- The 296GTB is an all-new entry in Ferrari’s lineup and packs a turbocharged V-6 plug-in-hybrid system good for 818 combined horsepower.
- Ferrari claims a time of 2.9 seconds from zero to 62 mph and a top speed of 205 mph.
- European deliveries will get underway in the first quarter of 2022, with prices starting at the equivalent of $321,000. Sales in other parts of the world are coming later.
Ferrari revealed its 296GTB today, claiming it as the first ever Ferrari-badged road car powered by a six-cylinder engine. We must point out that, although they never wore a Prancing Horse badge, the Dino 206 and 246 from the late 1960s and early 1970s featured a Ferrari-developed V-6. Still, the new V-6–powered Ferrari represents a big change fo rthe current lineup. The 296 continues Ferrari’s expansion into the world of hybrids, with the V-6 paired to an electric motor to maximize performance and efficiency. The mid-engine 296GTB does not replace any model in the range.
Central to the new 296GTB is a new V-6 plug-in-hybrid architecture dubbed F163. The 3.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine produces 654 horsepower and is linked to an MGU-K (Motor Generator Unit, Kinetic) inspired by Ferrari’s Formula 1 unit, which delivers an additional 164 hp. The MGU-K is connected to a 7.45-kWh battery, stored under the floor to keep the center of gravity low, and is bolted to the same eight-speed DCT gearbox that is found in the SF90 Stradale, Roma, and Portofino M.
With the internal-combustion engine and electric motor working in harmony, the system churns out 818 horsepower. Ferrari claims that 62 mph arrives in just 2.9 seconds en route to a 205-mph top speed. Ferrari also says that the 296GTB reaches 124 mph in 7.3 seconds and laps the automaker’s Fiorano test track in one minute, 21 seconds, quicker than cars like the F8 Tributo and only two seconds down on its hybrid big brother, the SF90 Stradale.
Using the eManettino, drivers can select four different modes for the powertrain: eDrive, Hybrid, Performance, and Qualify. eDrive, as the name suggests, powers the car solely by electricity, creating a RWD EV capable of going 16 miles at up to 84 mph. Hybrid, the default mode, mixes the gasoline engine and electric motors to maximize efficiency, while the Performance mode keeps the internal-combustion engine on at all times and utilizes the battery and electric motor for maximum power. Qualify mode focuses even more on maximizing performance at the cost of lower battery recharging.
Ferrari’s V-6 architecture mimics McLaren’s new V-6 entry in the Artura with a 120-degree vee angle, significantly wider than a traditional 90-degree angle. This allowed Ferrari to create a “hot vee” in which the turbocharger is positioned between the two cylinder banks, creating a lighter, more compact design with better weight distribution. The aluminum engine block and cylinder heads are all new, and the powertrain pumps out 218 hp per liter, which Ferrari claims makes it the most power-dense engine ever built for a production car.
Ferrari also poured development hours into the monoscroll turbochargers, which were redesigned with high-tech alloys to increase the maximum revs to 180,000 rpm, with boost efficiency up by a claimed 24 percent.
Ferrari promises glorious sounds from the new V-6, disclosing that the 3.0-liter was nicknamed as the piccolo V-12, or little V-12, during the development phase thanks to the sonorous notes. Although turbochargers often suck the soul out of great-sounding engines (see the transition from the nat-asp 458 to turbo’d 488), Ferrari says the new V-6 overcomes that thanks to its wide angle and redesigned exhaust system.
The bodywork features active aerodynamics, including a a rear spoiler inspired by the LaFerrari that can develiver up to 794 pounds of downforce at 155 mph in its most extreme setting. The brake cooling system has been integrated into the headlight design, with intakes under the daytime running light channeling cool air into the wheel wells. There is also the “tea tray” front end, which funnels air underneath the car to suck the 296 to the ground and boost downforce on the front axle.
The 296GTB has a wheelbase around two inches shorter than Ferrari’s other mid-engine sports cars, which Ferrari claims will make it agile to drive. It also contributes to the squat, forward-leaning look. The 296GTB takes some design cues from past special editions like the J50 and P80/C, although the stance and side intake are reminiscent of the Alfa Romeo 4C. The rear end continues the rectangular taillight look started by the SF90 Stradale. Ferrari says the dry weight is 3241 pounds, with the V-6 coming in at 66 pounds lighter than Ferrari’s V-8s. The interior is clean and classic Ferrari, and features entirely digital displays for both the driver and passenger.
The 296GTB will also be available with a high-performance Assetto Fiorano package, which decorates the car in carbon fiber and features redesigned structures such as the door panels for weight-savings of around 26 pounds. The package also adds a Lexan rear windscreen and adjustable Multimatic shock absorbers.
The 296GTB will be delivered in left-hand-drive to European customers starting in the first quarter of 2022 before spreading to other markets. European customers will pay the equivalent of $321,000 at current conversion rates, or $360,000 with the Assetto Fiorano package.
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Source: Motor - aranddriver.com
