New Ferrari 296 GTB To Replace the F8 Tributo

The Ferrari 296 GTB is the Italian automaker’s new V6 hybrid-powered mid-rear-engined berlinetta sports car set to replace the F8 Tributo.

The newly unveiled Ferrari 296 GTB is the Italian automaker’s mid-rear-engined berlinetta replacement of the F8 Tributo and Ferrari’s first-ever V6 PHEV (plug-in) electric engine model.

Taking its name from a combination of its total displacement (2992 1) plus the number of cylinders (6) and the GTB (Gran Turismo Berlinetta) acronym, the Ferrari 296 GTB diverges from Ferrari’s traditional V8 and V12 engine models and borrows from the Formula One styled hybrid powertrains to deliver 818hp for a 0-62mph time of 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 205mph.

The 295 GTB is also the first Ferrari road car to boast a V6 turbo engine with a V angle of 120° between the cylinder banks and a plug-in electric motor that helps to lower the center of gravity and reduce engine mass to deliver exceptionally high levels of power.

Owners will be able to use the eManettino (power management) knob on the steering wheel to quickly switch through a range of driving modes, including eDrive, Hybrid, Performance, and Qualify modes.

In eDrive mode, the Ferrari 296 GTB’s internal combustion mode is off, and the MGU-K (Motor Generator Unit-Kinetic) engine will power the vehicle for up to 15.5 miles on electric power alone while Hybrid mode, which is the default mode on ignition, controls the power flow for maximum efficiency and varies between the V6 engine and electric motor.

Performance mode allows the driver to take advantage of the V6 engine’s power without draining the battery. Qualify lets the driver get the most power out of the car without being concerned with battery life.

Alongside the base model, Ferrari is also offering a $40,000 Assetto Fiorano track package that reduces the total weight by 26 pounds through the use of carbon-fiber elements and a special gray and yellow livery inspired by the Ferrari 250LM.

In terms of styling, the new Ferrari 296 GTB has been redefined by the Ferrari Styling Center and is the most compact berlinetta to emerge from Maranello in the last decade. Details like its wrap-around visor style windscreen are reminiscent of several other limited editions Ferrari’s, including the J50 and other one-offs like the P80/C and its “teardrop-shaped” headlights, borrow from Ferrari’s designs of the past.

Prices for the new Ferrari 296 GTB will start at $320,000, with deliveries expected to begin the first quarter of 2022.