Elite Traveler Summer 2024

elite traveler SUMMER 2024 77

photochromic technology to seemingly change glass into a solid panel with nothing more than the click of a button, thereby bridging the gap between a fi xed roof, a panoramic sunroof and the full open-top convertible experience. Each automaker’s unique vision for top-down driving di ff ers slightly, but selecting the best convertibles on the market today no longer requires making sacri fi ces. Instead, the choice between a retractable hardtop or traditional soft-top really only comes down to personal preference of how much sky to let in while out for a casual cruise or a spirited weekend canyon run.

by Michael Teo Van Runkle

FERRARI 296 GTS On the more radical side of the current convertible market, Ferrari recently debuted a new spider version of last year’s 296 GTB (the 'B' standing for ‘Berlinetta’ or hardtop). Now known as the GTS, the new model still sports the same raucous twin-turbocharged V6 paired with a plug-in hybrid system to produce an almost unbelievable 819 hp. Originally built for model year 2023, the GTB set multiple records as the quickest rear-wheel-drive production car ever, all in a retro-futuristic package reminiscent of the 1970s-era Dino. In either form, the 296 serves as a purposeful reference to Ferrari’s original V6, engineered by Enzo Ferrari’s own son, Dino — and though this supercar can be considered something of a descendant of the Prancing Horse’s original hybrid, the LaFerrari, it’s anything but dated. A low and lean design doesn’t mean the 296 GTS gives up much in the way of comfort while prioritizing all-out speed. Instead, softening up the suspension via the F1-inspired ‘Manettino’ dial on the steering wheel results in a surprisingly mellow ride quality that belies the potential lurking beneath such sensuous, sculptural styling. The new retractable hardtop, meanwhile, adds only 154 lbs versus the solid-roofed GTB , and the roof panel can open or close in 14 seconds at speeds up to 28 mph. Pushing the 296 GTS at higher speeds on public roads quickly becomes an exercise in questionable legality, but even restrained performance driving reveals how well Ferrari set up the convertible’s chassis. Somehow, the steering delivers quite possibly the most intuitive and communicative electrically assisted feel possible, while the front-to-rear balance perfectly supports hard braking, aggressive cornering and generous applications of power simultaneously. And despite the sobering power stats or eye-catching design, this convertible remains easy and safe enough for just about any driver of any experience level to simply jump in and enjoy without concern for losing control. A small rear window in the 296 GTS also rolls down to allow engine noises to enter the luxuriously appointed cockpit. But the biggest bene fi t of the most powerful plug-in hybrid on the market today involves keeping that exhaust note and those turbo sounds to a minimum, since the 296 GTS can run in full EV mode for up to 15 miles of claimed all-electric range — allowing owners to enjoy the full Ferrari experience without imposing on neighbors while fi ringupa cold engine on early mornings. Ferrari 296 GTS from $372,000, ferrari.com

Pushing the 296 GTS at higher speeds on public roads quickly becomes an exercise in questionable legality, but even restrained performance driving reveals how well Ferrari set up the convertible’s chassis