Driven: 819bhp Ferrari 296 GTB. Ferrari's FANTASTIC new hybrid V6 supercar

When it comes to mid-engined supercars, Ferrari tends not to miss. And so to the Ferrari 296 GTB, reviewed here by Matt Prior.​
Instead of having a V8 like Ferrari's mid-engined supercars tend to, the 296 GTB represents a new generation of Ferrari supercar. In its middle is a 3.0-litre twin turbocharged V6 engine making 654bhp on its own, augmented by a 164bhp electric motor, bringing the total system output to 819bhp.
​They drive the rear wheels through an 8-spd twin-clutch automatic gearbox and have enough power and torque (546lb ft) to propel the 296 GTB from 0-62mph​ ​in 2.9sec and on to a top speed of 205mph.
And you ​can plug it in. Do so and the 296 GTB can run ​on electric power alone for 15.5 miles, making it the ... perfect city car? Well, perhaps not, but bringing unusual versatility to such a powerful supercar.
The 296 GTB costs £241,550 in the UK. Oh, and for the record, owing to the PHEV system the fuel consumption is around 44mpg and its CO2 emissions 150gkm. Until you turn up the V6 noise...
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[@uncoolrunnings]

Love the design! Looks like the love child of Ferrari Dino & a Ford GT.

[@jortepap]

its more inspired by the 250LM. Look from the side and you will see it

[@recca7]

Yea the last place they would take inspiration from is a Ford GT hahah

[@puttajay]

Bit of lancia stratos about it as well

[@owenmcdonald5922]

I see ford gt in it from the drone shots

[@SilentMovements305]

@@recca7 yet the Ford GT looks better than this car in all aspects

[@mehdi4704]

Beautiful looking car, and that drone shot at 4:57 was 👌🏽

[@recca7]

Ferrari digging into it's treasure trove of classic beautiful and elegant designs. I love this direction! Can see it in this car, SP3, and their new SF75🤤🤤 FORZA FERRARI!! 🇮🇹♥️

[@snail415]

This car is an instant classic. A decade from now it’s gonna be regarded similarly to a 458. Say what you want about the shape, but I can’t quit looking at it. It’s a packaging masterpiece.

[@TheGreatestBeyonder]

A decade from now the batteries will be obsolete and you’ll be driving around in a V6!

[@desmonian3672]

@@TheGreatestBeyonderA 650 HP V6.

[@InvestmentAngels]

A truly stunning piece of art. In my eyes one of the most beautiful Ferraris ever built ❤

[@harvo351]

I'm sorry, but how is it possible to make the review of a Ferrari as exciting as reviewing pillows ?? Very reserved presentation Sir . . . I am sure the car is exciting . . .

[@dannycolverson6944]

Looks like Ferrari is entering another golden era for looks. Something about this is just epic. Nice change after years of super aggressive but not very pretty cars. This is on a level with a 458.

[@mickcohen4099]

A long way from a Prius! Matt Prior is still the one to beat when it comes to reviewing a car!

[@Dejan_23Unlimited]

Very good review and even better shots 👍🏼🚀🙏🏻

[@heinedenmark]

Good sounding V6! The numbers are just bonkers..

[@bigphilswheels]

I think it sounds and looks amazing, apart from the yellow one with the stripe. Looks like it's wearing a Covid mask!!

[@recca7]

Not really digging that yellow but the color combo isn't doing it favors either

[@jeebus2121]

I cannot not see the Spongebob Squarepants characters, Mermaid Man.

[@ctk4949]

Ferrari please stop with the anchor pin strips, makes it look like one of those nose strips you use to remove blackheads!! LOL!!!!

[@recca7]

It's a bad color combo. There are better

[@GraemeFinlayson1]

Drone shots are beautifully done. That pilot needs a raise.

[@paramdeepdhaliwal9694]

Hi mat thanks for such epic car review I was on hwy when I got notification for this video I pulled my car immediately to watch the video first bcoz it's Ferrari second and most importantly it's u who is going to review it thanks mate whenever I watch ur videos something comes in my mind a x england cricketer whose name was mate prior too he was wicket keeper😀😃😄 anyways big thanks for the video

[@mrw2941]

🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@edblair5253]

The interviewer has the longest shots in the whole video.

