At one time, and not that long ago at all, I couldn’t imagine that a brand like Ferrari could release something other than a car powered by a classic internal combustion engine on the roads. But that was once upon a time, and it surprises me that things are different now, and I will describe the Ferrari 296 GTB hybrid.
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The first hybrid from Maranello shows that such cars are the future of motoring. The combination of a powerful 3-litre V6 with a 7.45 kWh electric motor makes for a truly powerful plug-in hybrid. The combined engine output is a whopping 830 hp and 740 Nm of torque. These figures translate into performance – it takes just 2.9 seconds to get to 100 km/h and the top speed is a staggering 330 km/h. Not bad for a car approved for public roads. What’s more, the battery pack fitted, allows the car to travel 25 km without the support of an internal combustion engine.
📸 Ferrari
The Ferrari 296 GTB is a rear-wheel drive car – an 8-speed automatic is responsible for the smooth transmission of power. Despite the use of electric cells, it is not a heavy car – the 296 GTB weighs a mere 1,470 kg. The car is superbly balanced, for which the centrally located combustion engine is largely responsible. Of course, it is a machine packed with the latest technology – adaptive dampers or Ferrari’s Slip Control system take care of the driving fun. Excellent brakes are responsible for safety.
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A separate paragraph is worth devoting to the car’s aerodynamic properties – as always, the Maranello engineers will do a great job. At 250 km/h the downforce is as high as 350 kg. The retractable spoiler is largely responsible for this. The speed-loving driver has four driving modes at his or her disposal, switchable via the E-Manettino: eDrive (electric, emission-free and quiet), Hybrid (default and economical), Performance (the combustion engine remains all active, the electronics “boost” during acceleration) and Qualify (“squeezes” everything there is from the traditional engine).
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Stylistically inside, there are no surprises – Ferrari is holding its own high standards. So we have leather, carbon fibre, a large central display, economically designed switches, and comfortable bucket seats. This is a car you don’t want to get out of!
📸 Ferrari
How much do you have to pay to become the owner of such a machine? In Italy, you have to pay around €280,000 for the car in its basic version. If you wish to purchase the car with the Assetto Fiorano package (a high-performance package including, among other things, more carbon elements on the bodywork, additional “ailerons” on the front bumper for extra downforce and high-performance Michelin Sport Cup 2R tyres), you should expect to pay more than 33,000 euros extra on the invoice.
📸 Ferrari
What do you think?