This text initially appeared on carsales and was republished with permission.
Chopping the roof part out of a superbly good supercar is historically a recipe for dynamic disappointment. Not so with the brand new Ferrari 296 GTS. Constructing on the very succesful wares of the Ferrari 296 GTB coupe launched in 2023, the brand new GTS arrives in Australia with a mere 70kg weight premium, plus otherworldly energy and on-paper efficiency.
It additionally prices a $100,000 premium over the GTB coupe for the privilege, however after 500km behind the wheel, it stands up as arguably the best-rounded mannequin ever supplied by the Prancing Horse.
How a lot does the Ferrari 296 GTS price?
The Ferrari 296 GTS is formally priced at $668,146 earlier than on-road prices in Australia, however with requisite add-ons and on-road prices, even with minimal choices you’re about $800,000 within the site visitors.
That’s a circa-$100,000 worth premium over the Ferrari 296 GTB Coupe and likewise aligns fairly intently with closest rival – when it comes to efficiency and wow issue — the McLaren 750S Spider which begins round $650K.
That further $100K will get you a retractable hard-top which takes a claimed 14 seconds to open/shut at as much as 45km/h.
Not less than Aussie-spec 296s are properly specified as customary — gone are the times when a reversing digicam was discovered on the choices checklist.
With all that mentioned, you possibly can deal with the above costs as a place to begin. Ferrari was coy on the as-tested quantity for our attractive Rosso Imola purple instance. Our estimate is near seven digits, together with a entrance elevate system, trim choices, ventilated seats and beauty extras.
What Powers The Ferrari 296 GTS?
The drivetrain displays ‘precise’ million-dollar vehicles from Maranello. Making use of classes realized from the hybrid hypercar Ferrari SF90, the 296 GTS packs a twin-turbo 3.0-litre 120-degree V6, 122kW/315Nm MGU-Okay electrical motor and an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission in an extremely compact bundle.
The mixed headline numbers are 610kW of energy at 8000rpm and 740Nm of torque at 6250rpm. That’s virtually 830hp for the much less metric inclined.
Ferrari quotes a 0-100km/h time of two.9sec, 0-200km/h in 7.6sec and a prime pace of 330km/h –spectacular numbers in any language.
There’s even the power to drive on battery alone – albeit in brief, gradual doses… Ferrari claims a complete EV vary of 25km (we acquired 22km) and the facility unit can shortly prime that up in regular operation. Even in brief bursts of dynamic driving, it isn’t unusual for the four-stage regenerative braking system to recoup eight or 9 kilometres value of electrical vary.
The 6.4L/100km mixed gasoline consumption declare is solely educational. It’s a Ferrari in spite of everything.
Altering of the guard
The 296 GTS continues the elevation of Ferrari interiors – even in opposition to the likes of the 458 Italia and F8 Tributo this feels generations forward. Higher supplies and design.
There’s nonetheless work to do, nevertheless… The 296 GTS bundles all of its infotainment and expertise right into a digital instrument cluster (eliminating a standard central touch-screen) managed by steering-wheel mounted haptic controls. That in itself isn’t the problem – slightly the hit or miss, fussy operation of the controls.
The set-up means an interface like Apple CarPlay is rendered nearly ineffective; we resorted to utilizing voice instructions to short-cut the complete course of. We additionally erroneously hung up on numerous cellphone calls attempting to press the right reply button.
Granted, all of this sounds very first-world, however the time wasted on stabbing pads on the steering wheel is time not spent wanting correctly on the highway.
All is forgiven…
Simply as properly, then, the 2024 Ferrari 296 GTS is transformative to drive.
When you maintain a little bit of an aversion to downsized engine capacities or electrification, the 296 in each GTS and GTB kind is an indication that the whole lot can be OK.
In probably the most sensible phrases, the hybrid system helps future-proof the 296 GTS in opposition to stricter emissions requirements for a number of extra years but. Nevertheless, it additionally does a formidable rendition of the wailing, theatrical and visceral V12s for which Ferrari is finest recognized.
Hitting the beginning button initially invokes a sequence of digital sounds to indicate the electrical portion of the drivetrain is awake. From there, the 296 GTS pulls away from a standstill in relative silence – a really international Ferrari idea, however one that’s fairly sensible in the event you want to maintain onside with neighbours.
However an earnest squeeze of the accelerator or a easy press (or two) of a haptic pad on the steering wheel is all it takes to wake V6 to life, a course of that immediately brings pleasing ranges of Ferrari theatre.
Electrical torque filling and twin turbos make progress by means of the low to middling revs merely easy. Meantime, the engine gives sufficient aural spice to relay the very fact you’re in one thing unique, particularly with window between cabin and engine cowl lowered or, higher nonetheless, the highest down.
Get extra critical and the 296 delights. In more durable use the hybrid V6 delivers big ranges of sound, theatre and character no matter its comparatively low cylinder depend. Ferrari nicknamed this engine the piccolo V12 and it matches the invoice completely.
The engine is fast, providing blinding pace out of corners and marrying completely with a quick-thinking gearbox and electronics that make for a streamlined supercar expertise.
If the hybrid V6 is a shock, then so too is the driving expertise supplied by the pure EV a part of the equation. Not solely does it facilitate covert early getaways, it additionally offers you a second to pause and mirror on the giddy pleasure you realize the powertrain is able to.
And better of all, the chassis, regardless of it’s drop-top is as much as the duty. Ferrari has carried out some critical voodoo magic with the 296 GTS, which all however does away with scuttleshake or windscreen vibration.
There’s an ever-so-slight motion by means of the A-pillar with the hard-top roof stowed over rougher bitumen, however nothing that actually impacts the efficiency or refinement of the GTS over blended surfaces.
At no level bombing into and out of corners – be they tightening radius, extensive open, or over blind crests – does the 296 GTS need for extra efficiency or rigidity. It merely hunkers down and does its factor, all whereas cosseting occupants from extreme buffeting.
The grip stage is mesmerising and the front-rear steadiness all the time properly poised on easy, quick roads, the place all the data you need is precisely telegraphed by way of the chassis, pedals and steering wheel.
Which means you’ll by no means actually exploit the GTS’ limits on public roads with out touchdown your self in jail. So, you merely take enjoyment from the precision with which it dispatches each impediment earlier than it.
The 296 GTS dispels fairly a number of myths round engine downsizing and electrification, in addition to drop-tops imposing big dynamic compromise. On a sunny day with birds chirping and the odor of nature in your nostril, the 296 GTS makes the whole lot appear proper with the world.
