The 456 “M”, was unveiled during March 1998 at the Geneva Salon as a revision of the 456 that had remained in production with a fundamentally unchanged specification since its introduction some six years beforehand. This subtly re-worked model sported a number of detail differences over the original version, Modificato's featuring a larger, more aggressive egg crate grille that housed a pair of supplementary driving lights in each corner. Furthermore, the 456 M's front was mildly re-profiled to incorporate a more pointed nose. Gone were the large engine louvres carved out from behind each retractable headlight, the Modificato featuring plain creased wings albeit with more prominent definition than before.
Particularly interesting features of the 456 include the self-levelling rear suspension that was state of the art when introduced. Two alternative suspension settings (Sport and Touring) allow drivers to configure the dampers according to their mood while sophisticated Servotronic power steering electronically adjusts the assistance according to road speed and conditions. The 5.5-litre 65° V12 engine produces an output of 442bhp at 6250rpm helping it Sprint from 0-60 in just 5.3 seconds and be capable of a top speed of 186mph.Other bodywork changes were minimal although the bonnet was now fabricated from carbon composite rather than aluminium. Inside, redesigned seats, an updated instrument binnacle and new dash gave the Modificato a refreshing new look, the last makeover the 456 got before being replaced in 2004.
This example offered is a stunning example of just 138 Automatic Modifcatos imported officially to the UK. It is presented in Rosso Corsa with black leather interior and has covered just 34,000 miles from new having recently received a major annual service at DK Engineering.