The Ferrari 296 GTS is an engineering masterpiece. This mid-rear-engined two-seater berlinetta spider is the convertible version of the 296 GTB and it’s the first Ferrari road spider with rear-wheel drive plug-in hybrid architecture.
This Rosso Imola 296 GTS was mine for one sunny Sydney Autumn day and I enjoyed it for over 400kms driving on city streets, twisty roads and highways. This particular GTS has the optional two-tone body painting in Nero DS, a carbon fibre rear diffuser and a carbon fibre front bumper insert. Thankfully then, the Australian spec GTS includes the Adaptive Front Lifting system as standard to raise the nose up. The retractable hard top roof of the 296 GTS is opened and closed using a centre console mounted switch and it takes just 14 seconds working at speeds of up to 45km/h.
There were plenty of thumbs up and even excited kids videoing me as I pulled up at some traffic lights while I was driving the GTS. When I stopped at the Grey Gum café, a motorcycle pulled in next to me and to my pleasant surprise a woman (Genovieve) stepped off it and complemented me on the beautiful GTS and how much she enjoyed following me along the Putty Road. So, suffice to say its sleek design was admired by many and this is indicative of the magic of a Ferrari.
The Ferrari 296 GTS is powered by the new V6 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbocharged petrol engine coupled with a plug-in (PHEV) electric motor that left me shocked by its performance. This engine technology utilises F1- derived MGU-K e-motors and PHEV architecture that has been used in Formula 1 cars since 2014. The 120° “vee” configuration of the internal combustion engine (ICE) has the turbos inside the vee which produces a much more compact engine and optimally distributed masses. The two symmetrical turbochargers can spin to 180,000rpm, while max engine speed is 8,500rpm as indicated on the bright yellow digital taco. You can spy the engine through a glass cover or lift the cover using the pull button on the B pillar next to driver’s seat to have a closer look.
On its own the V6 engine produces 488kW of power and 740Nm of torque, but the electric motor boosts the maximum power of the Ferrari 296 GTS to whopping 610kW! The motor (sandwiched between the engine and eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox) is powered by a relatively small 7.45kWh battery pack that offers a claimed pure-electric range of 25km up to a maximum of 135km/h in eDrive mode. This was enough to get me over the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge to my first photo spot of the day.
Once depleted the 296 GTS defaults to Hybrid, and this is where I stayed for the day in order to truly test the car’s versatility. But if you tap on the eManettino on the steering wheel and select Performance, the ICE is always on and the battery remains topped up or if you want full attack mode in your 296 GTS, Qualify mode is the one for you.
At speed, the 296 can stealthily drive on the battery power only, like a shark silently stalking its quarry. But with instantaneous throttle response the ICE kicks in when it comes time to strike, like a whip of the shark’s tail, and it’s game over for the prey or that minivan you just overtook. The engine engages without any sense of disruption between the two power units in a way that took me by surprise at first. The high performance ABS/EBD systems with energy recovery ensures the battery recharges while you are driving and the stopping power from the 398mm carbon-ceramic brakes is phenomenal.
The numbers produced by the 296 GTS are staggering and it matches the GTB’s 0-100km time of 2.9 seconds despite the fact it is 70kg heavier than the coupe thanks to the 65kg for the folding roof mechanism and 5kg for chassis strengthening. But what impressed me even more was for my day of Ferrari fun I used just 8.5L/100km, which is not far off the official combined fuel consumption of 6.4L/100km.
The 296 GTS also has the same top speed of the GTB, 330km/h, but I’m not sure how keen I would be about the turbulence that would be occurring in the cabin at that speed. At highway speeds though, there was only minimal buffeting in the cabin with the roof down. This is a small price to pay to get up close and personal with the raspy V6 that combines a beautiful turbo whistle with the high-frequency notes of a naturally-aspirated V12. You can also raise and lower the small window behind the seats to experience the engine in full volume even with the roof up.
The 8-Speed F1 dual clutch tranmission offers fingertip controlled gearchanges using the column-mounted carbon fibre paddle shifters. The shift lights at the top of the steering wheel go from red to blue in full F1 style. While the electronic controls, consisting of many acronyms, ensure there’s plenty of driving fun through the twisty stuff without little more than a wiggle from the backend out of the tight corners.
While I was driving, I also had plenty of time to take in the smaller details of the 296 GTS. For instance, I love the fact that I could see a reflection of the optional Ferrari ‘Scuderia’ shield located on the front quarter of the car on the inside of the side mirror. I love how the air vents appear to oscillate in their mounts, they are very pleasant to move around. The smoothness of the optional carbon fibre steering wheel and paddle shifters makes them very satisfying to touch and I love the look of the other carbon fibre highlights throughout the cabin.
