Ferraris aren’t precisely a dime a dozen (properly, except you are at Pebble Seaside) but when there’s anywhere the place you may anticipate them to be comparatively thick on the bottom, it is the corporate’s hometown of Maranello, Italy. But as I drive by means of the compact metropolis heart within the new Ferrari 296 GTS, I am getting nothing however dropped jaws and double takes. Absolutely this cannot be the primary time these folks have seen a Ferrari.
On second thought, maybe it is the primary time they’ve seen one with out listening to it first.
Similar to its hardtop 296 GTB sibling, the Ferrari 296 GTS has a plug-in hybrid powertrain that provides 15 miles of absolutely electrical driving vary. It is positively a bizarre mind boggle seeing an unique Italian convertible making the identical sounds as a golf cart, however I really like this wild juxtaposition. The long run may be very cool.
By itself, the 296’s electrical motor makes 164 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque, which are not the kind of headline specs you usually affiliate with a Ferrari. Nonetheless, that is greater than sufficient shove for brisk, silent, low-speed driving on the slender streets of Maranello. And deciding on the 296’s Hybrid setting on the digital Manettino drive mode selector will hearth up the inner combustion engine when wanted, at which level, wow, are you in for a deal with.
You would do that silently — for about 15 miles, anyway.
Ferrari
Ferrari calls its 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 “the little V12” largely due to its 120-degree format and the truth that you may rev it to excessive heaven, mimicking the sound of an engine with twice as many cylinders. I can sort of hear the similarities, principally within the V6’s higher register, although it would not fairly get the hairs on the again of my neck shifting like a real naturally aspirated V12. Even so, kudos to Ferrari for understanding the significance of aural delight with a sports activities automotive — even a plug-in hybrid one. The corporate truly redesigned the 296’s “sizzling tube” exhaust resonator particularly for the GTS convertible, piping extra pure sound into the cabin when the retractable hardtop is closed.
Swap the 296 over to its all-systems-go Qualifying mode and there is 818 hp and 546 lb-ft of torque at your disposal, which is sufficient to scoot the three,396-pound GTS to 60 mph in lower than 3 seconds. Heck, even with none hybrid help, the V6 affords a wholesome 654 hp. It is unbelievable. 10 out of 10, no notes.
Efficiency mode is the place the 296 GTS is at its greatest, retaining the V6 engine alert and utilizing the e-motor for help as wanted. On this setting, the engine and brakes can ship supplemental power again to the battery to recharge it on the go, so should you, I do not know, drive the bejesus out of the 296 on a scenic Italian mountain move, you will have sufficient juice to politely toddle by means of city at a whisper’s quantity. Nobody’s the wiser, regardless of the “little V12” echoing by means of the hills.
The folding hardtop takes simply 14 seconds to do its factor.
Ferrari
It will come as no shock that the 296 GTS is nice to drive; what Ferrari is not? However what impresses me most about this convertible is that it is so extremely simple to push. The steering is superbly weighted and the rear finish affords simply sufficient slip to let you may have enjoyable in a nook with out moving into hassle. Even the brake-by-wire system — an digital setup that is fussy on different vehicles — is completely tuned right here. The pedal journey is brief, there is a predictable chunk level and stopping strain builds progressively. The tougher and sooner you drive the 296, the extra rewarding it’s.
The folding hardtop is operated electronically and takes simply 14 seconds to neatly stow behind the cockpit. The small rear window within the roll hoop behind the seats — one thing Ferrari calls the “flying bridge” — could be raised or lowered relying on how a lot airflow you need contained in the cabin. However even on the freeway with all of the home windows down, the 296 GTS is nice. You would have a dialog with a passenger with no need to shout, and crucially, you may hear turn-by-turn navigation instructions clearly with no need to crank the stereo.
You possibly can order the 296 GTS with the identical Assetto Fiorano bundle that is accessible on the GTB, however truthfully, I would not. The AF pack provides issues like stiffer (and adjustable) Multimatic shock absorbers, carbon fiber exterior appendages that assist with downforce and Michelin Pilot Sport cup 2 R summer season tires, which are not actually designed for each day avenue use. This improve may make sense should you plan to routinely observe your 296, but when that is the case, you are in all probability shopping for the GTB coupe. On the GTS convertible, which actually lends itself to breezy grand touring, the Assetto Fiorano pack looks as if it’d solely detract from that open-air bliss.
This automotive was meant for winding Italian roads.
Ferrari
Convertible prime apart, the GTS’ cabin is similar because the GTB, which is nice. I really like the middle console’s low top and the way in which it would not angle up towards the sprint. You possibly can see the expansive footwells proper as much as the firewall — sort of like a Hyundai Ioniq 5 — and this actually provides the inside a vastly spacious feeling, regardless of being fairly compact. The seats are principally cozy, although the underside cushions are a bit flat, however all the things contained in the GTS is superbly appointed and nice to the touch.
The tech contained in the 296 GTS is a bit overwhelming on startup, I am going to admit, principally as a result of it is all managed by means of what appears like one million controls on the steering wheel. Little pads on the aspect spokes management the screens that flank the digital tachometer, the lower-left show handles drive modes, the lower-right dial modifications the traction management. And all of that is earlier than you get to the varied toggles for the headlights, wipers, and so on. Even the flip indicators are buttons. It is quite a bit.
However that is a small grievance, all issues thought-about. In addition to, after an hour or two behind the wheel, you do not care about issues like ergonomics or blind spots or the truth that the 296 GTS prices someplace within the $350,000 vary. This Ferrari is a automotive that is surprisingly simple to drive and it will allure you proper from the beginning. It would not even have to shout to make a press release. Simply ask the oldsters in Maranello.
Editors’ be aware: Journey prices associated to this story have been lined by the producer, which is frequent within the auto trade. The judgments and opinions of CNET’s workers are our personal, and we don’t settle for paid editorial content material.
