Ferrari has unveiled a new sports car. That’s usually enough to get people excited, but this one has been around for a while. It’s the long-rumored plug-in hybrid V6, but there’s no dinosaur badge revival for the six-cylinder engine.
Not that it matters. The new sports car bears the 296 GTB badge, which stands for its engine (2.9 liters, 6 cylinders), but is also great because there was a 296 racer with a V6 engine in 1958, but the connection to Ferrari’s past is still cool.
The connections continue in the styling, with the new 296 GTB illustrating the “perfect combination of simplicity and functionality”. There are large lobes and gaping inlets for the mid-engine that are reminiscent of the 250 Testarossa, while an active spoiler is modeled on the LaFerrari.
Delivered
The 296 is not a revival of the Dino nameplate, but technically it is the first Ferrari-branded car to use a V6.
A “wraparound” windshield comes from the J50, while the digital interior comes from the SF90 Stradale.
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This interior will look pretty familiar to Ferrari fans, with the same minimalist, digitized approach as the SF90 Stradale. There is even a digital display for the front passenger that shows the engine speed, gear and current speed, so that the driver can get the appropriate grill when driving too fast.
Delivered
The front passenger receives a small digital display that shows the speed, gear and engine speed.
Mention the SF90, the larger Ferrari lent its combustion chambers to the new 2.9-liter V6, which is completely independent of Maserati with the coming six. So they say.
It’s the first Ferrari engine to have the turbochargers mounted within the 120 degree V angle, which makes for better packaging, reduces weight and lowers the overall center of gravity. It produces a whopping 488 kW, which at 164.8 kW per liter (221 hp) is a new record for the highest specific output of all series engines.
Paired with a single electric motor, which is housed in the eight-speed double clutch automatic, and a 7.45 kWh battery, the total system output is an enormous 611 kW / 750 Nm.
Delivered
A high-mounted exhaust outlet and sleek taillights go well with these fat buttocks.
That is 81 kW more than the F8 Tributo, but 30 Nm less. Nevertheless, it is enough to send the rear-wheel drive 296 GTB to 100 km / h in 2.9 seconds, adequate enough. On the track, Ferrari says the 296 can lap its Fiorano circuit 0.5 seconds faster than the last generation 488 Pista.
The weight is kept at a lean 1470kg, notable for a PHEV, though that’s still 75kg heavier than the McLaren Artura. And for those interested, the all-electric range is 24 km at speeds of up to 135 km / h.
Also available is the Assetto Fiorana package which adds upgraded dampers, lots of carbon fiber and redesigned body panels that drop up to 12kg from curb weight.
We’re not sure yet about pricing and availability. In any case, Europe will get the 296 GTB in the first quarter of 2022 at a price of € 269,000 (NZ $ 454,560) or € 302,000 (NZ $ 510,324) for the route-oriented Assetto Fiorano version.
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