TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
High ride: Ferrari 296 GTS gearing for Indonesian roads
Ferrari is bent on getting in the fast lane in the Indonesian market, as the luxury-sports carmaker recently unveiled its new 296 GTS spider line of cars for the country’s high-rolling automobile aficionados.
Change Size
Aerodynamic: The Ferrari 296 GTS shows its clean lines. (JP/Tunggul Wirajuda) (JP/Tunggul Wirajuda)
F
em>Ferrari is bent on getting in the fast lane in the Indonesian market, as the luxury-sports carmaker recently unveiled its new 296 GTS spider line of cars for the country’s high-rolling automobile aficionados.
The low rumble of the car engine echoed around the Ferrari showroom in Central Jakarta’s Pegangsaan district. The deep-throated sound reflected the Italian marquee vehicle’s thoroughbred lineage that can be traced to the 308 GTB or F355 line of cars. Nonetheless, the roaring engine introduced an entirely new line of Ferraris, namely the 296 Gran Turismo Spider or 296 GTS.
Throwing caution to the wind
The sheer horsepower display highlighted the launch of the Ferrari 296 GTS in Indonesia. The unveiling of the new Ferrari came six months after its immediate predecessor, the Ferrari 296 GTB, was introduced in July 2022.
In her opening speech on Feb. 10, Ferrari Indonesia general manager Nini Chiandra maintained that while the 296 GTS might be similar to the 296 GTB, she still asserted that the former sported its own distinct identity.
“The 296 GTS is the open-top variant of the 296 GTB, which was launched in July 2022. A number of customers already requested coupes, while others opted for the convertible,” Nini said of the roadster, which features a hardtop that takes 14 seconds to unfold at speeds of up to 45 kilometers. “We hope [the 296 GTS] will meet demand for convertible roadsters from people who like to operate [their cars] with open-caps on weekend drives, whether it be in the Puncak area outside Jakarta or even around their housing complex.” She added customer receptiveness to the 296 GTS had been positive despite the higher price for convertibles.
Balancing between exhilaration and an eco-friendly ride
It does not take long to see what Nini means. The aerodynamic lines of the 296 GTS highlight the vehicle’s Ferrari lineage. In its press release for the event, Ferrari added that it would also offer the Assetto Fiorano powerpack for those who wished to push the 296 GTS’ limits, and put the vehicle’s paces in the Sentul racetrack or other circuits. The package included reduced weight, improved aerodynamics and other options to make the 296 GTS the ultimate in form and function on and off the racetrack. These elements are further accentuated by the rosso imola color scheme.
“The rosso imola color is the first of its kind for Ferrari, as it is debuted on the 296 GTS. We hope that the hues of this new color scheme will bolster customer demand for the car,” Nini said of the Rosso Imola’s striking cherry-red color.
The 296 GTS’ sleek, clean lines is powered by a rear-mounted 3000 cc (2992 cc) V6 internal combustion engine. The powerplant seamlessly switches to an electrical engine and back, due to its use of the PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle) technology. While the engine might be dwarfed by the fossil-fuel powered 4500-cc, V8-engine 458 or the 6500-cc, V12 812, Nini maintained that the GTS 296 could still punch above its weight.
“The GTS 296’s 3000-cc V6 engine and electric motor have a combined power of 830 cv [818 horsepower], the highest rated of its kind in any roadster today. This more than makes up for the relatively small size of the 3000-cc engine,” she said. “The electric motor in the 296 GTS, which is also rear-mounted, can power the car for 25 kilometers in the edrive mode. The 7.45 kWh lithium/ion battery also takes about five hours to charge if completely empty.”
The Ferrari press release backed Nini, as it noted that the 296 GTS had a top speed of 135 km per hour in edrive mode. The edrive mode can be backed by the internal combustion engine (ICE) from the 3000-cc V6.
Nini is certain Indonesia’s reviving economy will increase customer interest in the 296 GTS. She declined to disclose the price, only hinting that the car “costs more than [the 296 GTB] and is subject to customer specs, while prospective buyers have to be on the waiting list of about two years”. Whether one would want to wait that long is a matter of debate. What is certain is that good things like the Ferrari 296 GTS come to those who wait or spend willingly.
