There’s a Ferrari on Indian roads right now that doesn’t sound like any Ferrari before it and that’s exactly the point. The Ferrari 296 GTB swaps the brand’s beloved V8 for a screaming V6 paired with an electric motor, and somehow it’s faster, greener, and just as thrilling as anything that came before it.
For a certain kind of car enthusiast in India, Ferrari isn’t just a brand it’s the benchmark. And the 296 GTB is currently one of the most talked-about entries in the brand’s Indian lineup, mixing old-school Ferrari drama with genuinely new technology.
What Makes the Ferrari 296 GTB Different
Ferrari has built its reputation on V8s and V12s, so the decision to go V6 raised a few eyebrows when the car was first unveiled globally. But the engineering behind it tells a different story. The Ferrari 296 GTB uses a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 the first road-going V6 to ever wear the Prancing Horse badge mated to a single electric motor mounted at the rear axle.
On its own, the combustion engine puts out a serious 663 PS. Add the electric motor’s contribution, and the combined output touches roughly 830 PS, all sent to the rear wheels through an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox. That’s enough to get the 296 GTB from 0-100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds, with a top speed north of 330 km/h.
It’s also a plug-in hybrid, which is a first for a rear-wheel-drive Ferrari. A 7.45 kWh battery allows for around 25 km of pure electric driving handy if you ever want to sneak out of your gated society in near silence before letting the V6 loose.
Design Language: Familiar Yet Fresh
Ferrari designers have openly said the 296 GTB draws inspiration from the 1963 250 LM, one of the brand’s most iconic mid-engine racers. You can see it in the compact proportions, the sharply sculpted rear haunches, and the teardrop headlight design. It’s a smaller, more visually aggressive car than something like the SF90, and that compactness actually works in its favour on narrower Indian roads.
Ferrari 296 GTB Price in India
Here’s the number everyone wants: the Ferrari 296 GTB price in India starts at approximately ₹5.40 crore ex-showroom. Once you factor in registration, road tax, and insurance, the on-road price in a city like Mumbai climbs to roughly ₹6 crore or more, depending on the state and the level of customisation.
That steep pricing isn’t unusual for the segment it comes down to the fact that every Ferrari sold in India arrives as a fully imported CBU Completely Built Unit, which attracts heavy import duties. Add Ferrari’s famously extensive personalisation program, where buyers can spec everything from interior stitching to exterior paint, and the final on-road figure can vary quite a bit from one car to the next.
For context, the Ferrari 296 GTB sits in the same price bracket as rivals like the McLaren 750S and the Lamborghini Temerario, making this one of the most competitive corners of the supercar world in India right now.
Is It Worth the Price?
For most people, that’s not really the right question cars like this aren’t bought on a value-for-money basis. But if you’re comparing it to its direct rivals, the 296 GTB does offer a genuinely unique proposition: a plug-in hybrid powertrain that’s both more efficient and, in many enthusiasts’ opinion, more emotionally engaging than a straight V8 or V12 setup, thanks to the instant torque fill from the electric motor.
Performance and Driving Experience
Numbers on paper are one thing, but what actually stands out about the Ferrari 296 GTB is how it manages to feel both brutally fast and genuinely usable. The eManettino drive selector lets you toggle between eDrive pure electric, Hybrid, Performance, and Qualify modes so the same car that can crawl through Bandra traffic on electric power alone can also be unleashed on a track day at the Buddh International Circuit.
Braking duties are handled by carbon-ceramic discs as standard, and the active rear spoiler and underbody aero package generate meaningful downforce at speed something that matters more on a racetrack than on Indian highways, admittedly, but it’s part of what makes this car feel so purpose-built.
Mileage, understandably, isn’t the focus of a car like this, but real-world figures hover in the range of 8-12 kmpl depending on how the hybrid system is used, which is respectable for a car in this performance bracket.
Cabin and Everyday Comfort
Step inside and you’ll find a fully digital cockpit with a head-up display, a layout clearly inspired by Ferrari’s F1 cars, and materials that feel genuinely special Alcantara, carbon fibre trim, and leather stitched by hand. It’s a strict two-seater with no rear seats and no sunroof, so this isn’t a car for family duty. It’s built for the driver, first and last.
Who Is Buying the Ferrari 296 GTB in India?
Ferrari doesn’t publish exact sales numbers by model in India, but dealer sources suggest the 296 GTB has been one of the brand’s stronger performers here since its August 2022 launch, often ranking among the top-selling Ferrari models in the country. Buyers tend to be seasoned car collectors already owning a couple of other performance cars, rather than first-time supercar owners the 296 GTB is often seen as a modern, more efficient alternative to an older V8 Ferrari already sitting in the garage.
FAQ
What is the on-road price of the Ferrari 296 GTB in India?
The ex-showroom price is around ₹5.40 crore, but the on-road price including registration, road tax, and insurance typically comes to about ₹6 crore or more depending on the city and customisation.
Does the Ferrari 296 GTB have a V8 engine?
No. Unlike most modern Ferraris, the 296 GTB uses a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 combined with an electric motor for a combined output of around 830 PS.
Is the Ferrari 296 GTB available as a convertible in India?
No. Only the fixed-roof GTB coupe is officially sold in India; the convertible 296 GTS is not currently offered here.
How fast is the Ferrari 296 GTB?
It can go from 0-100 km/h in approximately 2.9 seconds, with a top speed of over 330 km/h.
Who are the Ferrari 296 GTB’s main rivals in India?
Its closest competitors in the Indian market are the McLaren 750S and the Lamborghini Temerario.
Final Thoughts
The Ferrari 296 GTB proves that hybrid technology and raw Ferrari drama aren’t mutually exclusive. With a price tag around ₹5.40 crore ex-showroom, it’s firmly in rarefied territory, but it delivers genuine performance credentials a sub-3-second 0-100 km/h time, nearly 830 PS, and a driving experience that blends everyday usability with track-day capability. For Indian buyers who want something different from the usual V8 supercar script, the 296 GTB is arguably one of the most compelling Ferraris money can buy right now.
