Say HELLO to the new Ferrari 296 GTB

Published 2021-06-24 by Peter Ternström

Here it is! The new Ferrari. It is called Ferrari 296 GTB and has a hybrid V6TT + electric engine with a total 830 hp system output.

The engine is 2.9 litres and not related to the Maserati Nettuno V6 in the Maserati MC20. Instead, Ferrari has developed their own power plant that has a rather unique 120 degrees cylinder angle.

The petrol engine produces 663 hp and the electric motor adds another 167. Maximum torque is a staggering 740 Nm.

Ferrari claims 0-100 in just 2.9 seconds and a top speed of over 330 km/h. From standstill to 200 km/h takes just 7.3 seconds(!). The weight is remarkably low for a hybrid car, only 1 470 kg dry.

For the track-oriented customer, there is a version of the car called Assetto Fiorano, with improved aerodynamics and many weight reduction features.

No public price list exists, but we expect the car to cost above 250 000 euros + options and taxes.

Bad news for McLaren

The performance figures are wild, and pretty bad news for its arch-rival, the McLaren Artura which also has a V6TT hybrid power plant. However, the English car only has 680 hp and does 0-200 a full second slower at 8.3 seconds.

Ferrari is currently leading the ever going performance battle with McLaren - for now. If I know McLaren right, they are probably already preparing something to take on the new Ferrari. I'd say we'll have something more powerful from McLaren in the spring of 2022. Geneva, maybe?

Is this the new baby Ferrari?

Absolutely not. The price is expected to be on par with the current F8 model, at about 250-270k euros + options and taxes. Most importantly, a new entry-level "baby" Ferrari would not be produced at the factory in Maranello. The factory in Maranello is already a bottleneck, the brand can sell many more cars than it can make. Hence, it makes no sense in producing a cheaper car with less margin.

A future baby Ferrari could share the platform with the Maserati MC20. This makes a lot of sense, the performance of the little Maserati is top-notch, but most importantly a Ferrari-badged variant could be produced alongside the Maserati at the plant in Modena. A beautiful money-grab by Ferrari that certainly would please the shareholders.

Would you buy a Ferrari based on the MC20, at a price point of about 180k euros? A lot of people certainly would.

Does the 296 GTB replace the F8?

Good question. The answer is yes, and no. The cars are in an identical segment at Ferrari, at a very similar price. Still, Ferrari has decided to keep the F8 alongside the 296 GTB for now. What is going on?

The answer is the drivetrain paradigm. With the 296 GTB, Ferrari introduces a completely new V6 hybrid engine. Ferrari has to convince the market that this is the new peak performance system, more desirable than the V8. This will take some time. In order to not shock the system, they are keeping the V8 alongside the new hybrid V6 for now.

The V6 hybrid system needs at least two years to prove itself. We need thousands of cars on the streets and hundreds of reviews in car magazines and tv shows by established motor journalists praising its revolutionary function and power output. Then, the paradigm can change. The V8 will start being perceived as old technology. At some point, also you are going to prefer the V6 hybrid over the V8.

My guess is that Ferrari will leave the F8 in production for about 18 months from now. When the Ferrari 296 Spider is introduced, the F8's production will end.

Bear in mind that the F8 was never meant to be. A third car on the 458 platform was never planned. Rumors say that the hastily brought-in F8's purpose was to give the engineers at Ferrari two extra years time to finish the V6 hybrid car. The initial plan was to release the Ferrari 296 GTB directly after the 488, but the new car and advanced hybrid technology were not nearly ready.

What about other Ferrari models?

Will they get the new V6 hybrid engine? Absolutely. The new V6 engine is brilliant and it will be introduced in nearly all future Ferrari models, replacing the award-winning V8TT across the board.