Ferrari 296 GTS revealed: How different is it from 296 GTB?

KUALA LUMPUR: After introducing the spectacular 296 GTB last June, Ferrari has now come up with its drop-top version, the 296 GTS. This latest addition to the long lineup of Prancing Horse models is the brand's first V6 convertible for the road. Let's get to know how this top-less Ferrari is different from its coupe version - 

 Retractable hardtop 

The first and obvious difference is the roof. Unlike the hardtop coupe, the 296 GTS comes with a retractable hardtop that is stowed inside the engine compartment, located behind the seats. A similar setup can be seen on the Ferrari SF90 Spider as well. The roof takes just 14 seconds to go up and down at speeds of up to 45 kmph, splitting into two parts that fold over the front half of the engine bay.

Subtle exterior & interior changes

Silhouette-wise, the two Ferrari models are the same, but to accommodate the opening roof, some subtle revisions have been made by the automaker. 

• A reworked rear deck with re-sculptured buttresses and a more large step between the roof and the unique aerobridge
• A new window at the bottom of the engine cover replacing the clear composite unit available on the coupe
• Modifications are also done on the A- and B-pillars and sills to improve the car's torsional rigidity and bending stiffness

Inside also, Ferrari engineers made some changes to the seats and centre console, which however, are not immediately visible. Adjustments for the rear screen are also there to ensure cabin comfort while driving at high speed with the roof down.

Added weight

As a result of the retractable top's mechanism, the GTS gets an additional weight of 70 kg, bringing the dry weight total to 1,540 kg.

Identical powertrain components

The technical package of the all-new Ferrari 296 GTS mimics the coupe version with a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 that is augmented by a 166 hp electric motor. Together, the setup delivers a total output of 830 hp and 740 Nm. This combined power is channelled to the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with a physical reverse gear. 

When it comes to performance, the two cars clock similar numbers despite the different weight. That's 0-100 kmph acceleration in 2.9 seconds and a top speed of over 330 kmph. The drop-top model also gets an identical all-electric driving range of 25 km.

Looking for the Ferrari 296 GTS price? Well, there is no official information on that yet. Although we can refer to the 296 GTB price, that's £241,560 (RM 1,348,041). As per the usual differences we see on the Ferrari spider models, the drop-top model is expected to be somewhere around £270,000 (RM 1,506,753).

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