Ferrari 296 GTB: Redefining the Hybrid Supercar for 2025
The automotive landscape of 2025 is a tapestry woven with electrification. As mandates tighten and consumer preferences evolve, the path to a fully electric future for performance vehicles is undeniable. Yet, for many enthusiasts and manufacturers, the transition requires a bridge—a sophisticated, high-performance solution that marries the visceral thrill of an internal combustion engine with the undeniable efficiency and instant torque of electric power. Enter the plug-in hybrid. While many a marquee has introduced PHEV models, often with compromises in weight, packaging, or pure driving exhilaration, only a select few truly nail the formula. Having spent over a decade dissecting the engineering marvels and marketing ploys of the supercar world, I can confidently say that Ferrari, with its groundbreaking 296 GTB, has not just nailed it; they’ve redefined it. This isn’t just a compliance car; it’s a statement, a masterclass in luxury performance hybrid engineering that sets a new benchmark for 2025 supercar expectations.
For years, the concept of a plug-in hybrid promised the best of both worlds: electric-only urban commutes and long-range, fossil-fueled freedom. The reality, however, often fell short. Many hybrid sports car offerings felt compromised—heavy, complex, their electric motors barely more than a novelty, and their internal combustion engines working overtime to compensate for the added mass. I’ve piloted countless performance hybrid vehicles, from the ambitious to the underwhelming, and the overarching sentiment has been a yearning for a truly harmonious integration. A system where the electric power genuinely enhances, rather than merely supplements, the driving experience. This is precisely where the 296 GTB decisively pivots, showcasing advanced automotive engineering that frankly, few outside of Maranello could achieve.
Ferrari’s journey into electrification isn’t new. The limited-production LaFerrari hypercar in 2013 and the formidable SF90 Stradale in 2019 already demonstrated Maranello’s prowess. But the 296 GTB is different. It’s not a halo car reserved for the ultra-elite or a technological experiment; it’s positioned to become the core Ferrari V6 hybrid sports car, laying the foundation for the brand’s mainstream future. This marks a profound shift, acknowledging the eventual sunset of the beloved V8-powered berlinettas, a lineage that defined much of Ferrari’s modern history. While purists might initially lament the move away from the storied V8, especially one as magnificent as the F8 Tributo’s, the 296 GTB’s hybrid powertrain isn’t a reluctant concession to regulations; it’s a triumphant leap forward. It’s a testament to how electric powertrain innovation can elevate, not dilute, the essence of a Prancing Horse.
At the heart of this revolution lies an entirely new 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, a marvel of Maranello engineering. Unlike previous Ferrari V-engines, this unit features a 120-degree bank angle, enabling the hot vee configuration where the twin IHI turbochargers are nestled within the cylinder banks. This ingenious packaging not only reduces engine mass and lowers the center of gravity but also optimizes exhaust and intake paths, maximizing fluid dynamics and volumetric efficiency. The result is a staggering 221 horsepower per liter from the internal combustion engine alone, culminating in 663 hp. This is a significant improvement over the F8’s impressive V8 and a clear indicator that Ferrari is pushing the boundaries of exotic car technology. The combustion chamber itself, borrowed from the SF90, employs a centrally mounted fuel injector system operating at a colossal 350 bar (5,076 psi), ensuring optimal fuel atomization and combustion efficiency, all contributing to superior Ferrari performance and reduced emissions—a critical concern in the 2025 supercar landscape.
Complementing this exquisite V6 is a Formula 1-derived Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic (MGU-K), a dual-rotor, single-stator, axial flux motor developed by British specialists YASA. Sandwiched between the engine and the sublime 8-speed dual-clutch F1 transmission, this compact disc delivers an additional 167 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque. The combined output is a colossal 830 horsepower, on par with the ferocious, limited-production 812 Competizione. This isn’t just power for the sake of it; it’s next-gen supercar performance delivered with surgical precision. Ferrari refrains from quoting combined torque figures, a strategic move to keep competitors guessing about the intricate dance between the combustion engine and electric motor during acceleration. This seamless integration ensures an instantaneous throttle response that traditional turbocharged engines often struggle to match, virtually eliminating turbo lag and providing an urgency that feels both futuristic and fundamentally Ferrari.
