Ferrari presents the 296 GTS, open-air version of the 296 GTB adopting the same plug-in hybrid powertrain with a system power of 830 horsepower. The 296 GTS further emphasizes the clean and refined line that characterizes its sister coupe. The intention of the Ferrari style center directed by Flavio Manzoni to preserve the main features of the 296 GTB required an intense phase of analysis of the technical dimensions, with the intention of minimizing the impact of changes to the exterior and to identify a clear and particularly recognizable gesture, which would tell the complexity of the project by translating it into linear and complete forms.
The need to place the retractable hard top inside the engine compartment suggested to the design team a new design for the tonneau cover, whose geometry defines distinctive features compared to Ferrari spiders of the recent past. If on the 296 GTB the hood is horizontal and dominated by two rampant arches, reminiscent of the 250 Le Mans, the rear area of the 296 GTS takes on a unique look.
Also on the 296 GTS the dominant element remains the characteristic flying bridge. The effect is that of a compact cabin integrated with the fenders and sides, in which the theme of the rampant arch is reinforced by two new dorsal ribs that represent the real novelty of the car design. The resulting design integrates the fuel caps and the high-voltage battery charging cap with the volumes that guard the hardtop, avoiding architectural distonies.
The cockpit of the 296 GTS develops around the full-digital interface and it is precisely from the aesthetic coherence with the latter that its shapes originate. If on the SF90 Spider was highlighted the advanced technology and the break with the past, in the 296 GTS we wanted to assimilate the technical content within a refined dress. The interior of the 296 GTS emphasizes the concept of formal cleanliness through a simplification of forms that integrates the technological content within sober upholstery. Even the displays of the cockpit amplify the minimalist effect of the cabin, whose undisputed protagonists are the furnishings. The finishes, in fine Italian upholstery, are enhanced by noble technical materials for the functional components. On the 296 GTS the aerodynamic flaps are integrated into the structure of the rear trim to increase comfort during open air driving.
