Ferrari has revealed long-rumored hybrid model with mid engine twin-turbocharged V6 – Ferrari 296 GTB. Ferrari 296 GTB is the third hybrid car from the manufacturer after Ferrari LaFerrari (2013) and Ferrari SF90 (2019).
Ferrari 296 GTB is equipped with 3.0 liter twin-turbocharged V6 (F163) engine that output 663 horsepower (488 kW) and electric motors that output 167 horsepower giving 296 GTB a total power output of 830 horsepower. It also has 8-speed dual clutch transmission.
According to Ferrari it does 0 to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and 0-200 km/h in 7.3 seconds which means it does 100-200 km/h in astonishing 4.4 seconds. To put thing in perspective Ferrari 360 does 0-100 km/h in 4.3 seconds and 100-200 km/h in 10.9 seconds. Performance of modern Ferrari’s are truly mindblowing.
It’s seemingly a successor to Ferrari F8 Tributo with same mid-engine layout and rear wheel drive. Ferrari F8 Tributo will stay in production until 2022 and it seems like Ferrari 296 GTB is its replacement.
Ferrari 296 GTB – Successor to Dino?
Enzo Ferrari (Founder of the Ferrari) had a son Alfredo Ferrari nicknamed Dino. In 1955 suggested his father to develop 1.5-litre DOHC V6 engine for Formula 2 however less than a year later in 1956 he tragically died at age of 24 from Duchenne muscular dystrophy
In the next year to honor his son Enzo Ferrari started car company under Ferrari called “Dino” that produced cars with 6-cylinder engines (except Dino 308 GT4 and Dino 208 GT4 which has V8’s). Dino offered less expensive sports cars than Ferrari and lasted for 19 years until Dino ceased operation in 1976.
Ferrari itself has never made road car with 6 cylinder engine up until now other than under the brand of Dino which might indicate it’s a successor to Dino but there are other reasons too.
In 1975 Ferrari released Ferrari 308 GTB which is successor to Dino 206 GT. Ferrari 308 GTB is the first model of Ferrari Berlinetta model lineup which latest model is Ferrari F8 Tributo which might very well turn out to be predecessor to 296 GTB.
Berlinetta Model History*
*excluding special models like 360 Challenge Stradale, 430 Scuderia, 458 Speciale, 488 Pista etc.
- Ferrari 308 GTB (1975 – 1985)
- Horsepower: 227
- 0-100 km/h: 6.5 seconds
- 0-200 km/h: 25.9 seconds
- Ferrari 328 GTB (1985 – 1989)
- Horsepower: 270
- 0-100 km/h: 6.4 seconds
- Ferrari 348 GTB (1989 – 1995)
- Horsepower: 320
- 0-100 km/h: 5.4 seconds
- Ferrari F355 (1994 – 1999)
- Horsepower: 380
- 0-100 km/h: 4.6 seconds
- 0-200 km/h: 16.5 seconds
- Ferrari 360 Modena (1999 – 2004)
- Horsepower: 400
- 0-100 km/h: 4.0 seconds
- 0-200 km/h: 13.6 seconds
- Ferrari F430 (2004 – 2009)
- Horsepower: 490
- 0-100 km/h: 3.8 seconds
- 0-200 km/h: 12.2 seconds
- Ferrari 458 Italia (2009 – 2015)
- Horsepower: 570
- 0-100 km/h: 3.1 seconds
- 0-200 km/h: 9.2 seconds
- Ferrari 488 GTB (2015 – 2019)
- Horsepower: 670
- 0-100 km/h: 2.9 seconds
- 0-200 km/h: 8.1 seconds
- Ferrari F8 Tributo (2019 – 2022)
- Horsepower: 720
- 0-100 km/h: 2.8 seconds
- 0-200 km/h: 7.7 seconds
For 40 years, from 1975 until 2015 cars of this model range carried Naturally Aspirated V8 engine when Ferrari 488 GTB replaced Ferrari 458 Italia and had twin-turbocharged V8 engine. This move received a lot of criticism because turbocharged engine couldn’t reproduce quite the noise the naturally aspirated V8 had even though it sounded nice.
At least the V8 engine survived but now it seems not for long. With Ferrari F8 Tributo stopping production in 2022 seems like V6 engine will rule in this model range which also saddens a lot of enthusiasts. They will however learn to love it immediately the moment Ferrari announces next car will be fully electric which will likely happen sooner or later.
Ferrari 6-cylinder engines
Although there hasn’t been 6-cylinder road cars under Ferrari name there have been plenty of race cars throughout the history of the brand. In 1950s we had Ferrari 306 S, 376 S, 735 LM, 246 F1, 246 P F1, 326 MI and 256 F1.
In 1960s we had Ferrari 156 F1, 156 F1-63, 156 F2, 196 SP, 246 SP, 246 F1-66 and 286 SP.
In 1980s we had Ferrari 126C, Ferrari 156/85, Ferrari F1-86, Ferrari F1-87 and Ferrari F1-87/88C.
More recently we have had Formula 1 cars rocking V6 engines like Ferrari F14 T, Ferrari SF15-T, Ferrari SF16-H, Ferrari SF70H, Ferrari SF90, Ferrari SF1000 and Ferrari SF21. Ever since 2014 every Formula 1 car has had 1.5 liter 6-cylinder engine.
So 6-cylinder engine do have some history within the brand.