Hudson Valley’s Hot Hatch: A Thrilling 2023 Ferrari 296 GTS Test Drive

Ferrari claimed that they are redefining the concept of fun behind the wheel this year. With their inspiring and memorable track record, car fans are inclined to believe them! The 296 GTS is a mid-engined two-seater that guarantees a constant pushing of the limits. The Car and Driver team was eager last week to complete a thrilling 2023 Ferrari 296 GTS test drive.

A Thrilling 2023 Ferrari 296 GTS Test Drive 

This experienced crew’s first remarks were that: “it doesn’t hurt that the car is ABSOLUTELY gorgeous. This is a design that wholeheartedly stands the test of time. Designers claimed that their goal was to create authentic Italian forms. The wheelbase is now 1.9 inches shorter, giving the design’s first look a compact stature. 

Every Ferrari has a certain visual flow, with this one lacking stark contrasts to make it even more attractive. The wonders of electrification have rendered this V6 an 819-horsepower beast. Any diehard plug-in skeptic would still have difficulty talking this model down! Engineers settled in to make the 296 GTS something immaculate and special. 

Sculpted for Speed: First Amazing Impressions of the 2023 Ferrari 296GTS 

The 296 GTB Coupe was the fastest rear-wheel drive car that this editorial team ever tested! It conquered the 0-60 mph sprint in just 2.4 seconds, and creamed the quarter-mile at 9.7 seconds. The steering response, brake feel, and engine note were some of the features closely-scrutinized during development. 

As they eased through open curves in the Hudson Valley, teeming excitement was felt in the cabin right away. The very lethal pair of 180,000 rpm turbos are a sheer work of art. A Hot tube exhaust resonator also makes a huge contribution to all the fun. The entire engine bay was redesigned, paving the way for the engine to rev all the way to 8500 rpm. 

This Careening Convertible’s Rogue Quest for Fun: 

Flavio Manzoni and his design department took on the task of whittling down the roof. The hardtop branches off drastically into two sections directly above the B-Pillar. These assure an excellent thermal quality and sweet-looking roof. There’s a ton of extreme greatness here to be found, but the engine-under-glass setup is now absent. 

The Tonneau cover design enables a finished product of zero loss downforce. This is quite impressive, even carrying out its duties with the roof down. There’s an active rear spoiler smack dab in the Kamm tail, adding 220 lbs of wind heft. The suspension here has been meticulously engineered to bits! Ferrari claims that The GTS is half as much more stiffer than the F8 Spider. 

Empowered Infrastructure: A Sensational & Efficient Layout

For this model, the review team claimed that the carbon-fiber racing seats “looked like Picasso sculptures.” However, it is important to note here that leaving the 296 in Hybrid mode could drain your battery enough to make restarting difficult. Performance Mode solves this problem by not gobbling up maximum output. 

Here the crew also took a moment to explain that the brake-by-brake wire system is the “supreme ruler” of the electrified segment. The Ferrari’s true talent here is channeling a bit of calm even at very high speeds. The rear tires are never in danger of being fully overwhelmed by massive loads. Over the next five years, any car that is not electric may not aspire to these lofty heights. 

Complexity Made Seamless & Simple:

The goal of this model was to retain the 296 GTB’s characteristics. It was a design that needed to be simple, yet evoke a sense of linear accomplishment. For so many decades after the 308 GTB was released, they were highly regarded. The low-mounted 7.45 kW lithium-ion battery works in conjunction with the rear-mounted motor. 

In short, 296 is a concoction of “29”, smartly referring to the engine’s displacement. The preluding “GTS” is an abbreviation of “Gran Turismo Spider”. This name that embraces convertible stance dates back to horse and buggy days! The Top Speed review crew were incredibly blown away after a test drive of their own. They went so far as to claim you may need to “invent new swear phrases” after sampling.

A Formidable Final Verdict: 

Many very well-trained experts thought that the Ferrari 296 GTS would exist as “all but uncontrollable.” Slip, play, and off-the-line performance are all astonishing. Not to mention, the short-ratio steering is brewed specifically for appealing winding roads. Even in hybrid mode, many onlookers could be signaling you to “make some noise.” The steering wheel still boasts the nice touch of a few physical controls. As it is widely noted, the competition is firmly rooted in the Lamborghini camp. 

Overall, Top Speed experts thought that the 2023 296GTS’s greatness was “compelling enough to need to buy a Powerball ticket.” What are your opinions on this amazing new creation? Is it so far out of reach that it is irrelevant, or is it the next best thing to emerge from the future? Let us know what you think in the comments below, or check out another article about one YouTuber’s stunt gone wrong.