But of course, if you get caught driving one, you won’t get any sympathy from a cop just because you’re in a Ferrari. The 296 GTB is the biggest new Ferrari in years because it’s the first V6 hybrid. What many purists will not like. But really, it’s giving you the first genuine excuse to drive fast. The 296 will do 15 miles as an EV, and that V6 engine acts as a little power generator.

Simply put: the harder you drive, the more electrons flow into the 6kWh battery. So if you’re pulled over for speeding on a 296, you can at least tell the officer you wanted to recharge your battery before you hit the city limits and pass schoolchildren in eDriʋe mode. Now, I have to admit, I was a little worried about this car. A Ferrari V6 plug-in hybrid? I mean, really?

The engine is the heart and soul of a Ferrari. His identity. And the batteries are heavy. The opposite of what a supercar should be. But I needn’t have worried because oh my gosh this car is lovely. Yes, the hybrid system adds 170kg, but the short wheelbase and incredibly low center of gravity mean it drives more like a Ferrari. It challenges a racing car than a road car.

They are the dog’s nuts. The grip at the front is mega. The address sharp as a scalpel. Brakes as anchors. And it’s fast. crazy fast.

In truth, the hybrid system does more for performance than it saves the planet. The F1-derived electronic motor cancels out any spin lag at the bottom end. The power is infinite. Look towards the horizon and you are already there. Full concentration is required.

Now I know why it took me 11 signatures to get the keys. I’ll supplement the last paragraph with some numbers for you: The 2.9-liter engine produces a staggering 633 hp. The e-Motor adds another 167 horses. Total power: 833cv. All to the rear wheels. The 0-62 ph sprint time is irrelevant, this thing rockets from 0-124 ph in just 7.3 seconds. And I’ll concede, it sounds good.

Ferrari engineers dubbed the 296 “piccolo V12” (little V12) and I’ll let them say it. It reaches the harmonic orders of a V12 when it reaches 8,500 rpm. Maybe I should explain the name as well: 296 stands for 2.9-litre six-cylinder, and GTB stands for Gran Turismo Berlinetta.

As for the appearance, do you like it? Me too. It is the perfect borrowing from art and science. Elegant and essential. The headlights and air intakes (for the front brakes) are a simple piece of design. The tall center exhaust is a technical necessity, but it also looks bad. The active rear spoiler sits flush with the taillights when not in use. At high speed, it appears to generate 100 kg of downforce.

Those muscular rear haunches hide the radiator and intercoolers. Every inch of this car has a purpose. Because ultimately the difference between what works and what doesn’t is just air. The cutaway rear of the caƄin or “flying bridge” is a nod to the 250 LM (Le Mans) of the 1960s.

Hop on a 296 and it’s pure PlayStation: Digital dashboard, huge paddles, haptic controls, performance and ranking mode, car-frame racing seats, and not much else. Because you don’t need much more. Visibility is excellent, with the windshield wrapping around you like a motorcycle windshield. Colic? Other than the £241k price tag, nothing really.

The 296 is easy to drive fast and easy to drive slow. She is a Ƅalerina with an iron hand. We all know that Ferrari has to be seen to do the right thing as we rush headlong into electrification. But actually this car is great. It will appease iron enthusiasts and please oil lovers at the same time, once they can be persuaded to try it. I would have one on an F8.

To you McLaren. . .