ABP Live Auto Awards 2022: Performance Car Of The Year – Ferrari 296 GTB

ABP Live Auto Awards 2022 – Performance Car Of The Year: The 296 GTB is a new kind of Ferrari which shows the future of the supercar. Electrification has come in but not at the cost of the supercar sound which is crucial to any performance car.

Performance Car Of The Year: Ferrari 296 GTB

The meaning of performance has changed in the automotive spectrum with the need to bow down to electric mobility as well. Supercars and performance cars have to be more environmentally friendly while still pushing for speed with more technology. The Ferrari 296 GTB has walked away with our 'Performance Car Of The Year' award for its engineering which includes its incredible hybrid powertrain along with its suite of driver-focused technologies.

The 296 GTB is a new kind of Ferrari and also shows the future of the supercar. Electrification has come in but not at the cost of the supercar sound which is crucial to any performance car. The 296 GTB, one of the most popular Ferrari supercars is now a plug-in hybrid which means it combines a twin-turbocharged V6 along with an electric motor with the combined power output being around 830bhp. Hence, this supercar can reach 100km/h in just 2.9 seconds but it wins this award not based on these numbers but on account of being a stand-out launch within the performance car genre.

You can cruise along in electric mode while switching over to the engine to hear the typical Ferrari sound. It is like two cars in one and the acceleration is shockingly fast but also involves the driver. This mid-engined supercar has a V6 but feels like a mini 12-cylinder engine with its ferocious rev-happy power delivery with the electric motor coming in to boost the performance further. Acceleration is so fast that you are not aware of the speeds that you are doing. The 296 GTB also comes with all of the Ferrari driver technologies which are centered around the steering wheel itself. Then there is the handling which offers so much grip and traction to explore the performance but within always a safety net of sorts.

Here is a Ferrari that turns hybrid technology into a proper supercar with a skilled application of where electrification adds to the experience while also maintaining the traditional supercar elements. It is a Ferrari that you can drive every day and enjoy but also get the thrill of a supercar. It does show the future of the performance car and that is why it gets the award.