A V6, especially a turbocharged one, often raises concerns about engine note among the purists. Ferrari, however, understood this deeply. The engineers, not the marketing team, affectionately dubbed this powerplant the “piccolo V12” – the little V12 – during development, and for good reason. The unique 120-degree crankshaft, lighter and more compact than a flat-plane V8 crank, along with a carefully tuned balance shaft, produces a sound profile that genuinely surprises. At lower revs, it emits a deep, guttural rumble similar to modern turbocharged V8s. But as the revs climb, that bass melts away, transforming into a high-frequency soprano that evokes the soaring, naturally aspirated engines of motor racing’s golden era. Even with the mandated gasoline particulate filters (GPFs) that have muted so many contemporary premium automotive technology vehicles, the 296 GTB’s soundtrack remains captivatingly loud and immersive. Inside the cabin, Ferrari employs its “tubo caldo” (hot tube) system, a physical pipe channeling the most desirable exhaust notes directly to the occupants’ ears, a clever, analog touch in an otherwise digital age, and a permissible “gimmick” given the car’s ability to glide in silent electric mode.
The electric side of the equation is powered by a relatively compact 7.45-kWh battery. While this yields a modest 15 miles of electric-only range—a figure that some larger plug-in hybrid sedans might double—it’s crucial to understand Ferrari’s intent. This isn’t about maximizing EV range for everyday commuting; it’s about providing instant torque fill, enabling silent egress from residential areas, and critically, serving as a powerful boost for Ferrari track performance. The system prioritizes rapid energy deployment over extended range, designed to quickly deliver and harvest energy, making it incredibly effective in short bursts of high-intensity driving. Recharging from a 6-kW wall charger takes over two hours, but the V6 engine is remarkably efficient at quickly replenishing the battery on the fly. Despite the hybrid powertrain adding a considerable 287 lbs over the F8’s V8, the 296 GTB manages to tip the scales at a dry weight of 3,241 lbs—just 77 lbs heavier than the F8 and matching the 488 GTB. This weight management feat is a testament to meticulous engineering and strategic use of lightweight materials.
My initial encounter with the 296 GTB was at the Circuito Monteblanco in Spain, with an Assetto Fiorano equipped model. This track-focused package is a serious upgrade, featuring Multimatic GT-class passive dampers, competition-ready Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2R tires, enhanced external aerodynamics, a Lexan rear screen, and extensive carbon fiber. These enhancements shave 26 lbs but add nearly $40,000 to the base price—a typical Ferrari indulgence. Slipping into the cockpit, the atmosphere is pure racing, raw and athletic. The traditional analog gauges have been replaced by a large, curved digital screen, and the steering wheel bristles with haptic controls. While some of these Human Machine Interface elements, particularly the turn-signal buttons and the imitation open-gate automatic shifter, can feel counterintuitive or even a touch cheap to this experienced reviewer, they are minor ergonomic quibbles in an otherwise brilliant machine. Ferrari positions these models for “the young,” yet at 43, I find myself embracing the future while occasionally wishing for a simpler switchgear.
On the track, the 296 GTB transcends its complex technology to deliver an experience of astonishing purity. The dual manettino system, with the traditional dial on the right controlling dynamic modes (Wet, Sport, Race, CT-Off, ESC-Off) and the new “eManettino” on the left managing electric power deployment (eDrive, Hybrid, Performance, Qualify), allows for granular control. Selecting Race and Qualify, the car immediately communicates its intent. The grip is ferocious, capable of literally draining blood from your head in hard corners. As the corner opens, the instant, relentless surge of 830 horsepower catapults the car to 62 mph in under three seconds and 124 mph in just over seven. On Monteblanco’s main straight, even a short one, it effortlessly breaches 180 mph. Ferrari engineers confirmed that while continuous, full-attack laps might see a slight dip (40-50 hp) as the battery manages temperature, the system is designed to provide peak power for sustained bursts, more than enough for any typical track day enthusiast.
