Since the Ferrari 296 GTB was first unveiled in 2021, I have been a big fan.
I remember the initial negativity towards the idea of a twin-turbo V6, but to me it felt like a perfect match for the car’s more entry-level vibe. Plus, it goes back to the Dino and the V6 engine that powers that baby Ferrari, which wasn’t even labeled as such. The Dino was also criticized when it was new, but it is now a real collector’s item that has been greatly appreciated over the years.
Oh, and let’s not forget that the 296 GTB is a hybrid. A Ferrari hybrid? I know some purists still cringe at the idea, but the way Ferrari has integrated the hybrid system is the only way it makes sense for a high-end sports car in my opinion.
But this post is not an opinion piece about the GTB; I’ll save that for my next post about a week with one life.
Instead, today I want to explore how two different Indonesian 296 GTB owners put their spin on the same Ferrari model. One car belongs to Mr. Jedm, the man behind JEDM Garage in Jakarta, and the other belongs to his friend.
Both owners share a history of tuning legendary Japanese machines like GT-Rs, Supras and NSXs – and now they’ve turned the modification bug to Italian Exotica, without much regard for what Ferrari might think!
Let’s see how they did it…
In the black corner we have a 296 GTB with the ‘Assetto Fiorano’ package, which has more focus on the track through less mass, more downforce and improved performance.
In addition to the factory improvements, the owner has kept things understated by opting for a set of BBS LM wheels, which he then sent to a specialist to work their magic.
While the front wheels were sized and offset correctly for a perfect aggressive fit, the rear wheels had to be custom adjusted to 13 inches wide, as BBS doesn’t offer anything wider than 12 inches. Why? Because this owner wanted to install the fattest tires possible to handle the full power and torque of that electrically assisted turbocharged V6. So as far as tires go, you’ll find 295/30ZR20 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s up front and massive 335/30ZR20 Pilot Sport Cup 2Rs out back.
To complete the aggressive look, the car was lowered, but the real icing on the cake are the Brembo brake calipers biting on carbon-ceramic rotors. When placing his order for the car, the owner asked Ferrari to paint the brake calipers the same gold as those of the R35 Nissan GT-R Brembos, even going so far as to provide the paint code. Talk about a subtle nod to JDM culture on an Italian exotic!
In the gray corner we have Mr Jedm’s 296 GTB, a non-Fiorano car with a very different approach.
This car trades its original Ferrari wheels for a set of two-piece forged HRE 521s, finished with satin charcoal centers and polished barrels. The tires are Bridgestone Potenza Sports in OEM sizes: 245/35ZR20 front and 305/35ZR20 rear.
Aesthetically, the gray car has several Novitec upgrades. Up front there are corner spoilers and air intakes, plus carbon fiber mirrors, and finally a ducktail spoiler to brighten up the rear.
You can see how the black car has similar lip spoilers to the ones on the Assetto Fiorano upgrade.
But the Novitec side skirts are more aggressive and also have integrated air intakes.
One press of the Start/Stop button (as long as the driving mode is in ICE mode) immediately reveals the fact that Mr. Jedm’s car has an aftermarket exhaust – also from Novitec. The hot-vee V6 now has the raw idle and low bass it deserves, doing away with the stock valves of the original system.
Inside, the two 296s feel very different.
The gray car has been tuned for comfort and long-distance touring.
Yellow-on-black horizontal piping throws back to the old Daytona seats and provides that contrast in the rest of the interior with yellow stitching.
The factory-optional passenger-side display keeps anyone riding shotgun entertained – or maybe terrified when the performance statistics are displayed on the screen.
The Assetto Fiorano interior in the black car features reclining carbon fiber bucket seats – complete with four-point seat belts – upholstered in warm brown suede for a touch of class.
There’s more carbon trim throughout the interior, including on the special door sills and maps, adding to the motorsport-inspired atmosphere.
Curiously, the gray car features a transparent hood with a more smoked finish – perhaps another option offered by Ferrari.
Open the lightweight gas strut covers to reveal Ferrari’s most compact engine: the 120-degree 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6.
It’s not as visually exciting as the crackling red intake manifolds of Ferrari’s naturally aspirated engines, but at least it still has red cam covers, as well as Ferrari logos on the heat-shielded exhaust ports exiting the mid-mounted turbos.
So after all this it’s up to you. Which of these 819 hp Ferrari 296 GTB beasts would you most like to take home? The track-ready black machine, with its JDM-inspired accents, or the more refined, comfort-oriented gray car with its Novitec upgrades?
Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: dino_dalle_carbonare
dino@speedhunters.com
