The Ferrari 296 GTB: A Milestone Hybrid Supercar Meets the Rising Threat of the Lamborghini Temerario
Introduction: The End of an Era
The arrival of the Ferrari 296 GTB in 2022 marked a seismic shift in Maranello’s illustrious history. It was the moment the Prancing Horse bid farewell to the iconic, multi-award-winning twin-turbo V8 era, replacing it with a revolutionary twin-turbo V6 engine coupled with an electric motor. This bold move was a calculated gamble: embracing hybridization in a supercar segment that had, until that point, largely resisted such technological integration. At its debut, the 296 GTB entered a landscape still dominated by the raw, natural fury of the Lamborghini Huracán’s naturally aspirated V10 and the visceral punch of the McLaren 720S, whose V8 lineage was firmly established.
While the McLaren 750S builds upon the V8’s familiar strengths, offering blistering power-to-weight ratios, the arrival of the Lamborghini Temerario has cast a long shadow over the Ferrari 296 GTB. The Temerario, reportedly packing a staggering 903 bhp with a 10,000 rpm redline, represents Lamborghini’s direct challenge to Ferrari’s hybrid Berlinetta. This review explores why the Ferrari 296 GTB, despite its groundbreaking technology, faces an unprecedented level of competition in the 2025 supercar landscape.
The Technological Revolution: A Glimpse into the Future
The Ferrari 296 GTB is more than just a car; it is a statement of intent. It stands as Ferrari’s first production road car powered by a V6 engine (the legendary 246 GT Dino never officially wore the Prancing Horse badge), featuring an innovative ‘hot-vee’ turbocharger layout. This V6 marvel is not just for show; it is a plug-in hybrid with an electric-only range of approximately 15 miles, offering drivers a blend of zero-emission motoring and extreme performance.
The engine itself is a masterpiece of engineering, positioned low in a new aluminum chassis that features a wheelbase 50 mm shorter than its V8 predecessors, pushing the occupants slightly further forward. The electric motor contributes a potent 165 bhp and 232 lb-ft of torque, while the V6 alone delivers a staggering 654 bhp and 546 lb-ft. While Ferrari wisely refrains from quoting a combined peak torque figure—no doubt due to the complex interplay between the V6 and the electric motor—it is safe to assume the total output is staggering. The V6 unit alone shaves 30 kg off the weight of a comparable V8, and it is coupled to a slick eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The battery pack, a long, rectangular structure, resides behind the seats, cleverly integrated into the chassis.
Every Ferrari 296 GTB comes equipped with a suite of sophisticated electronic chassis systems that redefine automotive control. The car features a revolutionary six-axis sensor known as 6w-CDS, which measures acceleration and rotational velocity across the X, Y, and Z planes. This system replaces the conventional yaw sensor and, in conjunction with a steering rack-mounted sensor, provides the car with an unprecedented understanding of its own dynamics. It allows the 296 GTB to predict driver input and monitor grip levels, working in concert with the Side Slip Control (SSC) and active E-diff to maximize cornering speeds without compromising stability.
Furthermore, Ferrari has introduced the ABS-evo system. In RACE mode and above, this system utilizes the 296’s brake-by-wire technology to shorten braking distances and enhance stability during trail braking, a technique usually reserved for professional race cars. For the first time, Ferrari has also leveraged its active aerodynamics not to reduce drag but to maximize downforce. The 296 GTB generates a remarkable 360 kg of downforce at 155 mph, with up to 100 kg of that figure coming from the deployable rear wing.
The car’s cooling architecture is equally sophisticated. Two radiators in the nose manage engine and gearbox temperatures, while two additional condensers cool the battery. Hot air is expelled underneath the car, ensuring it doesn’t interfere with the intercoolers located along the flanks. The small apertures beneath the headlamps are dedicated to cooling the brakes, and the integrated roofline wing creates a ‘virtual’ rear screen, effectively channeling airflow to the rear of the car as if guided by a solid surface. The majority of the 296’s downforce is generated aerodynamically underneath the car, where careful attention has been paid not only to air channeling and the rear diffuser but also to the underbody’s height to optimize the effectiveness of the downforce-generating surfaces.
