The launch of a new Ferrari is always an event and in the case of the 296 GTB it was also marked by a series of relevant debuts, being the first model of the brand of cavalinho rampante to adopt a V6 engine — with the exception of the 206 and 246, which were launched under the Dino brand.
If we've already scrutinized the technical characteristics of the new Ferrari whooping cough — in addition to the V6 it's also a plug-in hybrid — today we're focusing our attention on its design and we couldn't have better guide this review, Mr. Frank Stephenson.
Stephenson has been Ferrari's head of design since 2002, having gone on to head virtually all of the Fiat Group's design departments at the time, leaving in 2008 to take over as McLaren's design director. His place at Ferrari would be taken by Flavio Manzoni in 2010, who he still maintains today.
During his “turn” at Ferrari, we saw the birth, for example, of the F430 or the FXX (based on the Ferrari Enzo), but also the Maserati MC12. At McLaren, he was responsible for the first generation of contemporary road models, from the MP4-12C to the P1, with the 720S being the last to carry his signature.
Even in the curriculum we can find models as distinct as the Ford Escort RS Cosworth or the first BMW X5, as well as the first Mini from the BMW era (R50) or the Fiat 500 (which is still on sale).
There shouldn't be a better person in the middle to analyze, criticize and even show what he would do differently in the new Ferrari 296 GTB than Frank Stephenson:
Stephenson's overall assessment of the new 296 GTB is overall quite positive — he assesses it in the end, putting it slightly above the also new McLaren Artura, mechanically very close to the 296 GTB.
Stephenson proved to be a fan of the combination of the past and the contemporary, with the 296 GTB evoking the 250 LM, especially in the definition of the rear volume (air intake and mudguard), without falling into the easy visual aggressiveness that so affects cars from today. The 296 GTB looks like a Ferrari and seems to live up to our expectations of what a Ferrari is.
What would Frank Stephenson change?
However, his scrutiny of the different parts of the new Italian supercar reveals that there is, in his view, room for improvement.
If on the front and side we are mainly talking about some details and alignments — with the exception of the area around the B pillar, which would lead to more accentuated modifications —, its biggest criticism goes to the rear of the 296 GTB, the one that conveys the idea of that it is a Ferrari. In his view, “Ferrari that's Ferrari” has to have circular optics — the 296 GTB was revealed with straight optics, more square in shape — whether they're just singles or doubles.
His criticisms and suggestions set the tone for some digital alterations to the original model, which we show below (you can see the “before” and “after” to better be compared). Do you agree with the changes he proposes?
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