Ferrari Ups Its Game In India, Launches The 296 GTB

• The mid-engined supercar is powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 and an electric motor.

• Combined output figures are 829PS and 740Nm.

• 0-100kmph is done in 2.9 seconds with a top-speed of over 330kmph.

• The hybrid supercar has an all-electric range of 25km.

Looks like the Italians are up at it again! It hasn’t been 24 hours since Lamborghini launched the RWD Huracan Tecnica in India and Ferrari has responded by debuting the 296 GTB in India without actually disclosing the base price of the made-to-order car.

Being Ferrari’s first production V6-engined supercar (the Dino doesn’t technically count, don’t ask us why, it’s a lengthy tale), the 296 GTB has big shoes to fill as its predecessors were performance benchmarks in the mid-engined supercar world. 

At the heart of the matter is a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine that develops an impressive 663PS of maximum power at 8000rpm and redlines at 8500rpm. The engine, nicknamed the ‘piccolo V12’ is all-new with a 120-degree bank angle that cleverly houses both the turbochargers. 

The engine is supplemented by a 166PS electric motor for a combined output of 829PS and 740Nm. It is powered by a floor-mounted 7.45kWh battery pack which also enables the hybrid supercar to reach speeds of 135kmph and a range of 25km on all-electric power. 

All these numbers are sent to the rear wheels with the help of an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox from the SF90 Stradale. As a result, the 296 GTB takes only 2.9 seconds to 100kmph with a top speed of over 330kmph. 

Ferrari has somehow managed to keep the GTB’s weight in check. Despite featuring a hybrid setup, it weighs 1470kg dry, 30 kg more than the F8 Tributo it replaces. It might also be due to the fact that the 296 GTB has a shorter chassis (48mm shorter than the F8). It also sits 10mm lower than the F8 while also having a 50mm shorter wheelbase. 

Ferrari has taken inspiration from the 250 LM from 1963 for the GTB’s styling and it shows. The supercar looks clean and understated with the right amount of aggression. Like all fezzas, all lines are smooth and you won’t be able to find any ugly wings or canards. 

Look closer and you can see that the active wing is hidden under the rear deck. When deployed, Ferrari claims it generates 100kg of downforce at 250kmph out of the total 360kg of downforce the car creates. 

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The cabin borrows a lot of design cues from the SF90 Stradale. It gets a fully digital cockpit with a head-up display and a retro H-gate gear shifter for the controls in the centre console.

Ferrari has not disclosed an official price for its compact hybrid rocket, but officials at the launch stated that a well-equipped specification with recommended add-on features would cost around Rs 5.40 crore (ex-showroom). The 296 GTB makes the Porsche 911 GT3 (Rs 2.54 crore) look like a bargain. But then, a mid-engined supercar with a prancing horse on its nose and an extra 309PS does come at a price.