Lost in Italy

By Nick Cooksey In the beautiful mountainous region of northern Italy last month I got lost driving the new Ferrari 296 GTS. The navigation was programmed to guide me on a two-and-a-half hour, 200+ kilometre journey, mostly by autostrada, from Modena to the beautiful coastal resort of Forte dei Marmi. But things didn’t go as planned. The navigation system sent me off the highway and way up into the hills. After about an hour I realized something was wrong when in the middle of ‘nowhere’ the navigation switched itself off and shortly after I received a phone call from the Ferrari team asking where I was. But I wasn’t stressed, I was driving a wonderful work of engineering excellence in the beautiful Italian countryside, surrounded by breathtaking scenery. I had an opportunity to spend time driving this car on tight and winding roads. I doubt many cars can beat the 296 in a street race on the sort of roads I was exploring this day. This car is made for tight, winding roads. Ferrari have produced a Super Car that makes you feel like you’re a Super Driver. When pushed too hard in a turn, the result is gentle oversteer. Press hard on the throttle, and feel instant and awesome power that’s super smooth, giving a wonderful feeling of being in control. I was in my element, barrelling into corners, dropping a gear or two, accelerating out of bends – over and over, and over again. The roof was down and the engine's sound, reacting to my constant braking and accelerating, was wonderful. The 296GTS is the Spider (convertible) version of the earlier launched 296GTB hardtop. With the roof up they look almost identical. The GTS weighs 70kg more, but otherwise, there are few differences in appearance. Ferrari’s engineers attending the event assured us there was “zero noticeable difference in rigidity” (their words) between the GTS and GTB. This makes me wonder why anyone would buy a GTB when they can get a GTS without compromising driving performance. Of course, I spent all my time driving on the mountain roads with the top down – it was a beautiful day! Drive the 296 and you’re the center of attention, but when the 14-second roof activation is in the process - switching the car between hardtop and convertible, you’re even more so. I watched the people in the car behind me excitedly pointing as my car dramatically changed into a convertible. The 296 is Ferrari's first production V6 (if you’re thinking about the Dino, it doesn’t count as it was never technically a Ferrari). They call this V6 “a small V12” to differentiate it from every other V6 on the market. This is only the second production Ferrari to offer a plug-in hybrid powertrain. A rear-mounted 224-hp electric motor enables 25 kilometres of silent running at speeds up to 133 kph. The V6 can produce 654 bhp. Add the electric motor, and the 296 produces a maximum of 819 bhp/ 546 lb-ft of torque. It can rocket from zero to 100 kph in just 2.9-seconds. As this is a two-seater, luggage needs to go in the boot, which is roomy enough for a couple of average-size travel bags. The design is gorgeous, and the interior is top-end luxury car-level lavish, with screens and touch-sensitive electronic pads. Infotainment is controlled via an all-glass instrument panel. The cabin is stylish and driver-focused, with everything located exactly where it should be. Final words – I was very glad to have been “lost” that day. I arrived at the arranged destination about ninety minutes late – and I feel the lost ninety minutes had been well spent.

Protected: Lost in Italy

… in a brand-new Ferrari 296GTS

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Deepika Rao

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