Ferrari 296 GTB launched at an eye-watering price of Rs 5.40 crore!

First-ever V6-powered road-going Ferrari arrives on Indian shores with an eye-watering price tag of Rs 5.40 crore (ex-showroom)! 

It’s raining supercars in India! Hot on the heels of the launch of the Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica, Ferrari has now launched the 296 GTB in the country. And if you thought the Lambo is priced ridiculously at Rs 4.04 crore (ex-showroom), you’d probably lose your mind when you hear the asking price for the latest Ferrari – it’s 5.40 crore (ex-showroom)!

So, what do you get in exchange for paying a fortune? To start with, a lot of firsts. You see, the 296 GTB replaces the F8 Tributo and features a hybrid powertrain. Albeit, this time there's no V8 on offer. Instead, the GTB gets a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6, making it the first Ferrari to come powered by a six-cylinder engine (the Dino from the 60s never wore the Prancing Horse badge, in case you’re wondering).

Coming to specifications, the GTB’s engine features a 120-degree six-pot engine that works in conjunction with an electric motor that’s good for 164bhp. Combined, the V6 and electric motor develop 818bhp of peak power and 740Nm of torque. Power is channelled to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Performance, as you’d expect, is mind-numbing with Ferrari claiming a 0-100km/h time of just 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 330km/h. However, when you’re not in the mood to use all those prancing horses, you can drive around leisurely without making any noise in pure electric eDrive mode that, with the help of the car’s 7.45kWh high-voltage battery, will allow you to drive for up to 25km without hurting the environment.

The 296 GTB has a shorter wheelbase as compared to its predecessor but it weighs 35 kilos more (1,470kg), which is courtesy of its hybrid system. That said, Ferrari says that the additional weight of the hybrid system was greatly reduced by fitting a smaller V6 engine. We believe it.  

On the inside, the interior draws inspiration from the SF90 Stradale, featuring a crisp instrument cluster along with a number of capacitive touch controls for multiple functions. There's an eManettino switch on the steering wheel as well. And if you’re sitting shotgun, you also get a dedicated digital display for your entertainment – although that’s not going to be half as entertaining as getting behind the wheel of this Ferrari.

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