Key Points: VAT Qualifying, Paint Protective Film (PPF) Applied to Whole Car, Rosso Corsa Metallic Exterior Paint (£10,272), Two-Tone Exterior (Nero Painted Roof).

The first road-going six-cylinder Ferrari (excluding those under the entry-level ‘Dino’ brand), the 296 is a potent two-seat plug-in hybrid supercar with a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. Its powertrain combines a 654hp 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged ‘F163’ V6 and a 165hp PHEV electric motor slotted in between the engine and eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, for a maximum combined output of 819hp.

According to Ferrari, the V6 earned itself the nickname “piccolo V12” (little V12) during the development phase, thanks to its visceral top-end scream up to the 8,500rpm redline. The 296 can be driven in electric-only mode for up to 16 miles via its 7.45 kWh battery, in order to comply with use in urban low-emission zones.

The 296 GTS is the car’s open-top variant, featuring an electric folding hard-top roof which opens and closes in 14 seconds, at speeds of up to 28mph. The roof splits into two sections that fold over the front of the engine, preserving the same heat dissipation characteristics as the GTB, and ensuring similarity between the two cars’ silhouettes.

The GTS features a cooling intake beside the LED headlights, while the underbody channels hot air away from the side panels, allowing cool air to flow into the intercoolers. An aerodynamic device called the ‘tea-tray’ is positioned on the front end, which creates an ‘energised’ vortex that sucks the car to the road. Combined with an active spoiler integrated into the rear bumper, the car produces 360kg of downforce at 155mph.

The GTS weighs 70kg more than the GTB due to its retracting roof, reinforced chassis and strengthened pillars, though it has the same 2.9-second 0-62mph sprint time as the GTB, and the same 205mph top speed.