[@MUJHE1000]

I noticed that in all the tests that came out today there was not as much enthusiasm and excitement as in the tests you did for the Maserati mc20 !!!!

[@nigeldeforrest-pearce8084]

Excellent and Outstanding Analysis!

[@CASILLAS521]

Brilliant Car .. looks and sounds Perfect for a TTV6, I was wondering what is the connection between the 296 GTB, MC20, and The Alfa GTA engine, they are almost all 2.9 to 3.0L with Hot V, Grazie Mille 🇮🇹

[@8coibaf]

The engine from Ferrari is a different thing from the others. Ferrari has 120 degrees between banks and the hot V turbo configuration. Alfa and Maserati instead have 90 degrees and turbo are on the outside of the banks. Maserati engine is basically an evolution of the Alfa engine sharing the block configuration.

[@sinisajakus3602]

@@8coibaf bravo

[@global_nomad.]

is it just me or does the rear 3/4 have something of a GT40 about it?....not convinced by the exterior design...maybe it will grow on me....but looks a tad more derivative and less coherent than other recent ferrari's

[@LastWednesdayMedia]

I was gonna say that this car kinda looks like if a GT40 and a new Corvette had a child.....

[@snail415]

Respectfully disagree, yet I do see the GT40 semblances from the front profile as it turns-in. Any car that needs to grow on you, will. Ferrari has some serious talent in the design department, and I think it’ll gain perceived desireability as every other brand continues down the design paths they’re taking.

[@jortepap]

no. design is inspired by the 250LM

[@petercavellini3232]

It’s just you!, try Ferrari 250LM!.

[@lewisfisk]

Those buffer tracks on the paint, are almost as incredible as the car.

[@jamespink4202]

Fabulous Ferrari but the drone work is exceptional!

[@aviator-kn8zq]

Looks great fr. Fresh approaches doesn’t always have to fail like BMW

[@richjohn9356]

Thanks a million

[@johnnyboy1586]

I really dont like the brake by wire idea, what happens if there a glich in the system and suddenly no brakes, st least with mechanical brakes if there is something wrong there should be warning signs to tell if eg leaking fluids

[@christopherhume8896]

Brake by wire worries me. Is there a failsafe is the system goes wrong?

[@rogeryoung3587]

Terrific car, amazing drone footage but please stop messing around with the white balance - the yellow track car sometimes looked like a mango.

[@andrewsmactips]

Gorgeous

[@GFree-qr6nh]

Reminds me of a Dino. Performance aside, that's a compliment.

[@gregskel48]

please tell me I'm not the only one that thought at 1:00 Matt said "it's a fxxking Hybrid"

[@SuperOle2011]

Anyone educated on this car: Can this electric motor be charged by the internal combustion engine or must it be plugged in after that 15 miles of range to have the electric motor working once again??

[@MrLph427]

What about this power train in V12 config. 1600+ Hp !!!

[@cthis4786]

The engine looks like it could make a nice cup of espresso!

[@mta01ajd]

Finally in red! 😍

[@johnsmith1474]

Looks like an Evora type Lotus, with Corvette inspired taillights.

[@michaelteret4763]

Exactly!

[@Imleocalm]

We live in a world now where GM makes a Ferrari (C8 Corvette Z06) and Ferrari makes SUVs....

[@hayabusaorlovina2761]

Yeah. It's a nice SUV... Wait what!?

[@blarkdexture8899]

Needs round rear lights

[@iandavidson99]

Casio G-Shock GWM5610 sir? Respect!

[@bmwbryan1]

820HP with a warranty NOICCEEE

[@Bozforroz]

its hilarious how all of these supercars have copied the honda nsx which released in 2017. These big boys are all playing catch up now. The NSX is now showing just how revolutionary it was

[@petercavellini3232]

How much of this video is shot by Autocar?, because I noticed some shots are like AutoExpress’s Video?

[@flyinghedgehog3833]

Sounds like he is reviewing the latest washing machine...lol.

[@fuhrerpolizei86]

Soooooo...it has a SOUNDAKTOR??!!?

