Ferrari unveils new $320,000 hybrid sports car


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Ferrari unveiled a new plug-in hybrid car as the luxury sports car maker famed for its roaring combustion engines retools its range for an electric era.

The 296 GTB is Ferrari's third hybrid to go into production, which excludes limited-edition vehicles. It follows the SF 90 Stradale in 2019 and last year's convertible version, the SF90 Spider.

Ferrari chief marketing and commercial officer Enrico Galliera said the 296 GTB created a new segment.

"If the SF 90 was designed to reach the peak of performance, this has been designed for the peak of pleasure of driving," he said in a web presentation. "We expect this will also help us attract clients who are not driving a Ferrari now."

The two-seater will cost 269,000 euros ($321,000), reaching 302,000 euros for the "Assetto Fiorano" high-performance version. It will have a top speed of over 330 kilometres per hour.

The Italian company known worldwide for its prancing horse logo and red racing cars has promised its first full-electric model in 2025.

"It's a process which has started a couple of years ago," Mr Galliera said. "We're working to cope with regulation and the task of reducing emissions."

Ferrari and its rivals are wrestling with how to shift their line-ups to battery power without losing the high performance that supports their premium pricing.

Porsche, part of the Volkswagen group, already offers a full-electric vehicle with its Taycan model, but Ferrari is ahead of its arch-rival Lamborghini, also part of Volkswagen, whose first full-electric car will not appear until the second half of this decade.

To propel the company into a new era of electrification, Ferrari has picked technology industry veteran Benedetto Vigna as its new chief executive.

The 296 GTB will be fitted with a 6-cylinder (V6) mid-rear turbo engine, the first on a road car with a Ferrari badge, although such engines have roots dating back to the 1950s in Ferrari racing cars.

Ferrari road cars are normally powered by V8 or more powerful - but also more polluting - V12 engines.

Still, the V6 engine, coupled with a 122 KW electric motor, can produce a massive 830 horse power.

Like the SF90 Stradale, it can deliver 25 km of silent electric-only power. First deliveries are expected in the first quarter of 2022, starting from Europe.

The 296 GTB is the third of three cars Ferrari has promised for this year. Its first-ever SUV, called Purosangue (Thoroughbred), is expected next year.

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At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

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Transmission: eight-speed automatic

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Company profile

Company name: Dharma

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Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe

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Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

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A $10 hand-powered LED light and battery bank

Device is operated by hand cranking it at any time during the day or night 

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The ratio is that for every minute you crank, it provides 10 minutes light on the brightest mode

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This gives 1.1 hours of light on high mode or 2.5 hours of light on low mode

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The larger version costs between $18-20 and generates more than 15 hours of light with a 45-minute charge

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