The only mechanical switch on the busy steering wheel is the manettino dial that switches between the drive modes available Sport, Wet, Race, CT off, and Traction off. I found the ride was perfectly comfortable in Sport mode and even though my eyes were on the lookout for potholes like they were imitating the stalks of the hammerhead shark, I didn’t find the need to engage bumpy road mode.
The lack of physical switches dominates the cabin of 296 GTS and in their place are fiddly touch controls for the climate system, headlights, and side mirror adjustment. There’s also head up display and a large curved digital driver’s screen behind the steering wheel. This screen encompasses the central taco and other information displayed on either side that is configured using the somewhat annoying touch controls on the steering wheel. The voice control is designated by a masculine looking silhouette on one of the steering wheel buttons and it did not work for any of the commands that I gave it. Even the passenger has their own display that can show the vehicle’s performance, audio selection, navigation and other settings.
You will also notice there is no gear selector as this has been replaced with and an open-gate inspired, metal one on the centre console, again another beautiful touchpoint in the GTS. These switches allow you to engage Reverse and switch the gearbox between auto and manual. You engage Park by pulling both paddle shifters and pull the upshift paddle to engage Drive.
The seats are snug and I found them very comfortable for my day out in the Ferrari. They are heated and cooled and have power adjustment for recline, forward/back, seat height front and rear with these controls located on the side of the seats. Using the passenger screen or steering wheel controls you also adjust the front leg extension and side bolstering for the seat back and seat cushion as well and the driver’s seat has three memory positions.
This seat colour is called Sabbia with Nero leather seat stripes and the light-coloured leather was already showing signs of discoloration after just 5,000km on the odometer. The custom floor mats in this GTS were the optional Alcantara Nera with the 296 GTS logo stitched into them.
Storage space in the 296 GTS is limited to a cubby for the elegant square key fob, which allows keyless entry and keyless start, one cup holder in the centre console, and a shallow storage pocket in door cubbies. The small cubby under the arm rest has two USB-A ports, but neither of these ports charged my phone’s battery. There’s also a wireless charging pad at front of centre console and the 296 GTS comes with Apple CarPlay only.
Under the front bonnet is a boot space that contains the tyre repair kit and car protection cover and it has room for a small weekly grocery shop or some soft luggage for a weekend away to somewhere beautiful like the Hunter Valley. If you do venture to this great Australian wine region, then feel free to drop into Keith Tulloch Wines and mention Driven Women Magazine, as this was the second location, I visited to photograph the 296 GTS.
The Ferrari 296 GTS does not have an ANCAP safety rating but does come standard with front airbags for driver and passenger and side airbags on door panel for head protection. For convenience the matrix-LED headlights have automatic high beam and are dusk sensing and the wipers are rain sensing. The Australian 296 GTS standard inclusions also add a rear-view camera with front and rear parking sensors and my GTS had the optional adaptive cruise control.
Ferrari offers a three-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty on the 296 GTS, along with a maintenance program which covers all scheduled servicing for the first seven years of the car’s life. Those service intervals are recommended at either 20,000km or once a year, whichever comes first.
Ferrari Australasia has also introduced Ferrari Insurance with cover that can be refined to the owner’s individual circumstances. Headlining the benefits is insurance cover of up to $200,000 for track activity at events hosted by Ferrari Australasia and the Ferrari authorised dealer network, giving Ferrari owners the unique luxury of being able to put their Ferrari through its paces knowing that Ferrari Insurance is along for the ride. An excess of $25,000 applies to any claim made for on-track accidents.
Ferrari Insurance also offers Ferrari owners the ability to fine-tune their annual kilometre usage, from precise cover for regularly driven vehicles, right down to as little as 100 kilometres of road use per year for those precious cars only driven on special occasions. Bespoke cover is also available for stored vehicles waiting to return to the road. Other distinctive benefits of Ferrari Insurance include an industry-leading, four-year new-for-old replacement policy, unlimited excess-free windscreen replacements and highly flexible agreed value cover that recognises the true market value of each Ferrari, including instances where a vehicle’s worth has appreciated above its retail price.
I contacted Ferrari Insurance on 1300 458 488 to obtain a quote for the 296 GTS I spent the day with and for my circumstances the annual premium was $6,730 for comprehensive cover, with agreed value, an annual kilometre limit of 2,000km and a $7,500 excess of any claims.
The stealth of the Ferrari 296 GTS masks the magnificent performance that lurks just below its surface and the result is just as awe inspiring as those apex predators of the oceans, sharks. The Ferrari 296 GTS is priced from $668,146 excluding on-road costs. You can configure your own 296 GTS online or visit your preferred Ferrari dealer for more information.
| Pros | Cons |
| The F1-inspired V6 PHEV engine | The fiddly touch control buttons |
| No performance deficit created by the convertible roof | The voice control did not work |
| The Adaptive Front Lifting system comes as standard | The USB ports did not charge my phone |
Photographs by Driven Women Magazine.