Ferrari 296 GTS Debuts With Unlimited Headroom And Hybrid V6 Power

The retractable hardtop needs 14 seconds to go up or down.

2023 Ferrari 296 GTS

Adrian Padeanu

By: Adrian Padeanu

Apr 19, 2022 at 8:00am ET

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June 2021 brought us the first Ferrari-badged V6 supercar and now we're getting acquainted with its more practical sibling. No, there aren't additional cargo areas in that two-seat cabin, but you can now take the roof down for unlimited headroom. Yes, the 296 Gran Turismo Spider (GTS) is here to soak up the sun better than the 296 GTB.

In typical Ferrari fashion, it gets a retractable hardtop (RHT), which largely maintains the look of the coupe when it's up. The folding roof needs 14 seconds to go up or down while the vehicle is traveling at speeds of up to 30 mph (45 km/h). Press the button to lower the top and the roof will split into two sections that fold flush over the engine bay.

2023 Ferrari 296 GTS

Ferrari 296 GTS 2023 Ferrari 296 GTS

Courtesy of a window in the rear section, you can still admire the 3.0-liter V6 making 663 horsepower on its own. Working together with the electric motor, the Ferrari 296 GTS produces a massive 830 hp (610 kW) and 740 Nm (546 lb-ft) of torque. It's enough plug-in hybrid punch for a 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 2.9 seconds and to 124 mph (200 km/h) in 7.6 seconds. Flat out, the peeps from Maranello say their electrified convertible will do over 205 mph (330 km/h). Switch to electric power and the top speed drops to 84 mph (135 km/h).

Being the convertible, one-percenters will probably be worried about the weight penalty over the coupe. After all, a folding roof – especially a hardtop – adds complexity since body reinforcements have to be made to maintain rigidity. The 296 GTS has a dry weight of 1,540 kilograms (3,395 pounds) provided it's fitted with the optional Assetto Fiorano package. Doing the math, it makes the Italian Spider 70 kg (154 lbs) heavier than its coupe sibling.

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Much like the version with the fixed roof, the new 296 GTS has an all-electric driving range of 15.5 miles (25 kilometers) courtesy of a 7.45-kWh battery pack. As with the coupe, the mid-engined cabrio uses the same dual-clutch, eight-speed automatic transmission installed in the SF90 Stradale / Spider as well as the Roma / Portofino.

The 296 GTS is not the only debut planned for this year by Ferrari as in just a few short months, the wraps will finally come off the Purosangue SUV.

Race Car Inbound:

⠀ Ferrari 296 GT3 Race Car Spied Lapping Fiorano Test Track On Video

First Ferrari 296 GT3 Design Sketches Tease Racer's Aero Upgrades

Source: Ferrari

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