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The Ferrari 296, offered in GTB coupe and GTS retractable hardtop form, is a mid-engine 3.0-litre V6 plug-in hybrid delivering no less than 610kW (818hp) and 740Nm.
Cost-of-entry is just over $568,000 for the GTB and close to $670K for the GTS.
Why not lower the roof, accelerate from 0-100km/h in under 3.0sec and really get some wind in your hair?
The line-up currently starts at $568,300 for the 296 GTB (phev) and ranges through to $568,300 for the range-topping 296 GTB (phev).
The powertrain here is both tremendous and terrifying, pairing a 3.0-litre twin-turbo-petrol V6 with a rear mounted electric motor, and a 7.5kWh battery, to deliver a total 610kW and 740Nm. That power is fed through an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
It’s a cockpit-style driver’s set-up inside. The steering wheel, which might be one of the best in existence feels magic under the touch, as do the giant flappy paddles which remain fixed in place as you turn the wheel. Downsides? There is plenty of tech in the 296 cabin, but it’s all controlled from the steering wheel, making it fiddly and annoying to use.
The Ferrari 296 GTS will clip 100km/h in 2.9 seconds, and push on to a top speed of 330km/h
The 296 standard features list includes sports seats, Matrix LED headlights, 20-inch alloys, keyless entry and a very cool engine start touch-button on the even cooler steering wheel. Oh, and there's wireless charging and Apple CarPlay, both thankfully standard in Australia, with the latter of which controlled through the steering wheel and digital driver display.
This two-seat supercar is surprisingly comfortable from the figure-hugging sports seats, though climbing in and out of them is not necessarily something you want to do in front of a crowd.
There is around 200 litres of total storage space in the Ferrari 296, with a 'frunk' in the nose able to take soft bags for a weekend away.
As well as the ability to start up and slink away silently, the Ferrari 296’s little battery will deliver a 25km EV-only driving range, and contribute to the overall claimed fuel use of just 6.5L/100km.