Written by Alan Taylor-Jones Updated: 1 November 2024

Overview

How many cylinders should a supercar have? Once upon a time, 12 was seemingly the only number that’d do, although I’ve experienced plenty of V10- and V8-cylinder powerplants that certainly felt super to me. However, the Ferrari 296 makes do with a mere six, albeit augmented in a couple of ways.

The twin turbochargers come as no surprise, but the plug-in hybrid system might. It comprises of a 7.45kWh battery and chunky electric motor to give 15 miles of electric-only running, and a total system output of 830hp. Not bad when you consider the V6 only displaces 2.9-litres.

Unlike the Porsche 911 Turbo and Lamborghini Temerario, the 296 isn’t four-wheel drive. Instead, it’s more akin to the McLaren Artura – another PHEV supercar where the rear-wheels alone have to corral all that power to the Tarmac. As you’d expect from the class, you can have the 296 with or without a roof.

To find out whether I’d recommend the Ferrari 296, scroll down for our comprehensive review. If you’re wondering how we test here at Parkers, we’ve got a handy explainer page just for you.

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What’s it like inside?

You can certainly see where your few hundred thousand pounds have gone inside. Our test car’s Fiorano handling pack brings lashings of rear carbon fibre including some figure-hugging sports seats. The customisation options are near endless if your pockets are deep enough, including this interesting shade of baby blue.

Quality impresses, with none of the Fiat parts bin feel older Ferraris suffered from, and the driving position is spot on, too. Space also impresses. A couple of six-footers will fit without complaint thanks to generous head and legroom, and there’s sufficient space between the seats, too.

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My biggest complaint is aimed at the 16.0-inch infotainment screen and steering wheel controls needed to use it. The display sits in front of the driver and shows all the fun stuff like revs, speed and gear, along with all the stuff you’d expect from a central screen. All this is controlled by a touchpad that does without any kind of haptic feedback.

With menus that are complex and a display that’s crammed with info, it’s daunting to use. To make matters worse, the lights, indicators and drive mode selector are all on the wheel, too. It’s very Formula 1, but what works at Silverstone doesn’t translate so successfully just outside of Stevenage when you’re trying to indicate with a bit of lock on.

Comfort

A long run from Reading to Kings Lynn confirmed that the even the raciest seats are surprisingly comfortable, with the racing harnesses proving the biggest issue. They really clamp you in place, so we’d advise sticking to the cushier standard seats with their far easier inertial reel seatbelts unless you’re a real track rat.

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Safety

Euro NCAP hasn’t crash tested the 296, and it seems unlikely they will. The stiff structure that benefits handling should help occupant protection, and Ferrari knows a thing or two about protecting racing drivers in accidents far more extreme than what’s likely on the road.

What’s it like to drive?

I’m lucky to drive a lot of fast cars in this job, but the 296 is several steps beyond merely fast. The 2.9 second 0-62mph time really isn’t representative of the brutality of the acceleration. Even on a warm, dry day it’ll happily slip its tyres all the way through first and second gear if you give it half a chance.

Thankfully, the electronic safety net is subtle in its interventions and helps keep this blue and red missile on the road. Things get really silly in third gear as the traction control no longer needs to step in, revealing the true force of the 296. It’s breathtaking and highly addictive. Yes, there are plenty of electric cars that’d murder it off the line, but the 296 just keeps piling on speed relentlessly.

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It’s more than a Tricolore-equipped drag racer; the 296 is also ludicrously cabable in the corners, too. I’d like a bit more feel from the fast-acting steering, but the precision and weight means it’s easy to place whether you’re tootling to Waitrose or trying to nail an apex.

The limits of grip are predictably high, and there’s Ferrari’s clever side slip control if you want to slide about with a bit of safety net. Body roll is almost non-existent, giving a really agile feel to proceedings. Even so, it’s easy to drive sensibly in normal traffic giving the 296 a real duality of personality.

What models and trims are available

You can have your 296 with or without a roof, then it’s a case of selecting your options. The list is very long and very expensive…

Now click through to the next page for our final verdict on the new Ferrari 296.