plain covers. For a long trip, the car is ready. In addition to the suitcases in the trunk, Ferrari lies another luxury leather suitcase. You will not believe, but there is a wonderful set of tools. Professional, with an extensive set of wrench keys of all sizes, pliers, screwdrivers and many more useful to repair fixtures. Can anyone imagine the owner of Ferrari, engaged in the repair of the car on the side of the road? What should be broken in Ferrari so that the owner should blame the car yourself, even with such a tool? By the way, no jack, no spare wheel in Ferrari 456 GT. Consequently, the company prepared these tools indeed in case of breakdown.
K. S. Stanislavsky said in such cases: I do not believe!
A source: Motor magazine