No one has ever needed any encouragement to drive a fast Ferrari.
But of course, if you get caught speeding in one, you won’t get any sympathy from a cop just because you’re in a Ferrari. The 296 GTB is the most important new Ferrari for years because it is the first V6 hybrid. Something that many purists may not like.
But in reality, it’s giving you the first genuine excuse to drive fast. The 296 will go 15 miles as an electric vehicle and that V6 engine acts as a huge power generator.
Simply put: the more you drive, the more electrons will flow to the 6 kWh battery. So if you get pulled over for speeding in a 296, you can at least tell the officer you want to recharge the battery before you hit the city limits and pass the schoolchildren in eDrive mode. Now, I must admit I was a little worried about this car. A V6 plug-in hybrid Ferrari? Is seriously?
The engine is the heart and soul of a Ferrari. His identity. And the batteries are heavy. The complete opposite of what a supercar should be. But I didn’t have to worry because, my God, this car is blinding me. Yes, the hybrid system adds 170kg, but the short wheelbase and incredibly low center of gravity mean it handles more like a Ferrari. It challenges a racing car than a road car.
They are the nuts of the stray dog. The front grip is mega. The steering is scalpel sharp. Brakes as anchors. And it’s fast. Crazy fast.
In truth, the hybrid system does more for performance than saving the planet. The F1-derived electric motor cancels out any turbo lag down low. The power is infinite. Look toward the horizon and you’re already there. Total concentration required.
Now I know why it took me 11 signatures to get the keys. I’ll back up the last paragraph with some numbers: The 2.9-liter engine produces an astonishing 633 horsepower. The electric motor adds another 167 horsepower. Total power: 833 HP. Everything to the rear wheels. The 0-62mph sprint time is irrelevant, this rockets from 0-124mph in just 7.3 seconds. And I admit, it sounds good.
Ferrari engineers dubbed the 296 “piccolo V12” (little V12) and I’ll let them have that. It reaches the harmonic orders of a V12 when it reaches 8,500 rpm. Maybe I should also explain the name: 296 means 2.9 liter six-cylinder, and GTB is Gran Turismo Berlinetta.
As for the appearance, do you like it? Me too. It is the perfect combination of art and science. Elegant and essential. The headlights and air intakes (for the front brakes) are a simple design piece. The tall central exhaust is a technical necessity but also looks fantastic. The active rear spoiler sits flush with the taillights when not in use. At high speed, it rises to generate 100 kg of downforce.
Those muscular rear haunches hide the radiator and intercoolers. Every inch of this car has a purpose. Because ultimately the difference between what works and what doesn’t is just air. The cutaway rear part of the cockpit or “flying bridge” is a nod to the 250 LM (Le Mans) of the 1960s.
Hop in a 296 and it’s pure PlayStation: digital dashboard, huge paddles, haptic controls, Performance and Qualifying mode, carbon-shell racing seats and not much else. Because you don’t need much more. Visibility is excellent, with the windshield wrapping around you like a motorcycle visor. Colic? Apart from the £241,000 price tag, nothing really.
The 296 is easy to drive fast and easy to drive slow. She is a dancer with an iron fist. We all know that Ferrari needs to be seen to be doing the right thing as we move headlong towards electrification. But actually this car is great. It will appease environmentalists and please oil fanatics at the same time, once they can be persuaded to try it. I would have one instead of an F8.
