Written by 
Ever since the Ferrari 296 GTB was first revealed in 2021, I’ve been a big fan.
I remember the initial negativity against the idea of a twin-turbo V6, but to me, it felt like a perfect fit for the more entry-level vibe of the car. Plus, it links back to the Dino and the V6 engine powering that baby Ferrari that wasn’t even badged as one. The Dino was criticized when new, too, but it’s now a true collectable that has appreciated tremendously over the years.
Oh, and let’s not forget the 296 GTB is a hybrid. A Ferrari hybrid? I know some purists still shudder at the idea, but the way Ferrari has integrated the hybrid system is the only way I think it makes sense for a high-end sports car.
But this post isn’t an opinion piece on the GTB; I’ll save that for my upcoming post on living with one for a week.
Instead, today, I want to explore how two different Indonesian 296 GTB owners have put their spin on the same Ferrari model. One car is owned by 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 modifying bug to Italian exotica with little regard for what Ferrari might think!
Let’s take a look at how they’ve done it…
In the black corner, we have a 296 GTB with the ‘Assetto Fiorano’ package, which has more of a track focus through less mass, increased downforce, and improved performance.
Over and above the factory enhancements, the owner has kept things understated, opting for a set of BBS LM wheels, which he then sent to a specialist to work their magic.
While the front wheels came in the right size and offset for perfect aggressive fitment, the rears had to be custom re-barreled to 13 inches wide, as BBS doesn’t offer anything wider than 12 inches. Why? Because this owner wanted to fit the fattest tires possible to handle the full power and torque of that electric-assisted, turbocharged V6. So for tires, 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 cherry on top is the Brembo brake calipers that bite down on carbon-ceramic rotors. When placing his order for the car, the owner asked Ferrari to paint the calipers in the same gold as those found on the R35 Nissan GT-R Brembos, even going as far as to supply 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, which is a non-Fiorano car with a very different approach taken.
This car swaps out 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 the OEM sizes – 245/35ZR20 up front and 305/35ZR20 in the 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 spice up the rear.
You can see how the black car has similar lip spoilers to those on the Assetto Fiorano upgrade.
But the Novitec side skirts are more aggressive and also feature integrated air intakes.
One press of the Start/Stop button (as long as the drive mode is in the ICE setting) instantly gives away the fact that Mr. Jedm’s car is running an aftermarket exhaust – also from Novitec. The hot-vee V6 now has the raucous idle and low-end bark it deserves, doing away with the stock valves of the original system.
Inside, the two 296s have a very different feel.
The gray car is set up with comfort and long-distance touring in mind.
Yellow-on-black horizontal piping throws back to old Daytona seats, bringing that contrast across the rest of the cabin with yellow stitching.
The factory option passenger-side display keeps anyone riding shotgun entertained – or possibly terrified when the performance metrics are shown on screen.
The Assetto Fiorano interior in the black car features carbon fiber reclinable bucket seats – complete with 4-point harnesses – upholstered in warm brown suede for a touch of class.
There’s more carbon trim throughout the cabin, including on the special door sills and cards, adding to its motorsport-inspired vibe.
Curiously, the gray car features a transparent engine cover with a more smoked finish – perhaps another option that Ferrari offers.
Opening up the lightweight covers on their gas struts reveals Ferrari’s most compact engine – the 120-degree 3.0L 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’s still got red cam covers, as well as Ferrari logos on the heat-shielded exhaust outlets that sprout out from the centrally-mounted turbos.
So, after all of this, it’s over to you. Which of these 819hp Ferrari 296 GTB beasts would you prefer to take home? The track-ready black machine, with its JDM-inspired touches, or the more refined, comfort-oriented gray car with its Novitec upgrades?
Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: dino_dalle_carbonare
dino@speedhunters.com