Ferrari 296 GTB — Marbella

The 296 GTB rewrites what a mid-engine Ferrari feels like from the first throttle input. Its plug-in hybrid V6 produces 830 hp—a figure that belongs on a spec sheet for a much larger powertrain—yet the car stays compact, precise, and startlingly responsive through tight radius corners. On the A-369 climb toward Ronda, where the road narrows between limestone walls and drops away into valley views, that combination of short wheelbase and immediate torque makes more sense than raw displacement ever could. Our 2023 example is the fixed-roof GTB, which trades open-air theatre for a stiffer chassis and lower centre of gravity. For drivers who want to feel the road surface through the seat rather than hear the wind, it's the sharper tool. The twin-turbo V6 spools without the traditional delay, and the electric motor fills the gap below 3,000 rpm so cleanly that the transition is almost invisible. Downhill into Benahavís, engine-braking blends with regenerative resistance in a way that keeps the car planted without constant pedal correction. From a practical standpoint, the 296 GTB is a two-seat sport car—luggage space is minimal, cabin width favours a driver and one passenger, and ground clearance is low enough to require care at hotel ramps along the Golden Mile. It is not a touring car and does not pretend to be. What it does exceptionally well is cover a focused route—Puerto Banús to Ronda and back, an evening run through Nueva Andalucía, a morning blast on quiet spring roads above Estepona—with an intensity that larger Ferraris dilute in favour of comfort. Handover can be arranged at Málaga Airport, Golden Mile hotels such as Puente Romano or Marbella Club, or at the La Zagaleta gate with advance registration. Rates begin at €1,700 per day. Before collection, expect a thorough briefing on the hybrid drive modes—the difference between eDrive, Hybrid, and Performance settings meaningfully changes the car's character, and choosing the right one for the road ahead is part of the experience.