The 296 GTB’s agility is profound, pushing alertness and eagerness to change direction to new heights among Ferrari’s mid-engine berlinettas. The shorter wheelbase (two inches less than the F8 Tributo) enabled by the compact V6 engine, combined with enhanced chassis stiffness, makes the car incredibly responsive. It behaves like a finely honed race car, yet with a remarkable degree of forgiveness and safety. The new ABS Evo system, working in conjunction with a sophisticated 6w-CDS sensor that measures forces across six axes, delivers braking performance that rivals the very best, on par with the exceptional Porsche 911 GT3. Yet, where the 911 GT3 is a clinical weapon, the 296 GTB delivers an intoxicating sense of fun. With the manettino set to CT-Off, the rear axle comes alive, allowing for playful, controllable power slides, expertly managed by the electronic differential and Side Slip Control. These systems, perfected over years, create a virtual leash that lets you explore the car’s immense limits without immediate catastrophe, making you feel like a driving god.
Away from the racetrack, on the winding mountain roads surrounding Monteblanco, the non-Assetto Fiorano 296 GTB, in a stunning Rosso Imola, reveals another facet of its personality. From a design perspective, Flavio Manzoni’s team has delivered another masterpiece. Initially, photos might not have fully captured its essence, but in the metal, it’s fresh, creative, and undeniably Ferrari. There’s a surprising, direct visual homage to the legendary 250 LM in its sensual rear fenders and dramatically clean surfaces. Yet, beneath this timeless elegance lies cutting-edge Ferrari design philosophy—an extremely complex aerodynamic package that cleverly channels air to cool the braking system, the V6, and the hybrid components (which can reach 1,600°F behind the driver!), all while generating significant downforce without increasing drag. The active rear spoiler, hidden elegantly between the taillights, and the active diffuser flaps are subtle, yet highly effective.
On public roads, the 296 GTB can transform from a serene cruiser to a savage beast with a simple flick of the manettinos. In eDrive mode, it motors silently, offering a surprisingly comfortable ride courtesy of its magnetorheological suspension. The 15-mile electric range proves viable for quiet town driving, and the luxurious, leather-rich interior of the non-Assetto Fiorano model, coupled with a useful front trunk, makes it a surprisingly practical luxury performance hybrid for daily duties. Yet, unleash the full 830 hp on a deserted mountain pass, and the acceleration induces a blend of nervous smiles and dropped jaws. The brakes feel even more aggressive, the steering intimidatingly direct. It’s a wonderful, thrilling beast.
Handing back the keys, a sense of awe and admiration washes over me. The Ferrari 296 GTB isn’t just a phenomenal plug-in hybrid supercar; it’s arguably Ferrari’s most significant achievement in decades. It boldly embraces radical new ingredients—a V6, hybrid power, advanced digital interfaces—yet somehow distills the very essence of what makes a Ferrari truly special. In an era where many manufacturers struggle to authentically integrate electrification into their performance narratives, Maranello has hit the bull’s eye. For the first time in my extensive experience, a plug-in hybrid system feels not like a compromise, but a means to unlock an entirely new dimension of performance and driver engagement, setting a compelling standard for supercar investment in the electrified future.
The 296 GTB is a resounding affirmation that even as the automotive world sprints towards electrification, Ferrari remains at the absolute forefront, leading the charge with unparalleled innovation and an unwavering commitment to the purest driving experience. This car ensures that the dream of a Ferrari, electric or otherwise, will continue to burn bright for generations to come.
Experience the future of Ferrari performance. Explore the groundbreaking 296 GTB and redefine your understanding of the hybrid supercar today.
