Ferrari launches new cars more often than Volkswagen these days, and that is great, as the world obviously needs more speedy Italian automobiles. The latest new Ferrari is the 296 GTB, a mid-rear engined hybrid super car intended for every day use. It is relatively compact for a Ferrari, with a short 2600 millimeter wheelbase and a truncated tail. The GTB name harks back to many illustrious Ferrari’s of yore, and the rear fender design reminds of the brilliant 1964 Ferrari 250 Le Mans Berlinetta.
The Ferrari 296 GTB uses a rear-wheel drive plug-in (PHEV) hybrid architecture, where the electric motor is located behind the V6 engine. The ‘296’ moniker refers to the engine’s specifications: 2.9 liter and six cylinders. It is a brand new V6 engine with a 120-degree cylinder-bank V angle. This keeps the block low, which helps packaging and aerodynamics. The 296 GTB is the first Ferrari production car to use a V6 after the Ferrari Dino. Output of the engine is a staggering 654 hp. The electric motor adds another 167 hp. Combined, the 296 GTB delivers 830 hp and 740 Nm. Gearbox is a 8-speed DCT, sending all horses to the rear wheels. The high-voltage 7.45 kWh battery gives 25 kilometers of range in EV-only mode.
With that many horses, the new Ferrari sprints from 0 to 100 in 2.9 seconds, to 200 in 7.3 seconds, and tops out at 330 kilometers per hour. Ferrari claims 360 kg of downforce and a lap time of 1.21 seconds around the company’s own Fiorano race track.
The Ferrari is fitted with a high tech brake-by-wire braking system with ventilated brake discs. Interestingly, the brake calipers are Ferrari-branded, a departure from the usual Brembo-branded brake calipers. Customers can order the brake calipers in any color they want. The media images show yellow and dark gray examples. The brake discs are huge. The front brake discs have a diameter of 398 millimeter and a width of 38 millimeter. At the rear, diameter is 360 millimeter with a 32 millimeter width. With so much stopping power the Ferrari 296 GTB brakes from 200 km/h to zero in just 107 meters.
The Ferrari 296 GTB will go on sale in the fall, with deliveries expected to start in early 2022. The Italians are already working on a faster track-focused variant, which will top 1000 hp.