Ferrari unveils plug-in hybrid supercar, the 296 GTB

The vehicle, the latest addition to the automakers range, can travel for around 15 miles on electric power alone and can hit 83 mph in electric-only eDrive mode. Ferrari said it had made particular efforts to make the jump between electric and petrol-powered modes feel as smooth as possible.

Excluding limited editions, Ferrari has previously released two other hybrid vehicles, the SF 90 Stradale in 2019 and a convertible version, the SF90 Spider, last year.

The 296 GTB is the Italian firm’s first road car to come with a 6-cylinder engine, delivering 830hp total power output.

“If the SF 90 was designed to reach the peak of performance, this has been designed for the peak of pleasure of driving,” Enrico Galliera, Ferrari chief marketing and commercial officer, said during an online presentation. “We expect this will also help us attract clients who are not driving a Ferrari now.”

The car’s hybrid system was specifically touted for cutting pedal response times to zero, making it feel very responsive to the driver’s commands.

The 296 GTB is also the first Ferrari road car to sport a V6 turbo with the turbos installed inside the vehicle. This helps lower the centre of gravity and reduce engine mass while delivering high levels of power.

It uses a high voltage battery with a 7.45kWh capacity that is located under the floor to minimise volume and weight. The cooling system, structure and fixing points are integrated into a single component.

The new architecture also led to the development of a more linear exhaust line located in the upper part of the engine compartment. The shape of the exhaust reduces back pressure and contributes to boosting performance, Ferrari said.

Meanwhile, the more traditional internal combustion engine and the gearbox are cooled by two radiators installed at the front of the car, ahead of the front wheels, where there are also two condensers for the high-voltage battery cooling. The hot air is evacuated along the underbody, to avoid it interfering with the cooling air to the intercoolers along the upper part of the flanks.

Naturally, this two-seater is not cheap, starting at €269,000 (£232,000), reaching €302,000 for its 'Assetto Fiorano' high-performance version. It will have a top speed of over 330 km per hour (205 mph). Ferrari has now opened its order books for the car.

Ferrari has promised its first full electric model in 2025. Along with its rivals, it is wrestling with how to shift its line-up to battery power without losing the high performance that supports its premium pricing.