[@BltchErica]

Can you order your car to come with the 4 point seatbelts like in this video?

[@jonathanknight1850]

Yes

[@Sutlore007]

🤣the back, Lotus Elise?

[@Nemoticon]

By no means saying it is a bad design or looks ugly, but Ferraris don't look as 'special' since moving away from Pininfarina, imo.

[@zatharos6427]

2:27 pretty sure the SF90 gets a digital display too…

[@thomas730813]

Are 296 GTB and SF90 both successors of F8 tribute?

[@ashutoshkumardixit5657]

Rear is beautiful

[@princejaiswal6487]

It's feel so Incredible that a V6 twin turbo produce power similar to v10 🔥🔥🔥

[@Chris.Davies]

It only feels that way if you are very ignorant and quite stupid.

[@speedlife301]

You do understand turbos can make what ever hp you want long as they are sized right, the fuel system can supply the fuel and the engine block can handle the cylinder pressure. Cylinder count and displacement don’t really matter . Where displacement matters is in tq , mid range,thermo efficiency and making more power on less boost. 38-40 psi to make 1000whp on a Supra or 12-15 to make it on a v8 v10. What engine will run cooler and last longer. Displacement will always be king . If not racing rules in lemans , f1 , and drag racing wouldn’t limit displacement to a fixed amount.

[@willmac1748]

Has more than a bit of Alfa 4c (side windows and intake)

[@vishalmohan1995]

E-brake, E-steering and Throttle by wire? Damn this could drive itself if it is tapped.

[@michaelwood1761]

Something (headlights) about the front of the car reminds me of a 90's Honda Prelude, probably not what Ferrari were going for. Fabulous car I am sure.

[@doverivermedia3937]

why is no-one detailing the interior features etc. lacking

[@anthonyw5261]

I thought it had a power spoiler 🤔

[@nastystew6942]

I wish they would have brought the Dino name back!

[@Igoriann]

Probably the most reliable Ferrari considering you can e drive it and hybrid drive it meaning half the mileage isn’t on engine

[@patthonsirilim5739]

for the ladies and poser who just wants to owna ferrari to doddle around time the electric motor is probbaly the best thing for them.

[@wasdwasdwwasd]

Surely a wanker would want people to hear the V8/V12?

[@thomasheuer1916]

308 GTB flavor for mine

[@josephjewellers]

beautiful.....elegant design not like all other competitors too bad still not using Carbon Fibre chassis....if Ferrari not switching to Carbon Fibre, they future EV will be very very heavy.....not sure how will they compete

[@petercavellini3232]

Ferrari’s best Car in Decade?

[@Chic-A-Dee]

The only bad things about this video are the editing and camera work. Some scene cuts and shot placements are amateurish.

[@ZeeBri]

GW-M5610-1ER. Best watch.

[@burgundyexpress]

Why does the front look like an early 90's Camero? Ferrari used to make good looking cars.

[@danielthomas8507]

the one to have...shades of 308gt4 in the profile...

[@wesleyolifant3665]

I want 1

[@bjmullan]

Is it just me or does it look a lot like a Vette from the front?

[@thomascole9308]

And how the i8 was chastised back in 2014

[@siqe7]

Mmmm!...I'm getting Vette/Camaro/Evora/GT40... From the side it IS a slightly longer Evora.

[@bigcazza5260]

1600kg is a turd, put coilovers on my falcon and it will handle as well

[@Domega-ek4vw]

It looks like the like a Ferrari and a C8 Corvette had a baby.

[@1234Tubie]

None in the $300K USD still looks and sounds as good as Lamborghini Huracan with NA V10

[@fuhrerpolizei86]

Looking forward to a 2.0L turbo hybrid Ferrari pumping out a million horsepowers

[@hayabusaorlovina2761]

You would like W16 10L with 245 hp?

[@clubdevoiture1618]

The hybrid system is pointless. 30 miles in electric at the cost of 100 odd kgs

[@mattstevens84]

Can't stop looking at his pimple during the in-car footage.

