2024 Ferrari 296 GTB

Ferrari made an 830 hp hybrid V6 that is savage and civilised at once, and we adore it

In short, this is a brilliant car. Abnormally fast, surprisingly comfortable, and every inch a Ferrari. Push the Bumpy Road setting through the Manettino, even on the optional Daytona Racing Seats, and it becomes genuinely comfortable, not S-Class comfortable, but exceptional for a supercar of this calibre. Everything about it feels Ferrari, screams Ferrari. Do we love that? Absolutely.

Design: spectacular, even without Pininfarina

We miss the classic Pininfarina touch, of course, but the 296 looks genuinely spectacular. People crane their necks in under a second, and the Ferrari aura is fully intact. It is dramatic, compact and beautifully proportioned, the kind of car that turns a normal street into an event.

Comfort: a supercar you can live with

The surprise is how usable it is. With the Bumpy Road damper mode engaged it rides with real composure, and even the aggressive Daytona seats stay comfortable. Visibility is excellent, and in Sport the car feels lovely and approachable, with the electronics keeping you in control at all times. For a machine this fast, that breadth is remarkable.

The touch controls: our one big frustration

Then there is the frustration, and it is a real one: the touch buttons on the steering wheel, which we quietly hate. Even the start button is a touchpad. You press once for the ignition and again to start, and because it is a hybrid you do not hear the engine fire, the neighbours may appreciate that, but we would rather know the instant the car is ready. Worse, switching powertrain modes, say from hybrid to performance, means knowing where everything is because you cannot see it, and the cruise control only works once you wake the wheel's touchpads. You get used to it, but you never really warm to it. And while we are here: the CarPlay integration is hideous. Ferrari, what?

The powertrain: V6 and e-motor in perfect harmony

The driving is sublime, and the engine is a gem. The heart of it is a 2,992cc twin-turbo V6 in a 120-degree hot-V layout, with the turbos nestled between the banks and a redline of 8,500 rpm, joined by an F1-style electric motor fed by a 7.45 kWh battery. Together they make 830 hp (a 663 hp V6 plus a 167 hp motor) and 740 Nm, in a car weighing just 1,470 kg dry. It is not hugely dramatic at low revs, but climb past 5,000 rpm and the magic begins, while lower down the electric assistance is spectacular, you genuinely feel the extra torque shoving you along. Once the V6 is on song it is blisteringly quick, and the harmony between petrol and electric is beautifully judged. No, it is not the atmospheric V12 purists crave, but it is every bit as spectacular. If you want that V12 noise, buy the V12. If you want the ultimate, mind-blowing performance, this is the one.

Driving: sublime, with a safe lean to understeer

Grip is enormous, and the handling balance is sublime, though the car does lean towards understeer in faster corners. That is the safe choice for most drivers, and understandable, but a little more oversteer would not go amiss. The brake-by-wire system deserves a special mention: it blends the electric and hydraulic braking so seamlessly you never feel the join, staying composed while letting you brake extraordinarily late. For those chasing the sharpest edge, Ferrari also offers the lightweight Assetto Fiorano track pack. Turn the Manettino to Race, CT Off or even ESC Off and it becomes pure theatre: the shifts turn brutal, the acceleration simply does not stop, and everything rushes past in a blur. And the sound? Mamma mia.

Electric range and city manners

The electric range is genuinely useful too. We managed almost 20 km, plenty for silent loops around town, and there is something wonderful about watching people spot a Ferrari gliding past in total silence. It is the kind of party trick that, alongside the drama modes, shows just how many characters this one car can play.

AutoNext Verdict

Almost everything is right about the 296 GTB. It is savagely fast, surprisingly comfortable, dramatic to look at and endlessly engaging to drive, with a hybrid powertrain so well judged that it never feels like a compromise. It has swept up awards and topped supercar shootouts, and after a week with it we understand exactly why. As Enzo Ferrari said, he did not sell cars, he sold engines, and this one is worth the entry fee on its own.

It is not flawless. The touch controls frustrate, the CarPlay integration is genuinely bad, and it plays things a touch safe in the corners. But those are footnotes against a car this complete. The 296 GTB may not have a V12, yet it delivers everything else a modern Ferrari should, and then some. This is Ferrari at the top of its game.