Performance and Handling: A Symphony of Power and Precision
The driving experience of the Ferrari 296 GTB is nothing short of revelatory. Getting underway is as simple as double-pressing the lower section of the steering wheel boss and engaging first gear. The 296 GTB always defaults to Hybrid mode, allowing for silent, emission-free driving as long as the battery has sufficient charge. The haptic driver mode ‘buttons’ on the left side of the wheel allow the driver to switch to EV mode or engage Performance and Qualifying modes. In Performance mode, both power sources work together with a focus on keeping the battery topped up, while Qualifying mode unlocks the car’s full potential, ignoring battery charge concerns.
The sheer linearity of the acceleration is intoxicating. Planting the throttle in a high gear at low revs elicits a surge of power that makes you question the necessity of gears altogether. But once the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission engages and the V6 revs to 8,500 rpm, the effect is utterly startling. The 0-62 mph time is just 2.9 seconds, but it feels much faster—a visceral experience that verges on the uncomfortable, yet is undeniably addictive.
What truly sets the 296 GTB apart is its chassis. Ferrari has not only delivered a car that is blisteringly fast but also profoundly fun to drive. It feels incredibly agile without ever becoming nervous. The steering is typically light and quick, but crucially, it is also rich in detail, offering fantastic feedback. While grip levels are predictably enormous, the car is also throttle-adjustable in a way that is endlessly entertaining.
Despite its 1,470 kg (dry) weight, the 296 GTB feels significantly lighter, exhibiting a lack of inertia that encourages the driver to work with the car, making small adjustments and reveling in its accuracy and precision. The CT Off mode allows drivers to push the car to its limits with the reassuring knowledge that an advanced electronic brain is monitoring the situation. Even with everything switched off, the 296’s natural balance allows it to be teased into oversteer in a way that feels almost impossible for a car producing 819 bhp.
On the circuit, the 296 GTB shrinks even the longest start-finish straights, but its true character as a sharp instrument becomes even more apparent. The power is ample for breaking traction at the rear on numerous corners, yet the car remains highly responsive to braking and steering inputs, rewarding precision with exhilarating pace. The incredible turn-in accuracy and responsiveness dramatically shorten the entry phase of every corner. Rather than easing into turns, the 296 takes set immediately on its Multimatic dampers, the hyper-quick steering working in harmony with the enhanced roll support of the Assetto Fiorano setup.
Interior: Digital Sophistication or Overly Complex?
The interior of the Ferrari 296 GTB borrows heavily from the SF90, featuring a fully digital interface that is complemented by a suite of haptic switchgear. These controls are liberally applied to the steering wheel and the traditional Ferrari pods on either side. It is undoubtedly a complex system, tasked with conveying vast amounts of information. However, its complexity sometimes leads to frustration, with simple operations requiring multiple attempts and the driver often unsure if a press has registered. Still, the cabin feels like a premium, special place to be.
The evo Car of the Year 2022 Verdict
In the fiercely competitive 2022 evo Car of the Year competition, the Ferrari 296 GTB emerged as a clear winner, earning joint third place alongside the McLaren Artura. The judges were split, but the 296’s technical sophistication and integration of hybrid technology were widely praised.
‘What a spectacular car,’ enthused Jethro Bovingdon. ‘Beautiful to look at, outrageously fast, amazingly exploitable and so technically clever. Its V6 shows McLaren how to downsize but turn up the drama, and it matches the Artura in terms of sheer control but feels a bit more playful and indulgent.’
Dickie Meaden concurred: ‘The first genuinely beautiful Ferrari since the F355. The hybrid system works very well and doesn’t change the driving experience as much as I’d feared. Probably because we’ve already got used to the torquey characteristics of the turbocharged V8 in the 488 and F8. The 296 is stonkingly quick, but doesn’t rely solely on speed thanks to the character of the V6, which has a soundtrack that’s always sweet and changes with throttle opening.’
While the Ferrari 296 GTB’s hybrid system was
