Actor Dulquer Salmaan brings home the firecracker Ferrari 296 GTB this Diwali

Actor Dulquer Salmaan brings home the firecracker Ferrari 296 GTB this Diwali

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Popular actor and certified petrolhead, Dulquer Salmaan has one of the most envious celebrity garages. Dubbed the ‘369 Garage’ on the internet, the Salmaan and his father, veteran actor Mammootty, co-own some of the most exotic and classy wheels in the country. Now, adding another exotic to this famous garage, Dulquer Salmaan recently took delivery of his first Ferrari, the 296 GTB, bringing the prancing horse home this Diwali.

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 14 Nov 2023, 19:00 PM

The Ferrari 296 GTB is the first Ferrari in Dulquer Salmaan’s garage, which otherwise is a collection of some of the most exotic cars in India (Instagram/Automobiliardent & Dulquer Salmaan)

Dulquer Salmaan’s Ferrari 296 GTB is finished in a deep red shade called Rosso Rubino Metallizzato, which gives the hybrid supercar a richer look, different yet well within Ferrari’s preferred colours. The 296 GTB’s interior has also been customised and finished in Cuoio tan leather upholstery along with Bordeaux inserts that complement the exterior paint rather well.

Also Read : Actor Dulquer Salmaan takes delivery of his limited edition Ultraviolette F77

The new Ferrari 296 GTB pays homage to the iconic Ferrari Dino sports car that was introduced in the 1960s. In fact, the Gran Turismo Berlinetta (GTB) establishes it as the latest addition to Ferrari’s long line of sports cars dating back to the 1950s. However, what makes the 296 GTB special is its new powertrain with the Italian marquee taking the hybrid route with this supercar.

The Ferrari 296 GTB draws power from the 2,996 cc (ergo 260 moniker) twin-turbo V6 engine that’s paired with an electric motor. The petrol hybrid engine is tuned to produce a combined output of 807 bhp and 741 Nm. The power figures are enough to get the supercar from 0-100 kmph in 2.9 seconds with a top speed of 330 kmph. The 296 GTB can run on electric power alone with a 7.45 kWh underfloor battery that has a range of 42 km and at speeds up to 135 kmph.

Also Read : Ferrari 296 GTB India impressions: Red demon with hybrid horns

The 296 GTB comes with four driving modes via an ‘eManettino’ switch on the steering wheel – eDrive, Hybrid, Performance and Qualify. Each mode offers different levels of involvement from the electric motor and regenerative braking. Dulquer’s newest Ferrari is on sale in India with a base price of ₹5.40 crore (ex-showroom) before the options and taxes kick in.

Watch: Ferrari 296 GTB review: Red demon with hybrid horns

Interestingly, the 296 GTB is not the only car that Dulquer Salmaan acquired recently. The actor also took delivery of his new BMW 7 Series a few days ago. Apart from the 296 GTB and 7 Series, the actor and producer’s garage also comprises the Porsche Panamera, E92 BMW M3, Porsche 911 GT3, Nissan 370Z, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, BMW E46 M3, Mercedes-AMG G63, Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600, Land Rover Defender 110, MINI Cooper S, Volkswagen Polo GTI, and many more. Mammootty also brought home the Mercedes-AMG A45 S performance hatchback earlier this year.

First Published Date: 14 Nov 2023, 19:00 PM IST


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Ferrari 296 GTB India impressions: Red demon with hybrid horns

Ferrari 296 GTB India impressions: Red demon with hybrid horns

by with No Comment car insurance online

India is now the world’s third largest car market, overtaking Japan and sitting behind only China and the United States. And while the surge is being powered overwhelmingly by SUVs in the mass-market space, the luxury segment continues to grow by leaps and bounds as well. But what about the microscopically small supercar segment here? Almost everyone would agree that our country is hardly the happy hunting ground for growling V6s and V8s. Options for the elite among elites are limited but if you do have the resources for one, why won’t you choose one? And why not the Ferrari 296 GTB then?

With its typically low-slung profile, the Ferrari 296 GTB is best when being raced around on a track. But even in real world conditions, it has enough practicality to be an occasional thrill-evoking automotive miracle.

It is a masterpiece. It is a demon. It is a revolution. It is Ferrari 296 GTB and it has touched down on Indian shores as the latest mid-rear-engined two-seater marvel. All electrics can all but wait because this here is a plug-in hybrid too. But the core power still comes from the roar of a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 that puts out 654 hp all on its own. Combine it with some serious electric power and one can add another scrumptious dose of 165 hp to the mix. The electric-only range is at 25 kilometres, a distance that this supercar can race through in the blink of an eye.

Watch: Ferrari 296 GTB review: Red demon with hybrid horns

For the purer among the purists, it may seem like a V6 is a ‘significant’ step down but does it really matter, especially when the Ferrari 296 GTB can do a 0 to 100 kmph in 2.9 seconds? Or when the rated top speed is at a massive 330 kmph? Or that here is a performance-based hybrid supercar from The Prancing Horse.

Ferrari 296 GTB
With a combined power output of 820 hp, and a roar to silence everyone on the road, the Ferrari 296 GTB makes quite a statement on the move.

Performance remains at the core of the Ferrari 296 GTB even if the start on eDrive mode means here is the quietest Ferrari off the block. The electric motor kicks in by default and pushes the supercar forward. The silence before the storm? Absolutely! Engage the Performance drive mode, caress the throttle with a foot and the Ferrari 296 GTB flies faster than the fastest roller-coaster you can ever imagine. The gearshifts are typically – and aggressively – quick and that feeling of a Ferrari revving all the way to the 8,500 mark is a feeling that no written words can ever seek to do justice to. And that roar, oh that roar…

Ferrari 296 GTB
Mean from the outside and mean within – the Ferrari 296 GTB hybrid supercar assumes several roles but all with the solitary purpose of putting speed credentials on a pedestal.

But for most parts of our quick drive though, we were surrounded by admiring fellow motorists too keen to get a closer stare. Who won’t want to do just that. Because here yet another Ferrari that looks menacingly gorgeous even when not making passionate love to the wind. Draped in the Rosso Corsa shade of Red, the model curves at all the right places for visual seduction. There is a sense of raw power on its proverbial horizon, one that also extends to the cabin where Alcantara, carbon fibre and high-quality leather converge for a perfect blend. Don’t expect the largest of display screens – and there are two screens inside. But who gets into a Ferrari for the infotainment anyway? The sports steering packs in a lot of touch-sensitive buttons and there is a learning curve to manage these.

But there is no managing the fact that the Ferrari 296 GTB is made to stand out wherever it may be standing still or racing forward at. Complete with that electric motor, it retains its mean heart with a gentle, genial purpose. At well and truly above ₹5 crore-mark, the Ferrari 296 GTB is perhaps what every modern supercar ought to be about – sense and speed.

First Published Date: 17 Oct 2023, 14:46 PM IST


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