Thinking Forward. Thinking Past. The Ferrari 296 GTS
The Ferrari 296 GTS—think Dino.
Specifically, the road-going 206 and 246. GT or GTS, but think here of the open-air GTS.
To the car guys and racecar guys testing the Ferrari 296 GTS that day, it was the Dino that came to mind.
And not, surprisingly, because of the shape at first.
For one, the 296 is a six-cylinder. Not a 12, or even an eight. But think of history. The classic racecars weren’t really just 12’s, were they? Too heavy. They were highly tuned six-cylinders in relatively lightweight small bodies—engines amidships or rearwards. The 296 uses a six-cylinder as well, tuned so insanely that it puts out 819 horsepower to just the rear wheels. It does this by turbocharging the thing twice and then putting what they call the pizza between the engine and the dual-clutch eight-speed transmission. That pizza is a cylindrical (hence the name) electric motor. The 296 is a plug-in hybrid.
Now, to modern racecars. The big boys are both V6 engines and both hybrids. The Ferrari Formula 1 racecar uses a 1.6-liter turbocharged V6 hybrid, and the Le Mans-winning HypercarHypercarAn extreme, limited-production performance car that sits above supercars in power, technology, price, and exclusivity, often featuring hybrid powertrains and advanced aerodynamics. Hypercars act as rolling engineering showcases, and modelsGo to Hypercar Glossary uses a 3-liter turbocharged hybrid V6, which runs for 24 hours. So yes, the “little” sixes have reason to be inside something with a prancing horse on it. And just for good measure, the more dedicated Ferraristi can race 296 GT3s, if they want.
So tech-wise and history-wise, the Dino nod fits. The look fits, especially with those swoopy side curves and the luscious orange-brown interior leather of the car we were playing with. But that isn’t all.
The 296 feels amazingly light and playful. It is a very different experience from the other models, like the GT’s twelve cylinders or the recent racetrack-bound turbocharged V8s. It is easy to maneuver and steer at normal daily speeds, yes, and it is even quiet when in full electric mode. But it feels just that bit tighter and more connected to you.
Maybe it is because it is more balanced? It isn’t all engine hanging at the front, or overwhelmed by how the power comes on with the (other) supercars. The electric motor can smooth out the experience, or it can boost it like crazy. And because all the power goes to the rear wheels, it gives a very traditional dynamic. And there is a lot of electronic wizardry to keep you planted, somewhat, when you decide to call out all the horses from those rear wheels. But the ability to steer with the throttle is very happily just waiting for you.
Inside, the car isn’t overly technical. Well, except for the steering wheel, which may either elate or overwhelm you. Or both. But the leather is sumptuous and well-chosen. Instrumentation is all digital, but nicely shaped in front of the driver and relatively subtle elsewhere. There’s a nicely curved dashboard. With today’s cars being too busy inside, the 296 interior is delightfully somewhat minimalist while still being luxurious. It has well-thought-out details, though, and they are supportive rather than intrusive. A heads-up display projects above the dash so you don’t have your eyes darting at the wrong part of a curve. There is an actual little space right next to the driver’s seat carved out just for the key, which is surprisingly useful for those who have spent time hunting for the key fob after a little too much giddiness with the right pedal.
One of the most interesting experiences with the 296 was trying to go faster and faster in the curves without triggering the V6 to come on. It was actually an exercise in carrying as much speed as possible going into the straights. And as much as we love the sound of Ferrari combustion, it is a challenging thing to do and huge fun to try to improve upon.
The Ferrari 296 (GTS as we tested here) is a product of many different times and technologies. It is a truly beautiful car in a world where cars are usually meant to be more imposing or distinctive, or more branded than aesthetic. In more ways than ever, it takes the knowledge learned on the racetracks and brings it onto the road, but it doesn’t really sacrifice drivability or comfort or anything, really. So it is thoroughly modern, if not forward-thinking. But it is also drawing from the past, and doing so rather subtly. And very specifically. Most of us called it the best Ferrari drive in recent memory. And could cite specific reasons why.
Enzo Ferrari’s son Dino passed on early in life, but he was an engineering guy. He wanted to develop the six-cylinder engines, more specifically for racing. Whereas his father may have initially seen their big V12s as the definition of Ferrari, his son saw further into the future.
There isn’t the name Dino anywhere near the 296. But the car may well be the best example yet of everything coming together, in service to the vision and the soul that created the brand.
This article originally appeared in Robb Report Philippines’ Car Issue, May 2025.