It was one of those moments, where you almost lose your sense of objectivity, you find it difficult to distinguish between fantasy and reality. With my fingers and palms wrapped tightly around the carbon-fibre steering wheel, I couldn’t help but laugh and giggle as my hair went all over the place and my ears were treated to an aural symphony, courtesy of the throbbing V6 motor behind me. Yes! I am driving the Ferrari 296 GTS in the glitz and heat of Dubai.
Also Read: Ferrari 296 GTS Review
The colour scheme on the Ferrari 296 GTS is inspired by the 250 LM and can be specified with the ‘Assetto Fiorano’ package
Driving the Ferrari 296 GTS is an event, a sensory experience unlike any other
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The car gets a stonker of a V6, with two turbos sandwiched between the cylinder banks. Of the 819 horses that the car generates, 164 bhp comes from an electric motor and the rest of them come from the 120 degree V6.
The 296 GTS does the 0-100 kmph sprint from standstill in a gut-churning 2.9 seconds. and has a top speed of 330 kmph.
The tyres offer exceptional grip and the Multimatic suspension, courtesy of the Assetto Fiorano pack, makes the GTS a potent handling machine.
The red lever can be used to select the driving mode on the car. On the left you can also see the sensor-initiated start-stop button, right on the steering wheel. It may not feel Ferrari-like but it does feel special.
A high mounted exhaust makes for great aural experience
Excessive use of carbon fibre comes standard with the Assetto Fiorano package. And it is 100 per cent worth the extra money
Everywhere you cast a glance, you see gleaming heaps of carbon fibre. Easily the most carbon fibre rich car I have ever driven!
Even in a glitzy, car-crazy city like Dubai, the 296 GTS dropped jaws wherever it went. People definitely gave it a second glance
I mean just look at the lines! So beautiful, so graceful, so svelte and so exquisite
Sporty, minimal cabin! Lots of carbon fibre used. Even the seats are carbon fibre.
The view from the cockpit is as sporty as it can get, in a Ferrari
The passenger gets a small screen for various controls
The Ferrari 296 GTS is otherworldly. It is beautiful, sophisticated and at the same time, a savage, ferocious speed demon that can scare you silly, if you flex your right foot wrong.
Photography: The Cornea Impression & Kingshuk Dutta
