Ferrari Reveals All-New 296 GTB
Ferrari has revealed its all-new mid-rear-engined berlinetta sports car, the 296 GTB.
The 296 GTB ushers in a new era for Ferrari as it introduces a new engine type to flank the marque’s 8- and 12-cylinder power units: a new 663-horsepower V6 coupled with an electric motor capable of delivering an additional 167 horsepower. This is the first 6-cylinder engine installed on a road car sporting the Prancing Horse badge and has an 830-horsepower total power output.
The 296 GTB is the first Ferrari road car to sport a V6 turbo with a vee with an angle of 120° between the cylinder banks, coupled with a plug-in electric motor. This new V6 has been designed and engineered from a clean sheet by Ferrari’s engineers specifically for this installation and is the first Ferrari to feature the turbos installed inside the vee.
The powertrain assembly comprises a V6 turbo ICE, with the 8-speed DCT and E-Diff, and the MGU-K located between the engine and the gearbox. A clutch is set between the ICE and the electric motor to decouple them in electric-only eDrive mode. Lastly, there is a high-voltage battery and an inverter that controls the electric motors.
The 296 GTB bursts into the mid-engined berlinetta sports car range with several radical and innovative solutions, Ferrari said. The turbo has been installed above the vee of the crankcase in a hot-V configuration, meaning that all of the components most critical to heat generation are clustered in the upper center area of the engine bay, allowing for more efficient heat management.
On the 296 GTB, for the first time, an active device is being used not to manage drag but to generate extra downforce. The LaFerrari-inspired active spoiler integrated into the rear bumper allows the 296 GTB to generate a high level of rear downforce when required: the equivalent of a maximum of 793 lbs. (360 kg) at 155 mph (250 kph) in high-downforce configuration with the Assetto Fiorano package.
The 296 GTB’s cockpit was developed around the new concept of an entirely digital interface which Ferrari first debuted on the SF90 Stradale. When the engine is off, the onboard instruments go black, enhancing the minimalist look of the cabin, Ferrari said, and exclusive Italian leather trim to the seats and trim is further enhanced by the technical materials used on the functional components.
Once the ‘Start Engine’ button is touched, all of the components gradually spring to life and the 296 GTB reveals its completely digital interface. The main instrument cluster is set into a deep cleft carved out of the dashboard trim. From this styling solution emerges the steering wheel and the instrument cluster supported by two visible structural supports, which taper into the dashboard. Completing the picture are two side satellites, each with its own capacitive touch area, and an air vent. The passenger side is very minimalistic with the standard passenger-side display, allowing them to live the driving experience very much as a participant, almost a co-driver.
For clients who want to exploit the car’s extreme power and performance to the utmost, the 296 GTB Assetto Fiorano package is available, Ferrari said. In addition to weight reduction and added aero content, the package includes special GT racing-derived adjustable Multimatic shock absorbers optimized for track use; high downforce carbon-fiber appendages on the front bumper that can deliver an additional 10 kg of downforce, a Lexan rear screen and more extensive use of lightweight materials such as carbon-fiber for both cabin and exterior.
Some components required that the standard basic structure be redesigned, including the door panel, resulting in an overall weight-saving of 26-plus lbs. Lastly, a special livery inspired by the 250 Le Mans can also be ordered exclusively by owners who opt for the Assetto Fiorano package. Its design runs from the front wings and hugs the central grille and delineates its edges. This styling element continues along the bonnet, creating a hammer motif before running lengthways up to the roof and then down onto the rear spoiler. Other content available to order solely with the Assetto Fiorano package includes an ultralight Lexan rear screen that brings the overall weight reduction to 33 lbs., and Michelin Sport Cup2R high-performance tires which are especially suited to track use because of their grip.
