Among the near-endless things to do in one’s life, there are a few that have to be done at least once. Driving a Ferrari is one of them. This is true for every motorhead out there. But even for people who do not possess a lot of affinity for suck-squeeze-bang-blow, driving a Ferrari may just bring them over to the other side. I have never had a dislike for cars. I simply liked motorcycles more… much more. Yet, after a few of the Prancing Horses, I am almost on the brink of the said other side. 

A good number of people know about the prestige that the Ferrari badge carries. A decent number of them desire to lay their eyes on one at least once. Fewer get an opportunity to see one in the flesh. And only a handful ever get to drive one. That’s why I consider myself very fortunate. After all, how many people can say that they have gotten to try their hands on more than 5 cars from a brand that is the oldest competing brand in F1 and also, the most successful one? 

In the context of this particular piece, I have driven 2. Both of them are more or less similar on paper. They share the engine, the platform, the tech, and even most of the nomenclature. Where they differ is the feeling. And most of you who care know that a Ferrari is more about feeling than anything else. Enough suspense… good people of the world, feast your eyes on the duo of Ferrari 296 GTS and Ferrari 296 GTB!

As I mentioned, Ferrari is all about feeling; the emotions it evokes. So I am going to talk about it in terms of that more and numbers, a little less. For those of you who are all about numbers, the Ferrari website is very well-designed and the brochures are a thing of beauty. Getting back to the point, to talk about the feeling and emotion, there needs to be a bit of history. For now, just note that the 296s that I drove are powered by a twin-turbo V6 and an electric motor. Don’t scoff at the motor or the V6 just yet… read on. 

So in the past two decades or so, the majority of Ferraris have been V8s and V12s. 430, 458, 488, and finally, the F8; these were the V8s. Similarly, 550, 599, F12, and 812 Superfast have been the V12 flagships. There have been special ones like the Enzo, and the LaFerrari but majorly, it has been a V8 and V12 combo. LaFerrari was the first one to introduce electric motors to the system but it was not a plug-in hybrid but a mild-hybrid. The system was more like K.E.R.S. These were some illustrious names and all of them were acclaimed for upholding the Ferrari tradition of magnificent cars. But the 296s are plug-in hybrids. So… what happened? 

Well, the world moved on and so did Ferrari. In the wake of the flurry of electric vehicles that we are seeing, big gas guzzlers started to seem a little less eco-friendly. Most manufacturers are shying away from big ICEs and the ‘traditional supercar’ is following the electrification mantra. Ferrari still sells the F8 Tributo and explicitly states that the 296 is not a replacement for that. It may not be but I believe that the V8-V12 combo may be replaced by V6-V8 (with electric motors). At least the 296-SF90 combo points to that. 

So does the sacrilege of sacrificing a V8/V12 and the sin of electrification mean that the ‘Ferrari feeling’ is a thing of the past? Not if you know how good the SF90 Stradale is. And not if I can say that the 296 GTS/GTB is one of the best Ferraris I have ever driven. And I have driven the 458 as well so you can understand that the 296 is simply out of this world. In fact, it evokes the same emotions as the now-legendary 458 did- automotive perfection and motoring nirvana. If the LaFerrari was a dip in the hybrid pool, the SF90 was a dive and a half. The 296 though… well, it’s Michael Phelps in that pool, folks! Now, let us get to it. 

Starting with the name, Ferrari 296 GTS and Ferrari 296 GTB. 296 refers to the displacement and the number of cylinders, a much-celebrated return to Ferrari’s naming scheme of old. GT refers to Gran Turismo. And the BS, ahem, excuse me, the SB is the body style- Spider and Berlinetta. Moreover, the naming scheme is not the only thing that Ferrari has returned to. The styling is simply spectacular. From the visor-like windscreen to the buttresses and from the vertical rear screen to the 250 LM-like side vents; the Ferrari 296 is a thing of beauty! 

While most Ferraris are smashing to look at, the folks at the Ferrari Style Centre have outdone themselves with the 296. Some of the prior models had a lot going on. Be it the F8, the SF90 or the 812 Superfast, the design was rather busy. Tons of lines and creases and vents and whatnot. It was tasteful, yes, but the 296 is elegant, flowing, and simply pleasing to look at. Despite the elegant simplicity, the 296 does not lack innovation with active aero bits to enhance downforce and body panels that reduce drag. The last Ferrari that truly swept me was the 458… for the very same reasons!

