SHOCK & AWE

Downsizing has reached Maranello and we are very curious to see how the 296 GTB lives up to Ferrari’s legacy

- Anubhav Sharma

I have been a Ferrari fan for over half my life. I am not sure if it was Formula 1 or the mystique around the brand, or probably both, but Ferrari was always special. Early on in my career, when I had just started working, and participating in random drinking games, people were bored with my answer to what was my dream job. It was always Ferrari, and the universe worked its magic and I worked with Ferrari for three years.

It was a dream come true and gave me an insight to how Ferrari is everything the legend makes it out to be. They are truly passionate about their cars and wear it on their sleeves with pride. Heritage and legacy are not fancy posters on their walls, but threaded into everything they do. I am not getting carried away, but this is just a long way of saying I really love Ferrari. Not in the way every fake Ferrari shirt/cap wearing enthusiast does, but I really love Ferrari.

I have been lucky enough to have driven some over the years, and always come back impressed. But in all fairness, it has been a while since I drove a brand-new model. With the 296 GTB, I must confess my initial gut feeling was one of curiosity more than excitement. I wanted to know if it has what makes a Ferrari a Ferrari, and can still ride the wave of technology and kindness to polar bears. We all know electrification will turn cars into mobile appliances and I get it, climate change is real, change is the only constant, and all that.