The 296 GTB supercar is the first modern-era V6 Ferrari and features an electric motor

Ferrari has unveiled a new take on its proven mid-rear-engined supercar formula in the form of the 296 GTB. We’ve seen hybrid drivetrains from the Maranello automaker since 2013 when the La Ferrari was launched, and the first plug-in Ferrari - the SF90 Stradale - arrived in 2019 with a 3.9 l V8, three permanent magnet synchronous AC motors and a 7.9 kWh lithium ion battery pack.

The Ferrari 296 GTB pushes the envelope further by dropping two cylinders (yes, it’s a V6). Don’t forget, the prancing horse brand has an esteemed history with 6 cylinder engines; the 1957 Dino 156 single-seater featured a V6, as did the Targa Florio winning 246 SP of 1961.

The exterior design is softer than recent models like the F8 Tributo and SF90 Stradale, but that’s no bad thing. The 296 GTB is elegant, with large, swooping planes offset by slim, futuristic light clusters front and rear. The large, horizontal air dam is clean yet muscular, accentuated by small, additional side air inlets, and inconspicuous openings within the headlight cluster.

There are no affectations on the 296 GTB’s exterior; there’s a sculpted look through the wings and the B-pillar that somehow hark back to Ferraris of the 1960s, while the cab-forward design and that astonishingly-raked windscreen add drama.

The cockpit is classic modern Ferrari; A clearly defined driver’s zone, the highest quality leather, aluminium, carbon fibre and Alcantara, and plenty of tech (and screens), all with a sculptural characteristic to add to the drama. It’s beautiful, yet highly functional on first appearances.

So what’s under that engine cover? There’s a 2992 cm3 120° crank-angle V6, and when combined with the dual-rotor single-stator axial flux electric motor with 122 kW (166 PS), the total system output of the 296 GTB is a staggering 610 kW (830 PS) and 740 Nm (546 lb ft). The 7.45 kWh battery pack is mounted low in the floor, and the powertrain results in a short wheelbase.

According to Ferrari, the electric motor charges the high voltage battery, turns on the V6 engine, supplies it with additional torque and power, and allows the car to be driven in all-electric eDrive mode. Ferrari developed the Transition Manager Actuator (TMA) in-house, which allows rapid transitions from electric to hybrid to ICE mode and vice-versa. All of this performance is delivered through an 8-speed DCT and E-Diff, and there’s a clutch set between the ICE and the electric motor to decouple them in electric-only eDrive mode.

While we’re still some years away from a fully electric Ferrari, we can see the automaker taking electrification seriously. If Ferrari is to comply with future emissions regulations, we reckon that a fully electric SUV will be on the cards this decade. No pricing or delivery information has been revealed for the 296 GTB at the time of writing.

You can find the full gallery and technical specifications below.