Although Ferrari doesn't refer to the 296 as the successor to the F8, the plug-in hybrid supercar with a 120-degree V6 can be considered the spiritual heir of the V8-engined F8. Priced way higher than its combustion-only predecessor, the six-cylinder Fezza isn't perfect. Aesthetically speaking, Larry Kosilla of AMMO NYC found a helluva lot of issues with it.
From dust nibs to polishing residue in way too many areas of the car, swirls on the roof, overspray, quite a few sanding marks, and orange peel on the driver-side rear fender, Larry had his work cut out for him. Speaking of cutting, the body panel with the orange peel had to be sanded with 1,500 grit. Finished with 3,000 grit, then compounded and polished, the paint on the driver-side rear fender turned out perfectly.
Compounding residue from the factory was also found in the area of the hazard lights button and cup holder, which is rather strange. Following the paint correction, the folks at AMMO NYC installed a clear bra, then coated the 296 with ceramic protection.
The protective coating in question is dubbed AMMO Reflex Pro Enamel Coat, which carries a sticker price of $149 per 30 millimeters at press time. Said ceramic protection lasts at least one year if properly maintained. The final touch comes in the form of tire dressing, after which the six-pot Fezza gets out for a short test drive with Mr. Kosilla behind the wheel.
Referring to the swift upshifts, Larry makes a parallel between this 296 GTB and the 430 Scuderia he tested a few years ago. He further highlights the increased refinement of the 296's transmission, which is a dual-clutch affair. The 430, including the limited-run Scuderia version, came with the so-called F1 automated manual transmission with shift paddles.
Photo: AMMO NYC on YouTube
Said to have cost $500,000 in this eye-popping specification, the 296 definitely looks like a $500,000 vehicle after the paint correction and detailing. To whom it may concern, the V6-powered bruiser is available to configure stateside at $338,255. It's easy to imagine optional extras taking the 296 beyond the $400,000 mark, yet $500,000 seems a bit much for something with a six-cylinder mill, Ferrari or something less exotic than that. Not long now, the Italian automaker will charge even more for the long-awaited replacement of the 2013 - 2018 LaFerrari hypercar.
F250 is the internal codename of said replacement, which makes twin-turbo V6 noises. Caught on camera by the paparazzi while testing in Maranello, the newcomer appears to be influenced by endurance racecars rather than road-going hypercars. A completely different animal from the LaFerrari, the F250 is – obviously enough – gifted with some kind of electric assistance. Given the existence of the rear-drive 296 series and all-paw-drive SF90 series, chances are this fellow is a plug-in hybrid as well.
Lovingly dubbed little V12, the 3.0-liter V6 in the 296 and yet-unnamed hypercar is also used in the 499P endurance racecar. Penned by Flavio Manzoni, the 499P gave Ferrari its first overall win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans after a whopping 58 years since the 250 LM did exactly that at the 1965 edition.
Although the V6 seems to be Ferrari's main focus for the foreseeable future, fret not because the naturally-aspirated V12 we associate with all things Ferrari isn't going anywhere. Come 2024, the 812-replacing F167 is due to launch for the 2025 model year.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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