Ferrari 296 GTS: Open-Air Thrills, Redefined

The Ferrari 296 GTS, the evolution of Ferrari’s mid-rear-engined two-seater berlinetta spider concept, is powered by the new 120° V6 engine coupled with a plug-in (PHEV) electric motor that debuted on the 296 GTB, which unleashes a massive 830 cv in total. The car thus redefines the whole concept of fun behind the wheel, guaranteeing pure emotions not just when it is being pushed to its limits, but also in day-to-day driving situations.

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FUN TO DRIVE


In Ferrari, the fun-to-drive factor is measured by five different indicators which are used to set targets during the development phase. The first factor is lateral acceleration which determines response to steering wheel inputs, the prompt reaction of the rear axle to steering inputs, and, consequently, ease of handling. Longitudinal acceleration, on the other hand, comes down to the speed and smoothness of the response to the accelerator pedal. The third factor is gear shifting in terms of shift times and feeling of coherent progression through the gears with every gear change. The fourth factor is braking: brake pedal feel in terms of travel and response. Lastly, sound levels and quality in the cabin and progression of engine sound as revs rise are also monitored.

COMPLEXITY MADE SIMPLE


The changes made for the Ferrari 296 GTS further emphasise the clean, sophisticated lines of the 296 GTB. When the top is down, it is the peerlessly elegant epitome of the open-air hybrid concept. Its unprecedented architecture for a spider, in fact, opens a whole new chapter in the marque’s story. The designers’ goal of retaining the 296 GTB’s main characteristics required a period of meticulous analysis of the dimensions of its technical components. There was a clear focus on minimising the impact of any modifications on the exterior bodywork and also on introducing a clear, instantly recognisable theme that would encapsulate the complexity of the design whilst translating it into accomplished linear forms.

POWERTRAIN


This architecture is rooted in the Prancing Horse’s unrivalled racing experience: the first Ferrari to sport a mid-rear V6 was the 246 SP in 1961, which won the Targa Florio that year and again in 1962. Also, in 1961, Ferrari claimed its first Formula 1 Constructors’ title with the 156 F1 powered by a 120° V6. Ferrari first installed turbos in a hot-vee on the 126 CK and then on the 126 C2, which in 1982 became the first turbocharged single-seater to win the Formula 1 Constructors’ World Championship. The 126 C3 took the title again in 1983. And, lastly, the V6 PHEV turbo architecture has been standard on all Formula 1 cars since 2014.

EXTERIOR


The 296 GTS bursts into the mid-engined spider sports car range, with several radical and innovative solutions. The turbo has been installed above the vee of the crankcase in a hot-V configuration. This allows more efficient heat management both of the engine bay itself and of the electrical components. This sharp break from the past is further highlighted by aero choices, which have turned Ferrari’s active aero paradigm of recent years on its head. On the 296 GTS, an active device is being used not to manage drag but to generate extra downforce.

INTERIOR


The 296 GTS’s cockpit was developed around the new entirely digital interface concept debuted on the SF90 Stradale. While with the latter the designers wanted to highlight the presence of the advanced technology and underscore a clear break with the past, in the case of the 296 GTS, the idea was to clothe that technology to sophisticated effect. The result is a pure, minimalistic connotation characterised by a powerful elegance that perfectly mirrors the design of the exterior.

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