Ferrari is back with another auto engineering marvel, however, in a slightly different way this time. The Italian supercar maker has shed traditional ways of developing a car and has put one step into the future. The new Ferrari still resembles the old ones and looks unmistakably Ferrari, but things change when you sit at the wheel. For the first time ever, Ferrari has put a hybrid engine in their car. The battery does not add many kilometres into its overall range but does provide a boost of power when needed. For almost a century, Ferrari has produced some of the best combustion engine cars in the world. They have won several racing titles with their cars, something that has put Ferrari into the hall of fame of supercars. A company that had mastered the art of combustion engine engineering has now stepped into the electric vehicle domain. With the 296 GTB, it will be exciting to see where Ferrari goes from here. Here are 5 exciting features in the new Ferrari 296 GTB:
1. The 296 GTB's numerical designation is a reference to its 2,996cc, six-cylinder engine, while the Gran Turismo Berlinetta moniker establishes it as the latest in a long line of Ferrari sportscars that stretch back to the mid-1950s. It has a 654 horsepower V6 engine. Nestled between the engine and the gearbox is an electric motor capable of producing 164 horsepower all by itself.
2. Ferrari claims you can drive unto 42 km on pure EV power drawing juice from a. 7.45 kWh battery pack. The power is channelled from the engine to the wheels through an 8-speed twin-clutch automatic transmission. Ferrari claims it will do 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and hit 200km/h in just 7.3 seconds. Its top speed is said to be at 330 km/h.
3. The body has been smoothed over, with minimal creases and crevasses throughout the exterior. The shorter wheelbase allowed for a more timeless, elegant design without designers having to reach for extremes. The automaker claims it can produce up to 793 pounds of downforce at 155 mph.
4. The vehicle gets exclusive Italian leather trim and a functional equipment list. When the engine is off, the onboard instruments go black, thereby further enhancing the minimalist look of the cabin. The main instrument cluster is set into a deep cleft carved out of the dashboard trim, itself characterised by a deliberately clean, taut surface.
5. Ferrari hasn't said when deliveries of the 296 GTB will start, though the early examples are expected to begin reaching customers' hands by early 2022. As for pricing, it is predicted that it'll be slightly higher than the F8 Tributo's current starting MSRP of $277,000.
