Ferrari 296 GTB is brand's first road car with a V6 heart

Italy’s Prancing Horse brand  has just revealed its latest offering, the 296 GTB. This is the latest evolution of Maranello’s mid-rear-engined two-seater berlinetta.

Claiming to redefine the whole concept of fun behind the wheel while guaranteeing pure emotions, the 296 GTB is powered by a new V6 engine able of providing 654hp — the first six-cylinder engine installed on a road car for a Ferrari — matched with an electric motor that can deliver an additional 165hp. The 296 GTB’s plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system reduces pedal response times to zero and delivering a 25km range in all-electric eDrive mode.

The aforementioned powertrain is paired to an eight-speed F1 DCT.

This results to the 296 GTB reaching a top speed of around 330kph and can reach 100kph from standstill in 2.9 seconds and up to 200kph in 7.3 seconds.

Also, the Italian sports car manufacturer mentioned that the 296 GTB’s dynamic development “focused around boosting the car’s pure performance, delivering class-leading levels of driver engagement making full use of the new architectural solutions as well as improving the usability and accessibility not just of the car’s performance, but also the functionalities afforded by the hybrid layout.”

“New components were developed specifically for the 296 GTB, not least the Transition Manager Actuator (TMA) and the six-way Chassis Dynamic Sensor (6w-CDS) – a world first for the automotive sector. There are also new functions, such as the ABS evo controller, which uses the data gathered by the 6w-CDS, and the grip estimation integrated with the EPS,” it added.

The Ferrari 296 GTB has an “extremely compact line with an original, modern look.” According to the manufacturer, the latest offering has a short wheelbase and a monolithic, sculpted structure, making it the most compact berlinetta to emerge from Maranello in the last decade. This model has ditched the usual berlinetta fastback configuration to seemingly provide a roomy look.

“One of the most recognizable aspects of the 296 GTB’s design is its cabin, which has a visor-style windscreen that wraps around onto the side windows,” it noted, adding the wraparound theme at the front “connects organically to the flying buttress theme at the rear, together with a transparent engine cover that showcases the engine.”

Photos from Ferrari

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