[@farhankhan2467]

I love car

[@edwardtookes6065]

What a ferrari should look like

[@jamesdonoghue5907]

Looks like an Americanised Ferrari. Probably a good drive, but it will never be a classic. Where the lines should be sharp, they’re rounded. Traditionally the first Ferrari of a model goes on to be the best looking over time (308 vs 328, 550 vs 575) whereas I can see the replacement for this looking sharper. It’ll have to be. Good review, thanks.

[@recca7]

That's because it has taken inspiration from classic Ferraris, so it's kind of ironic that you would say it would never be a classic🤨

[@jamesdonoghue5907]

@@recca7 Classics generally are that because they are their own car rather than one that borrows from others. But the 296...I'll admit it is growing on me.

[@johnv4866]

I absolutely love the way this car looks except for the horrible decal on the accetto Fiorano package

[@danielebortoliero5662]

*assetto. Btw yes, I agree with you, and that grey/silver looks ugly.

[@sebmx5708]

👍

[@dxutube]

I feel this is a new segment for the company, not a replacement for the F8. Certainly I would not want a paintjob that makes it look like a duck-billed platypus.

[@petercavellini3232]

Only a 100kg?!, drive on your own?

[@igortereshchenko5675]

Why would Ferrari want to fake v12 sound with v6 engine? When you pay over 200k it’s should be in a true Ferrari.

[@JoshVaughnPhotography]

It sounds kinda like a 911 GT3... which is about the best complement you can give a car 🤣

[@gregmayled]

No it doesn’t

[@daveyboy6985]

Yes very similar. Probably even better.

[@thulasidalam]

Can't wait to see Clarkson review of this beauty! 😉

[@robertphillips3078]

It ain't a gr8 look'in ferrari. If l had 2 choose between this & a NSX , The NSX Wins hands down. Once its been sent 2 Science of Speed in the USA 2 Wring its Neck 4 more Grunt.

[@tracer073]

Why they go for a retro look, it looks like an old American muscle car

[@stephane_edouard]

Can't this guy show some emotion once in a while ?

[@JohnnyTHolland]

Looks like a V6 and sounds like a V6 - but nice all the same.

[@ssaini5028]

Acura NSX is half the price

[@gul201210]

And probably nowhere as good.

[@ssaini5028]

@@gul201210 Of course, but still great in its own repect.

[@seanoconnor8135]

It's also uglier, slower, less powerful, 300+ kg heavier and sounds nowhere near as good. Oh and it's also not a Ferrari

[@limericklad2000]

Why would anyone buy an SF90 over this?

[@colinhare4722]

It's a bit boring design wise. Not ugly but safe in a Honda NSX way

[@lilosch]

5:40 This replaces the f8? wasnt the f8 just released like 2 years ago? That doesnt make sense. If it is true, than it seems sad because this doesnt look special enough. 458, 488 and F8 are all better looking than this

[@tem0079]

This video... 😴💤💤💤

[@WanderingSword]

cmon throw the car around. Driving it at 40 mph and then saying it handles great doesn't say much about a car in this class. Acura NSX on steroid could beat this car.

[@rbusi88]

🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹

[@robinleach2390]

I don’t think Matt Whatsisname supports 16 minutes. It’s just so flat and sounds like he’s selling a photocopier. He doesn’t have to be Chris Harris but after 5 minutes it was getting quite boring….

[@jmhofmeyr]

People must stop making such a big thing of people driving sports cars...the amount of CO2 we putting into the air compared to normal everyday cars, planes, power generation and heavy industry is miniscule...

[@danielclaudio5764]

The music at the beginning is great. I want it in Elder Scrolls VI.

[@3dsmackdown]

Almost looks like GT40.

[@jortepap]

no more like a 250 LM

[@CAR_NL]

Such a beautiful car untill you see the back. Just imagine this car with the back of the F8. It would be perfect.

[@hayabusaorlovina2761]

F8 is one of ugliest Ferrari's EVER made. I'm glad this car doesn't have any connection with it.

[@BltchErica]

@@hayabusaorlovina2761 You have very different taste. The F8 has such a nice curvy shape and the engine cover displays the whole engine nicely at a tilt like it's presented to you.

[@Hostilenemy]

A V6 Ferrari? The world as we know it, folks, is over.

[@Largeone1968]

*laughs in Dino