ER
FERRARI unveiled its first plug-in hybrid car, the 296 GTB, on Thursday (6/24), as the luxury sports carmaker known for its roaring combustion engine retools its range for the electric era.
The 296 GTB is Ferrari’s third hybrid to go into series production, which does not include a limited-edition vehicle. This car follows the SF 90 Stradale in 2019 and a convertible version, the SF90 Spider, last year.
According to Ferrari’s Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer, Enrico Galliera said, the 296 GTB creates a new segment. If the SF 90 was designed for peak performance, it has been designed for peak driving pleasure.
“We hope this will also help attract clients who are not driving a Ferrari right now. The two-seater sports car will be priced at 269,000 euros (US$321,000), reaching 302,000 euros for the high-performance “Assetto Fiorano” version. The car will have a top speed of over 330 km per hour (205 mph),” he said.
The Italian company, known worldwide for its Prancing Horse logo and red race car, has promised its first fully electric model by 2025.
“This is a process that started several years ago.We are working to address regulations and the task of reducing emissions,” he added.
Ferrari and its competitors are grappling with how to convert their line-up to battery power without losing the high performance that supports their price premium. If Porsche, part of the Volkswagen group, has offered a full-electric vehicle with its Taycan model. But Ferrari is ahead of arch-rival Lamborghini, whose first full-electric car won’t appear until the second half of the decade.
To enter a new era of electrification, Ferrari has chosen technology industry veteran Benedetto Vigna as its new chief executive. The 296 GTB will be equipped with a 6-cylinder rear center turbo (V6) engine, a first in a road car with a Ferrari badge, although the engine has its roots in the 1950s in Ferrari race cars.
Ferrari street cars are usually powered by a more powerful, but also more polluting, V8 or V12 engine. Even so, the V6 engine, coupled with a 122 KW electric motor, is capable of producing a massive 830 horsepower.
Like the SF90 Stradale, the 296 GTB can produce power-only electricity for a distance of 25 km. The first deliveries are expected in the first quarter of 2022, starting from Europe. The 296 GTB is the third of three cars that Ferrari has promised for this year. Its first SUV, called Purosangue (Thoroughbred), is expected next year. [antaranews/photo special]
