Sportiness, performance and fun are in the DNA of the new Ferrari 296 GTS, the spider of the Prancing Horse, evolution of the berlinetta 296 GTB, the first to be fitted with a V6 plug-in hybrid mid-engine capable of transmitting strong emotions and a unique driving pleasure. gender.
The Ferrari 296 GTS, Maranello's second hybrid after the SF90 Stradale, is equipped with an aluminum retractable hardtop (RHT) that opens and closes in just 14 seconds and up to a speed of 45 km / h.
When uncovered, the car has sporty and streamlined lines, while with the roof closed the silhouette remains very faithful to that of its sister 296 GTB.
In the International Media Drive we were able to try the 296 GTS on a route that took us from Versilia to Maranello: a mixed route of over 300 km between urban and extra-urban roads, motorways and culminating with the fun passage to the Futa and Raticosa Passes.
Only the powertrain unites the GTB and the GTS and is composed, for the first time on a road spider, of a 663 hp (221 hp / l) 120-degree 3000cc V6 turbo, with 8-speed DCT gearbox, coupled to a electric motor capable of delivering an additional 167 hp (122 kW and peak torque of 315 Nm) for a total of 830 hp overall.
A real power released through the single tail central exhaust with a truly unique sound offering "small V12" emotions catapulting the 296 GTS from 0 to 200 km / h in just 7.6 seconds.
The rigid aluminum top made it possible to contain the weight increase compared to the GTB by only 70kg, thus ensuring very similar performance and an exceptional power-to-weight ratio of 1.86 kg / hp.
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Ferrari 296 GTS
A feature that immediately catches the eye when looking at the 296 GTS is certainly its clean lines, very elegant, the short hood and a very compact cockpit with a tail that remains rather long.
"A tribute to the 250 Le Mans of the 60s - underlined the director of the Ferrari style center, Flavio Manzoni - especially in the rear with the presence of a flying bridge that is enhanced when traveling in the open".
Surely the aspect that strikes when you drive the 296 GTS is the silence after pressing the Start button located in the center of the steering wheel.
The car, in fact, starts in full-electric mode and in this mode we walked the open-air promenade caressed by the sea breeze of a typical autumn day that took us from Forte dei Marmi to Viareggio.
But once you enter the motorway towards Florence, the roar of the V6 comes into force in the cockpit and the horses of the 296 GTS make themselves heard, and how.
As we headed towards the Passo della Futa, the battery was also fully recharged ready to travel a further 25 km in electric or to give more thrust to the engine.
Acting on a special selector located on the steering wheel and called eManettino (in analogy with the Manettino for the management of driving controls), in fact, four different power unit management modes can be selected: eDrive which allows an exclusively electric drive up to 25 km and a maximum speed of 135 km / h;
Hybrid in which the efficiency of the system is optimized and the control logic decides whether to turn the heat engine on or off;
Performance with internal combustion engine always on, which guarantees full availability of power and battery recharging;
Qualify which favors maximum performance to maintain battery charge.
eDrive which allows pure electric driving up to 25 km and a maximum speed of 135 km / h;
Hybrid in which the efficiency of the system is optimized and the control logic decides whether to turn the heat engine on or off;
Performance with internal combustion engine always on, which guarantees full availability of power and battery recharging;
Qualify which favors maximum performance to maintain battery charge.
eDrive which allows pure electric driving up to 25 km and a maximum speed of 135 km / h;
Hybrid in which the efficiency of the system is optimized and the control logic decides whether to turn the heat engine on or off;
Performance with internal combustion engine always on, which guarantees full availability of power and battery recharging;
Qualify which favors maximum performance to maintain battery charge.
With Ferrari 296 GTS driving emotions in the open
The frame of the 296 GTS has been suitably redesigned and optimized compared to that of the 296 GTB to ensure maximum torsional and flexural stiffness compared to previous spider applications, in the order of + 50% and + 8% respectively.
And we were able to put these characteristics to the test on the Futa state road where the 296 GTS found itself at ease brushing the curves that led us to the Raticosa.
"Short wheelbase, 830 hp, precise steering, lateral grip: these are all characteristics - explained Raffaele De Simone, Ferrari's chief test driver - that are created to excite the driver. Some are invisible to the eye, but decisive in the success of the car. elements specially designed to entertain the driver and to make him feel capable of controlling it even on the edge ".
Despite the power delivered by the engine, in fact, with the 296 GTS it was easy to establish an incredible feeling after just a few kilometers.
Even less experienced drivers immediately feel at ease, it is a car with a double personality: while always remaining fun, it is easy to drive in everyday life, but ready to give driving emotions to those in search of maximum performance.
Driving emotions on this car remain the point of reference.
The spider 296 GTS, like the berlinetta 296 GTB, is also available in the Assetto Fiorano version for those who want to further increase its performance, especially on the track, thanks to weight reduction and aerodynamic and technical modifications.
In particular, they include special racing-derived GT Multimatic adjustable shock absorbers optimized for track use;
High-downforce carbon fiber appendages on the front bumper that can provide an additional 10kg of downforce and more extensive use of lightweight materials such as carbon fiber for both the interior and exterior.
At the end of our test we can say that the goal has been achieved: it is undoubtedly the funniest Ferrari in the range suitable for any context both in everyday driving and in sports driving.
