We drive the 296 GTS and we tell you what the new Ferrari convertible is like

In the heart of the Imola circuitthe renowned Enzo e Dino Ferrari Autodrome, the track that will host the World Finals of the Italian brand this year, They challenged us to try the latest product from the Prancing Horse house. Nothing less than the 296 GTS, the convertible version of the 296 GTBwhich is also the car that Ferrari talks about the most, since the 296 -with a displacement of 2.9 liters and 6 V-shaped cylinders- is not only the model chosen to represent the renowned brand in the GT3 World Championship, as its engine serves as the basis for the 499P, the LMH that this builder designed to return to the World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2023.

296 GTS. Ferrari has a new PHEV (convertible)

The first curious sensation that the 296 GTS gave us, when we approached the unit destined for us, was the purity of lines, more elegant and softer than usual in the brand’s coupes, like the F8 Tribute. Once on board, the two seats are thin but comfortable, supporting the body without torturing it. There is no central screen, but a very generous instrument panel, divided into three areas where we can pass all kinds of information, from music to the navigation system, through driving modes and information on the chassis and mechanical condition, from temperatures to pressures. And of course there is also the speedometer, tachometer and odometer.

installed on board, We immediately looked for the roof controls, which are rigid and retractable, being able to open or close them in just 14 seconds and at speeds of up to 45 km/h. This control is installed in the center, between the seats, next to those that control the operation of the door windows and the third (small) rear window, which once open allows closer contact with the mechanics, installed in the center, behind .

From Ferrari, but without noise and without emissions

The 296 isn’t Ferrari’s first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) car, a status that fell to the SF90 Stradale, but It is still a novelty to be able to move in a model manufactured by a manufacturer that is committed to powerful combustion engines, with a roar that is as exciting as it is melodious, in complete silence and without emitting pollutants or particles.

Ferrari PHEVs have two “Manettinos” and both at the wheel the traditional one on the rightwhich allows us to select the driving mode, between the sportiest and the most comfortable, which changes the mapping of the engine, the suspension, the speed of the gearbox and the sensitivity of the traction and stability control, for eManettino, on the left, invites you to choose energy managementthe driver can opt for an exclusively electric use (eDrive), hybrid (Hybrid), Performance (the combustion engine works together with the electric one to increase power, but managing the battery charge to increase its autonomy) and Qualify, the the latter of which puts the entire charge of the battery to use for a short period of time, potentially one round of canyon, that is, a trip of 4 or 5 kilometers.

We selected the eDrive and set off, hair blowing in the wind and complete silence. The 296 GTS shares mechanics with the GTB, which means that it requires a simpler PHEV mechanic than the one featured in the SF90 Stradale. Here, the twin-turbo petrol engine is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox, with the single electric motor taking the traditional place of the flywheel. It is a unit with 167 CV and a lot of torque, which Ferrari calls MGU-K, as it happens in the current F1 (Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic). This motor is powered by a battery with a capacity of only 7.45 kWh, which the brand advertises as capable of guaranteeing 25 km between recharges. We covered about 5 km in electric mode and at the rate at which the battery charge was disappearing it did not seem impossible to us that the range announced in EV mode is realistic.if the pace is restricted.

But after this pleasant experience of driving a Ferrari around the outskirts of Bologna without making a sound, with the locals staring in amazement at the 296 GTS, wondering how such a machine could move without the roar of the combustion engine, we thought It was time to wake up the “monster” Two-seater coupe interior. Listen to “Piccolo V12” here as it’s covered internally:

Is the little V6 the best Ferrari engine?

As nice as it is to drive a supercar in electric mode, It is when we wake up the V6 biturbo, with 2992 cc, that we understand why someone pays more than 300 thousand euros for a toy of this caliber. The 3.0 V6 is Ferrari’s most recent creation, debiting 663 horsepower. After all, this corresponds to 221 hp/literwhich would be equivalent to 884 CV in a 4.0 V8 of the Italian brand, a value that is not reached in normal versions.

Every year, Ferrari organizes the “Finali Mondiali”, an event that brings together thousands of fans of the Italian brand.

The six cylinders are distributed in a V at 120º, to soften the vibrations resulting from the order of the explosions, but this is not its only asset. It was designed as a Hot V, which means that instead of having the intakes in the center of the V and the exhausts on the outside, it mounts the exhausts and the two turbochargers in the center of the V. The advantages are many, from the shorter exhaust manifolds (up to the turbo) and therefore with less response time, to the intake working with colder air and being the whole set of less volume, facilitating the design of the suspensions and the chassis. On the other hand, not only is the fuel supplied at a pressure of 350 bar, but the IHI turbochargers are from a new family, capable of reaching 180,000 rpm, 20% more than usual.

From eDrive we go directly to Performance mode in the eManettino, which manages the two engines to achieve maximum power and power, that is, 830 hp. The sound made us cry, even though the noise was never too loud or even prevented normal conversation on board. The box is very fast, dispelling any doubt about the ability of this supercar to exceed 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds, and then go up to 330 km/h if you keep accelerating at full speed.

In addition to the fact that the roar of the engine is exciting and the acceleration capacity is remarkable –identical to that claimed by the F8 Tributo, equipped with a 4.0 V8 biturbo–, it must be confessed that we expected a considerable loss of power once the battery lost its charge. But not, the electrical management system recharges almost as fast as it supplies power, so even after a few tens of kilometres, we still had at our disposal, stably, a little more than 50% charge. This means that we can have the 830 CV available for many kilometers, even if we indulge in a more animated driving rhythm.

The road that we were told was full of curves, undulations and even some potholes, which allowed us to conclude that the pleasant level of comfort -for a model of this type- that we had already seen in Bologna, extends to roads with less regular surfaces. The 296 GTS weighs just 70kg more than the closed-body GTB, so the added weight is not felt behind the wheelnot even in the advertised performance, since both versions announce 330 km/h and 2.9 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h.

The 296 GTS brakes well, corners better, and while the experience behind the wheel was relatively short, it felt more predictable and less “rough” than the F8 Spider we’ve driven before. As it is no longer between the axles, which could explain the increased progressiveness, this improvement will have to be attributed to the new Transition Manager Actuator and the 6w-CDS, the six-way chassis dynamic sensor, which make the convertible easier and more comfortable. more efficient. However, it gives us the feeling that when the less good ground becomes more evident, small vibrations begin to be felt in the steering wheel, which surely will not appear in the GTB. It is the price to pay for being able to move with the wind caressing your face and being more in contact with nature.

Prepare 370 thousand euros for Christmas… 2023

The new Ferrari 296 family will begin to arrive in our country in 2023, with the GTB remaining to be expected during the first quarter. The price will be around 322 thousand eurosgoing up a little more if the client opts for Asseto Fiorano, which makes behavior more efficient.

The 296 GTS, the family convertible, promises to raise the price bar and will arrive latermost likely in fourth trimester, just in time to be included as one of the juiciest Christmas gifts. Pricing has yet to be announced, but from what we can gather, It should not be far from 370 thousand euros.