Went to the premier of the 296 today. Pretty car cool interior. Impressive stats and engine dynamics. Bottom line for me is it ain’t as pretty as a F8. Doesn’t have the presence. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
It looks so subdued and muted in design. It just doesn’t look special. It looks like Acura or Lexus designed it…not Ferrari. That said, the performance should be amazing and I’ll be interested in the sound and exhaust note. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I asked that very question. Was told by the Ferrari rep. That the sound is better than the F8. He suggested that we go to the Ferrari website to look at the video.
Honestly I'd pick the MC20 over the 296 ... although less powerful, a much more appealing design, engine tech and chassis, at least to me. I won't even compare it to the 458/488/F8 ... to me they are not even the same type of fruit.
Ruby red Imola was too subtle for the show car. More of a GT color. Same with the Silverstone AF one. Should have been bright colors. It's a clean sheet that has the simplicity of shape of the 458, or even the 430 before it. When you go from 458 to F8 things got a little fussy and overwrought, especially in the nose. [On that same note, the original NSX looks like a revelation of shape and proportion compared to the modern one]. SketchMonkey's review/revisions to the F8 create a lot of "cannot be unseen" critiques. I expect the sound/exhaust to be slightly bad. What sold me for now is the vintage LeMans racer shape that reminds me of 250LM [those rear fenders and buttresses], the Special Projects 458MM, and even Ford GT, and the marketing note they keep repeating of "Fun to Drive." I really, really want that to be true. Even after multiple and extended drives, the 488, Portofino, Roma and F8 couldn't pry my money away. You know that click, that bonding that makes you do irresponsible things.
The car is really starting to grow on me over time. Thanks for sharing, I can't wait to see this car in person.
I know that “click” very well. The F8 gave it to me immediately so I did the irresponsible thing and bought it. But the 296 didn’t make me warm in special places.
The 296's look is uninspiring, and given that it's a six cylinder hybrid, I'm so glad I ordered an F8 (hope to have it by Christmas)! And the 296 has 100 more hp than the F8, yet it's 0-60 and top speed are less. I suppose that extra 100 hp is negated by the weight of the electric motor and battery.
This is same 296 that was in New England. I was told by one of the guys at the dealership that when they started it up to move into the transport, it was quieter than a F8. Who knows till we can see a US spec one driving in the flesh. It is still a turbo, with a smaller engine. The electric power plant should make no sound, so will a smaller turbo sound louder or better than a V8 turbo? I doubt it. It will have the same exhaust restrictions my F8 has I would suspect.
Happy to be enjoying THE v8 engine of the decade in Ferrari’s ultimate evolution of that chassis. I think hybrid driving and ownership experience will feel very different but I keep an open mind until I get time in one. However I don’t get that view of the engine bay??? Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login Not the best engine to look at. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
Looks way better than the new corvette to me. Fantastic performance. Engine looks like a handful of nothing, no point in showing off the exhaust covers. 8000 rpm and the waste gate popping open on shifts should sound pretty exciting. Very few modern cars will sound like much at idle anymore. I’m not sold on it, but I wouldn’t rule it out
I placed a deposit in January when I got wind of the new car/hybrid platform. Just after the reveal, I placed a deposit on F8 while holding my position on 296. My F8 is about to lock and I am very excited about it. Probably will hold on to it. Even my wife, who is not a fan of angular/aggressive designs, said we should pass on the 296 after seeing it at the dealer launch party. IMO it is not a thrilling design in person. Also interior is tight.
I hope some of you guys are charging Chevy rent for residing in your head. What does the 296 have anything to do with the Z06 and do you really think punching down to the Z06 and saying the 296 is faster/better is a good look for Ferrari? The Z06 engine is the one that Ferrari should have put in the 488. That train sailed the day Ferrari became obsessed with competing with McLaren numbers and all the other reasons it decided to end NA V8s. The 296 is whole different thing, it is a beautiful elegant next gen supercar with amazing technology to make it stupid fast, sure at the expense of sound, engine beauty, and other compromises, but it is still a wonderful machine. Corvette is doing its own thing for its own market under $150k segment.
Sketch Monkey's critique of the F8 lost all semblance of credibility when he took the position the the 612 Scagliatti was one of Ferrari's most beautiful designs.
Agree. It is an elegant car. Does not look aggressive or sporty. It is very refined and streamlined. Impressive stats because it is cheating. It is a Turbo Toaster. BIG PASS for me. F8 and 812 all the way. Would prefer a TDF but need a bigger pocket, so 812 will do.
Yeah, what an awful look. I spoke with 2 Algar Ferrari mechanics yesterday (who attended the Algar launch) about those covers. Showed them the picture I took of the engine bay. They said those were one-off covers that were jammed in there just in time to get the car on the roadshow tour and nothing like the covers that will end up on the final product.
