Specs say RWD but obviously the front wheels drive as well; albeit electrically.
Its my understanding that the 296 is RWD only. It is a hybrid, but the electric motor does not drive the front wheels as in the Corvette E-Ray or some other cars. From Grok... (I think some of this is wrong - the LaF was the first hybrid RWD car no?) The Ferrari 296 (GTB and GTS) features a plug-in hybrid drivetrain with a rear-wheel-drive layout. Here are the key drivetrain specifications based on available information: Powertrain: Internal Combustion Engine: 2,992 cc (3.0 L) twin-turbocharged 120° V6, producing 654 hp (488 kW; 663 PS) at 8,000 rpm and 546 lb-ft (740 Nm) of torque at 6,250 rpm. The engine has a specific output of 221 hp/liter, a record for a production car. Turbos are mounted inside the V for compactness and a lower center of gravity. Electric Motor: Single electric motor (MGU-K) integrated between the engine and gearbox, delivering 165 hp (123 kW; 167 PS) and 232 lb-ft (315 Nm) of torque. Combined Output: 819 hp (610 kW; 830 PS) and 546 lb-ft (740 Nm) of torque. Battery: 7.45 kWh high-voltage lithium-ion battery located under the floor, enabling an electric-only range of approximately 25 km (16 mi) at speeds up to 135 km/h (84 mph) in eDrive mode. Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, evolved from the SF90, providing seamless power delivery and quick shifts. Drivetrain Layout: Rear-wheel drive (RWD), Ferrari’s first RWD hybrid supercar. Performance: 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph): 2.9 seconds 0-200 km/h (0-124 mph): 7.3 seconds Top speed: Over 330 km/h (205 mph) Fiorano lap time: 1:21 (faster than the 488 Pista). Additional Features: Transition Manager Actuator (TMA): Manages hybrid system transitions for smooth power delivery. 6-way Chassis Dynamic Sensor (6w-CDS): Enhances vehicle dynamics and ABS EVO controller performance. Driving Modes: Includes eDrive (electric-only), Hybrid, Performance, and Qualifying modes to optimize power and efficiency. Note on 296 Speciale: Recent posts on X mention a 296 Speciale variant with an upgraded hybrid system producing 868-880 hp, a lighter curb weight (by ~60 kg), and enhanced aerodynamics, achieving 0-62 mph in 2.8 seconds and a Fiorano lap time of 1:19. However, this information is not fully verified by official sources and should be treated as preliminary. The drivetrain combines high-performance engineering with hybrid efficiency, allowing the 296 to deliver exhilarating performance while offering limited electric-only driving for urban environments. For the most accurate and up-to-date details, especially regarding the Speciale variant, check Ferrari’s official website or contact a Ferrari dealer.
I believe that the diagram is showing drive power in red, and the blue and green are electricity going to the battery and from the battery to the motor between the engine and the transmission. Its an understandable question because so many cars now are using the hybrid systems so differently.
That's one of the main differences with the SF90 - the SF90 is AWD (although not permanently, as far as I understand), whereas the 296 is purely RWD. This also explains why the SF90 behaves differently (at least that's my feeling), while the 296 is very similar to the previous V8 models (but a lot faster, obviously).
I'm not sure it's accurate to say the front wheels do not drive anything. According to the tutorial on the website, the E-Drive function appears to show it's the front wheels moving the car. What am I missing here? https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/auto/smart-guide-296-gtb/296-gtb-steering-wheel?chapter=0&tutorial=0
That's because they just copied/pasted the tutorial from the SF90 https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/auto/smart-guide-sf90-stradale/sf90-steering-wheel?chapter=0&tutorial=0, so actually it's wrong regarding the 296. The engine in the picture has clearly the exhaust pipes on both sides, it's definitely not the 296 hot V.
