00:00 Josh
Ferrari is revving up its hybrid strategy with the 296 GTS, a sleek plug-in sports car that’s more than just a head-turner. It’s key to the company’s growth. And Yahoo Finance’s Pras Subramanian was just in the driver’s seat of one and he joins me now. Pras, what’d you make of it?
00:23 Pras
It’s real tough work, Josh. But you know, I I want to start start off somewhere which maybe you might might know. Magnum PI.
00:32 Josh
Sure.
00:33 Pras
I’m dating myself, but when I was a kid that show was on. I was very young. I was very young.
00:36 Josh
Dating both of us.
00:37 Pras
Both of us. But what was the star of the the show? What Thomas Magnum but also his his Ferrari. His 308 GTS Red, that car stole the show. Now,
00:51 Josh
Yeah.
00:52 Pras
cut to 40 years later, we have the 296 GTS, which is a the successor for that car after so after many other cars in between. Uh and now we have a hybrid, right? So let’s talk about the design, right? Design wise, it’s still looks great, very sleek like you mentioned, sexy, all the all the right curves. Uh Ferrari, bang up job there, maintaining that allure of exclusivity and and just pure sports, right? Uh inside of course, also all the luxury appointments. Yes, I had some issue with the steering wheel and some things that were a little bit niggly like buttons, but hey, who cares, right? Cuz this car has a V6 turbo, which is interesting because you used to the V8 or to the V12, but Ferrari engineers, they’re meant magicians, they made that thing sound amazing. The addition of the hybrid power gives it almost 820 horsepower, so you’re not
01:42 Josh
Wow.
01:42 Pras
you’re not left wanting there. The thing is quick as hell. It’s almost scary to put the foot down on on that. And and I think like you mentioned, this is an important car for for Ferrari because
01:47 Josh
Yeah.
01:47 Pras
it’s essentially their it’s a halo car but also it’s it’s their sports car. It’s their mid-engine or rear engine sports car that that’s what makes the the company. That car has to be great in order for the SUV to be great, for the upcoming EV to be interesting. You got to have that that halo car that really brings it all together and the and the 296 GTS is just a phenomenal vehicle. It sounds great, it drives great. You feel cool sitting in it. I had a great time in it for a day. That’s pretty much it. That’s all I can afford, right?
02:22 Josh
How much how much is that going to set you back? What?
02:24 Pras
Well, talking about 360 or thereabouts. That car was significantly more with options. So it’s not cheap, but at that at that lofty level, people there have money and they’re going to decide between an Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Ferrari and I think they probably want to go Ferrari. So we’ll see.
02:46 Josh
Yeah, tough job but someone has to do it. Thank you, Pras.