2022 296 GTS is Ferrari's latest (plug-in) drop top

A new mid-engined Ferrari has emerged, and it's built for open-top motoring, Italian style.

Say hello to the Ferrari 296 GTS. Maranello's latest drop-top supercar in almost 7 years, and their first V6 road car with unlimited headroom.

Essentially, this is the 296 GTB two-seat Berlinetta with a retractable hardtop. Designed in-house at the Ferrari Style Centre, the 296 GTS adopts the silhouette and styling cues of its fixed-roof sibling.

Like the GTB, the 296 GTS is powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 hybrid. Combined, the powertrain produces a total of 830 PS and 740 Nm of torque. Power is then transmitted to an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. Because it's a plug-in hybrid, the 296 GTS can also drive for up to 25 km in all-electric eDrive mode.

Now, onto the 296 GTS' main feature – the retractable hardtop (RHT). Ferrari says the lightweight RHT takes only 14 seconds to retract or deploy at speeds of up to 45 km/h. The folding roof splits into two sections, and folds flush over the front of the engine. When retracted, a height-adjustable glass rear screen separates the cabin and the rear deck to suppress some of the ambient noises, and guarantee passenger comfort even at high speeds.

Also present in the drop-top 296 is the Assetto Fiorano package, which includes significant weight reduction and enhanced aerodynamics. More extensive use of carbon fiber is done to the car's cabin and exterior, while the GT-racing derived Multimatic shock absorbers optimize the 296 GTS for track use.

The 2022 Ferrari 296 GTS isn't the only new Ferrari scheduled to debut this year, as in a few months, the much-awaited Purosangue SUV will be unveiled.