We put the newest Ferrari 296 GTB through its paces, and the early indications are that it may be the most well-rounded Ferrari of all time.
As ludicrous as it is to describe the new Ferrari 296 GTB a democratic supercar – most will finish up costing close to £300,000 fully optioned-up – it has a peculiar supercar trait that makes going fast seem entirely natural.
Almost anyone could hop in this beast on a circuit they’ve never seen before and not make a fool of themselves; well, at least we didn’t which was a big relief.
The vehicle accelerates like crazy, employs a slew of brilliant software to keep you pointed in the proper direction through the curves, and stops just as impressively as it begins. We’re approaching 160 mph before slamming into turn one, a tough off-camber second gear hairpin, but removing all that speed is surprisingly uncomplicated.
The 296 GTB is the first Ferrari to include a V6 engine, and it’s also a plug-in hybrid. Two bits of information that should give purists pause. Sure, Ferrari has the exquisite Dino, a late 1960s/early 1970s gem powered by a six-cylinder engine, but it’s not a Ferrari since it never sported the renowned Prancing Horse insignia.
It is not, however, the first Ferrari to adopt electricity. Following on from the groundbreaking LaFerrari hypercar of 2013 and the 1,000bhp SF90 Stradale of 2020, the 296 GTB new-age approach is more than just a means of lowering fuel consumption and emissions (not to mention a way of future-proofing the brand). It also provides Ferrari’s engineers with an extra source of power to experiment with, energy that is fiercely networked across the car to improve every aspect of its behaviour.
It’s brilliant and complex, so here we go. The 2.9-litre V6 turbo sits in a 120° ‘hot’ vee arrangement, so it’s low and wide (remember that C of G thing?) It is capable of producing 654bhp on its own. It’s mated to a lightning-quick eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and an electronic differential, as well as a rear-mounted electric motor that generates an extra 165bhp. In ‘qualifying’ mode – as if any of us would go beyond qualifying – the 296 GTB can summon a total of 819bhp, engine and e-motor combining flawlessly via an extra clutch that sits between the two power sources, disconnecting them when the vehicle is driving in pure e-mode.
The e-motor is powered by a 7.45 kWH high-voltage battery hidden beneath the floor. But hold your horses, because the interesting part is encouraging all of this things to engage in meaningful dialogue: Ferrari employs a device known as a TMA – transition management actuator – to monitor and optimise the flow of energy between electric and internal combustion engines, while proprietary software keeps everything smooth and quick.
Turbochargers often dampen an engine’s harmonics, but Ferrari claims that its new V6 sounds like a 12-cylinder. During development, the engine was dubbed piccolo V12 – small V12. Because of the symmetrical cylinder firing order, equal-length, tuned exhaust manifolds, and an 8,500rpm red line, this Ferrari mostly sounds like a Ferrari should: deeply charismatic and rising to a full-blooded crescendo as the revs soar, and let’s face it, sound matters. Speed is important, and it’s also really fast: peak speed is 204 mph, with 62 mph in 2.9 seconds, but it’s monstrously speedy in any gear, wherever you are.
On the road, though, the 296 GTB’s best trick is when that engine is merely a quiet companion. When you switch to e-mode, you’re in the world’s most opulent EV. It has a range of 15 miles and can reach speeds of up to 83 mph in this configuration (though not at the same time). A Ferrari deliberately strangulating itself is both strange and remarkable. Those who anticipate sonic explosions will face a new type of cognitive dissonance.
You can decide how much you like the look of the 296 GTB, but it’s another creation of Ferrari’s Centro Stile that refuses to go antiquated while yet giving nuanced comments on its predecessors. The visor cockpit, rear buttresses, and engine compartment are reminiscent of the Le Mans-winning 250 LM from 1965. Inside, the cockpit is designed with the driver in mind, and the capacitive switchgear on the steering wheel and dashboard improves with use. The gear selector ingeniously replicates the open gate arrangement of so many old Ferraris. The seats and driving posture are excellent, and everything is well-built.
The 296 GTB is another extremely technological new Ferrari that has the potential to be a stunning automotive cyborg. Fortunately, it is brimming with the one thing that no one can engineer: character.
For more information and concept views, visit Ferrari.
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