Ferrari not only launched the first road sports car with a V6 hybrid system in the 75 years since the founding of the factory: the 296 GTB on June 24, 2021, but after 10 months, they brought fans the first V6 of the brand with a partial photo of the side of the convertible on April 14, 2022, announced on the official social media that they would launch the convertible version of the 296 series Hybrid Road Sports Roadster: 296 GTS!
The name of the 296 GTS, combined with the "29" of its engine displacement: 2,992c.c., as well as the "6" of the V6 engine layout and the abbreviation of the Gran Turismo Spider: "GTS", not only clearly illustrate the positioning of the car, but also have the connotation of paying tribute to Ferrari's classics.
As early as 1957, Ferrari had already launched the Dino 156 F2 single-seater with a 1.5-liter, 65-degree angle V6 engine, and later in 1958, it added the more exhaust 196 S and 296 S, as well as the 246 F1 car, and assisted racing driver Mike Hawthorn to win the title of F1 Champion of the Year that year.
Like the 296 GTB, the 296 GTS has introduced many groundbreaking exterior and aircraft designs, and because designers wanted it to retain the main features of the 296 GTB, even if it was fitted with a foldable electric hardtop open-top mechanism that can operate between travel speeds of up to 45 kilometers per hour and complete the opening or closing of the canopy in just 14 seconds, the 296 GTS still has a streamlined shape that looks exactly like the 296 GTB when closing the canopy.
And because the foldable hard-top convertible needs to be stored in the engine room after opening, the Ferrari Design Center under the leadership of Flavio Manzoni has created a new canopy cover for the new car, the separation between the body and the canopy is located above the B-pillar, and the foldable hard-top convertible is divided into two parts, folded and stored in the front of the engine, so as to ensure the heat dissipation effect in the engine room and the aesthetics of the vehicle design; and the hood of the 296 GTB is completely horizontal design, and has two flying buttress-style structures. This pays homage to the Ferrari 250 Le Mans prototype.
In addition, the body structure of the 296 GTS is also like the 296 GTB's eye-catching "aerodynamic bridge design", which can present a very compact cockpit and allow the line and body to blend perfectly, and the contrasting and sculptural extension design of the side highlights the design of the hood and can echo the position of the fuel tank cover and the charging port cover.
In terms of aerodynamic design, the 296 GTS installed the turbocharger on top of the V-shaped crankcase with the "Hot V" architecture to manage the heat in the engine compartment more efficiently, and like the 296 GTB, it eliminated the active aerodynamic settings since the 458 Speciale, and the active spoiler and rear bumper inspired by Rafa generated extremely high downforce at the rear of the body, so it was combined with the Assetto Fiorano Option Package The 296 GTS of the racing kit produces up to 360 kg of downforce at speeds of up to 250 km/h.
In a two-seater space that greatly follows the 296 GTB's configuration, the 296 GTS is of course equipped with the first fully digital human-machine switching interface used on the SF90 Stradale model, and when the engine is turned off, the dashboard will appear completely black, creating a minimalist visual effect, and because of the use of more rare high-tech materials, the 296 GTS's italian leather-clad seats and interiors are still quite eye-catching.
It is worth noting that although a set of foldable hard-top convertible mechanisms are "stuffed" in the middle of the body, Ferrari's designers still designed a window at the rear of the 296 GTS hood, through which you can see the exquisitely crafted V6 engine, which is opened and the cockpit and engine room are separated by a height-adjustable glass rear window, so that even at high speeds, it can ensure that the passengers in the car have the appropriate riding comfort.
In terms of performance, the 296 GTS is a 120-degree angled, 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo petrol engine shared with the 296 GTB, and this engine alone has a maximum horsepower of up to 663 horses (CV), which is currently the most powerful internal combustion engine per liter of output (CV/L), and with an electric motor with an output of 122Kw (167CV), the combined output can reach 830 electric motors.
So with the 8-speed F1 dual-clutch self-propelled transmission, although the 296 GTS weighs 70 kg (1,540 kg) more than the 296 GTB (1,470 kg), the 296 GTS can still run at speeds in excess of 330 km/h, accelerating from stationary to 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds as the 296 GTB, and 736 seconds from stationary sprint to 200 km/h (7.3 for 296 GTB), and in the original Fiorano The test track has already achieved a good time of 1 minute 21.8 seconds (296 GTB is only 1 minute 21 seconds).
In addition, not only has the 296 GTS been equipped with a 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo petrol engine, as well as the 296 GTB, with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, an E-Diff electronic differential, and an MGU-K kinetic energy recovery system located between the engine and the transmission, Ferrari has also equipped it with a TMA (Transition Manager Actuator) alternating management actuator and a 6w-CDS (6-way) developed specifically for the 296 series Chassis Dynamic Sensor) six-way chassis dynamic sensor.
The 296 GTS is also equipped with eManettino power output selection and Manettino knobs, and the eManettino control buttons also have 4 different power control modes: eDrive, Hybrid, Performance and Qualify, and can travel 135 km/h and 25 km/h when fully charged.
Finally, to satisfy owners who are looking for extreme power and peak performance, the 296 GTS also offers the Assetto Fiorano Option Package racing kit as an option, which not only allows the vehicle to significantly reduce weight (carbon fiber products in the cockpit and exterior), but also replaces the aerodynamic accessories, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2R high-performance tires, and can replace the Multimatic based on Ferrari GT racing experience Shock absorbers, high downforce carbon fiber kits mounted on the front bumper, generate an additional 10 kg of downforce.
And the Assetto Fiorano Option Package racing kit is not simply to replace the parts on the original model, the basic structure of the door panels has also been redesigned, the vehicle has lost 8 kg of weight, and Ferrari has also designed a special livery inspired by 250 Le Mans for the owners of the Assetto Fiorano Option Package racing kit: the livery starts from the front wing and passes through the central grille. It then runs up along the hood to form a tapered pattern, and all the way to the foldable hard-top convertible and canopy, and finally down to the rear spoiler.