On the inside, the 296 continues to impress. Being a Ferrari, the materials and finish are top notch and overall, the interior is very well put together. The seats are nice and supportive and the thigh support is just about enough for most people. The screen is good and the buttons have a nice tactile feel to them. The only issue I found is the lack of a secondary screen and a hint of overcrowded controls. The latter though has been a Ferrari thing and doesn’t bother me as much. Since the 296 is mid-engined and has only one electric motor (unlike the SF90), there’s generous boot space in the front- an everyday Ferrari for your kind perusal. 

Now, I have talked about everything except what I was supposed to talk about- performance. It’s a Ferrari after all. In one word… transcendent. Both the 296 GTS and the 296 GTB are phenomenal cars to drive and the powertrain is simply cracking. The breakdown goes like this; a 2,992cc 120° V6 with the turbos encompassed within the ‘Vee’ to keep things compact and cool. The ICE is good for around 654 bhp. Moreover, there is an electric motor that adds a further 165 bhp of power for a total of 819 bhp. There’s also 740 Nm of torque at your disposal. 

Ferrari claims that the 296 GTB is capable of going from 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and 0-200 km/h in 7.3 seconds on the way to a top speed of over 330 km/h. The 296 GTS is 70 kg heavier than the 296 GTB. I drove one with the Assetto Fiorano package so it was around 8 kg lighter than the standard 296 GTS. Regardless, the convertible is still around 60 kg heavier than the Berlinetta and yet, it goes from 0-100 km/h in the same 2.9 seconds! To 200 km/h as well, it is just 3 tenths of a second slower! In both cars, all the power is sent to the rear wheels only via an 8-speed twin-clutch transmission. 

The performance can be described as pure and innocent fury. A lot is going on in the background but the driver is only exposed to what they buy a Ferrari for; the joy of driving. The ICE revs up to 8,500 rpm and it sings more than screams. Ferrari calls it ‘little V12’ based on its soundtrack. I am not sure about that because V12s are a whole different animal but this V6 can also sing tunes that you fall in love with. The acceleration is visceral and the way it just keeps pulling and pulling and pulling… it is intoxicating. 

Since there are two turbos sitting in the ‘Vee’ and the electric motor is assisting the ICE, the throttle response is addictive. It feels nearly impossible to distinguish between a naturally aspirated engine and this hybrid power plant. In the convertible 296 GTS, the theatre is even more pronounced. With the top down, you are more exposed to the engine’s soundtrack and all the noise of its surroundings compounding the feeling of speed and exhilaration. I loved the F8 Tributo for all it was but I can never forget the feeling of driving the 296s. Trust me when I tell you this… this car is something else. 

The handling was sublime as well. Though I did not get to open it up on a racetrack, I still had my fair share of fun in driving both the 296 GTS and the 296 GTB. The steering is magnificent and does not feel artificial. It has the kind of weight to it that you need to know what the front is doing. Due to the downforce, it always feels planted but it can be playful too if you want… or dare! It is talking to you all the time letting you know exactly what the car is doing and it’s just… alive. I have driven some good cars over the years but this sort of engagement is rarely seen in modern cars. 

I have driven the 812 Superfast as well. It generated a similar amount of power from its naturally aspirated V12 but to be honest, it was a handful. The engine was in the front and the transmission sent every single pony to the rear wheel. It made the 812 Superfast something with a temperament. In the case of the 296, there’s just more control and less chaos. The electronics suite has something to do with it as well but the chassis, the suspension, and the geometry have a bigger part to play in my opinion. In the 812 Superfast, even with the electronics, there was this looming threat of the rear coming around. It is fun in its own way. The 296 can be tail-happy too but in a much more controlled manner. 

I’d say this again; I have been fortunate enough to have driven a fair few Ferraris. Up to this point, the 458 was the benchmark for me when it came to driving and nothing else. The 458 had purity. With the turbos of the F8 and the 4WD of the SF90 and the manic 812 Superfast; things got a little hectic, a little too busy, just like their design. However, I am glad to report that both the 296 GTS and the 296 GTB have the same purity; in their design, in their application, in their noise… in the feelings they awaken… and in the emotions they evoke.