Ferrari 296 GTB

[Sevach]

I wonder how it will fare at ECOTY. Last year the other current hybrid Ferrari the SF90 was scored near last behind the M5 CS, a GT3, an M3, and a Huracan. It had EV sort of complaints. They said it was, of course, quick in a straight line, quickest car there, and looks amazing, but other than that it was too electronic/synthetic/contrived. Like a Tesla, perhaps a one trick pony for the car enthusiast. By the time everyone gets their EVs and spreadsheet numbers, they'll have realized those numbers aren't what made good cars good. James May quote: "Cars aren't spreadsheets."

https://media.evo.co.uk/image/private/s ... P_6048.jpg

That's ironic because these journos all have become one trick ponies obssesed with drifting/oversteer.
Just watch any Lambo review... trying to judge a 4wd car on it's ability to drift, ridiculous.

Too much "purism" and obssession on one single thing i don't like it at all.

Anyway this car has been getting glowing reviews mostly, the systems "don't interfere" aka it doesn't push the front back in line when the back steps out.

[RaceFan1]

I thought it looked more like a 1964 250LM.

https://www.italianways.com/the-ferrari ... -champion/

[Just_a_fan]

I wonder how it will fare at ECOTY. Last year the other current hybrid Ferrari the SF90 was scored near last behind the M5 CS, a GT3, an M3, and a Huracan. It had EV sort of complaints. They said it was, of course, quick in a straight line, quickest car there, and looks amazing, but other than that it was too electronic/synthetic/contrived. Like a Tesla, perhaps a one trick pony for the car enthusiast. By the time everyone gets their EVs and spreadsheet numbers, they'll have realized those numbers aren't what made good cars good. James May quote: "Cars aren't spreadsheets."

https://media.evo.co.uk/image/private/s ... P_6048.jpg

The Evo mob usually go on about "analogue" cars. They basically want modern versions of the hot hatches and fast saloons of 30 years ago because, of course, that's what they grew up driving.

Other than the noise, there's no reason at all why an EV can't be as fun to drive as a hot ICE car. Handling, steering feel, braking response, "throttle" response, aren't inherent in ICE cars and impossible in EVs. After all, most ICE cars are dull to drive so it's not the power source that determines enjoyment.

[vorticism]

Even newer drivers like that era of cars because they're less intermediated. Evo journo types tend to like the Taycan over other EVs, so apparently some of what you point out can be sorted. But you still have to live with a giant iPhone on your dash. As for a more niche drivers/track cars like what Evo focus on, there are other subjective factors that play in. Catchpole often laments when exhausts are too loud, it's not strictly hooliganism they're grading for. There are no EVs in this market yet (GT3 and CS type vehicles) barring maybe the Rimac which is cost prohibitive for comparo tests. Until battery weight is dealt with there will be limited scope in that market. Porsche have a new EV concept car in Gran Turismo that is sort of lightweight with huge power, which might someday be a GT3/GT2/918 alternative.

[Just_a_fan]

Part of the problem, I think, is that cars have become ever more heavy and thus require more power, more tyre rubber, bigger brakes. Part of that weight is because of safety, but part of it is because the manufacturers chase bigger numbers - higher top speeds, high bhp figures, faster 0-60mph times - for marketing purposes.

Creating a lightweight performance car that isn't just another Caterham 7 type device is extremely difficult unless it's to become very expensive.

James Hunt famously liked to drive around in an old Austin. By most standards not a "fun" car, but he liked it because it meant he could be a hooligan at low speed.

I'm not normally a Ferrari guy but I like what they've done with the 296 GTB. They've made a hybrid that's good looking and, it appears, fun to drive. Yes it could have been lighter without the battery but that's not the point of the car. They've made a hybrid for political reasons and done it in a way that both bows to the political reality of cars and sticks two fingers up at it in the same moment.

[Holm86]

A video review of the 296 GTB. I think it's a nicely balanced review with good and less good points discussed. Nice conclusion too.

Henry is one of the best automotive presenters out there.

The car sounds pretty good too for a V6

[Cold Fussion]

Other than the noise, there's no reason at all why an EV can't be as fun to drive as a hot ICE car. Handling, steering feel, braking response, "throttle" response, aren't inherent in ICE cars and impossible in EVs. After all, most ICE cars are dull to drive so it's not the power source that determines enjoyment.

99% of cars ever produced would never make it onto the ECOTY shortlist either so your last point is neither here nor there. EV's are at a big disadvantage currently because you cannot get the same emotional response because of the noise they make, and these drivers cars live on emotions since there's real logical reason to buy these cars in the first place. So all you can compete with is on driving dynamics, and there you are at a ~400kg disadvantage vs an ICE car before you even start designing it. Just those two points alone means it's going to be a good while before we see EV's dominating something like ECOTY. Evo magazine isn't consumer reports, the benefits that EV's provide don't really factor into Evo ethos generally.

[Just_a_fan]

Other than the noise, there's no reason at all why an EV can't be as fun to drive as a hot ICE car. Handling, steering feel, braking response, "throttle" response, aren't inherent in ICE cars and impossible in EVs. After all, most ICE cars are dull to drive so it's not the power source that determines enjoyment.

99% of cars ever produced would never make it onto the ECOTY shortlist either so your last point is neither here nor there. EV's are at a big disadvantage currently because you cannot get the same emotional response because of the noise they make, and these drivers cars live on emotions since there's real logical reason to buy these cars in the first place. So all you can compete with is on driving dynamics, and there you are at a ~400kg disadvantage vs an ICE car before you even start designing it. Just those two points alone means it's going to be a good while before we see EV's dominating something like ECOTY. Evo magazine isn't consumer reports, the benefits that EV's provide don't really factor into Evo ethos generally.

Some of best A-to-B steers have been hot hatchbacks and they've featured in ECOTY. Small engines with no engine note to like, etc.

So the idea it has to have a certain engine noise is a bit off target.

The reality is that if it goes, slows and steers right, the noise ceases to be an issue. Yes, in a US muscle car, noise is central, but otherwise it's not.

The original NSX is a great example.

[vorticism]

[Sevach]

The 488 GT3 is finally retiring, Ferrari never bothered making a F8.

[Sevach]

The spider is already here.

[vorticism]

The 488 GT3 is finally retiring, Ferrari never bothered making a F8.

They did not close off the rear window step on this GT3 version. I wonder if anyone can comment on that. Having a kamm tail roofline as opposed to a continuous surface as on most every other car.

[pierrre]

in this colour too