Pilot Bia Figueiredo tried, but the Ferrari 296 GTB refused to release all its snoring while it was parked inside the brand’s store, in Jardim América (west of São Paulo). The car was presented this Thursday to the press and potential customers.
No matter how hard the accelerator was pressed, the sound that came out was clearly limited. Bia, who is a brand ambassador, explained that the engine speeds are electronically limited when the car is stationary, which prevents damage to a “macchina” of millions.
The noise can be even lower: this sports car can run about 25 kilometers in electric mode. Recharging is done at the outlet, but the gasoline engine also works as a generator, if necessary.
It’s the Ferrari of the new times, but without losing its attachment to superlative numbers. The combined power reaches 830 hp, enough to take the 296 GTB to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, according to the manufacturer.
The price has not yet been defined, but it is possible to imagine something above R$ 4 million. The most affordable model of the Italian brand in Brazil is the Portofino M, sold for R$ 3.5 million.
Eduardo Alves, sales executive of the Via Itália group, says that the first units of the 296 GTB are expected for December, but it is not possible to have a precise date. Ferrari’s prestige is not enough to exempt it from global logistical problems, and there are still the obstacles generated in customs clearance.
The automaker produced 12,800 cars in 2021, says Alves. It was a record number, which shows how unique their products are. In Brazil, 35 units were sold last year. Most received some personalization item marketed by the brand, which makes the final price rise considerably.
“Brazil is one of the countries where buyers invest the most in options, spending, on average, between US$ 70,000 and US$ 90,000”, says the executive. The color of the car on display, called rosso imola, is one of these options.
The greater the exclusivity, the longer it takes to get ready. The minimum waiting time for a zero-kilometer model from the Italian brand is six months.
Production is made to order – there is no stock building up – and all the sports cars leave the Italian factory located in Maranello, in the province of Modena.
Modena is also the surname of the F360, the first Ferrari driven by Bia Figueiredo. She says that the experience took place in 2003, shortly after turning 18 and getting her driver’s license. Between this sports car and the new 296 GTB, there’s little in common besides the black horse prancing on the yellow background.
The hybrid system is the great novelty of the current model, but the V6 that is mounted at the rear deserves to be mentioned. The automaker hasn’t used a six-cylinder engine since the 1970s.
The 830 hp of power is divided as follows: while the 3.0 petrol generates 663 hp, the electric is responsible for 167 hp. One helps the other in performance, but it is up to the electric-powered set to reduce emissions levels and frame the brand in the present time of the automotive industry.
Purists still turn up their noses at the recharge plug, but the expectation is that the future launch will be well received in Brazil, just as it was in the US and Europe.
Eduardo Alves believes that buyers of the 296 GTB will mostly be people who already own a Ferrari today. But he also bets that about 40% of sales will be made to new customers.
Whoever has the capital available to enter the noblest house in Maranello will be welcomed in the Italian style. The brand is characterized by treating ferraristas well, offering exclusive experiences such as trips to know the production line.
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