Frank Stephenson reviews the Ferrari 296 GTB design

Gareth J. Hargreaves • August 17, 2026 23:43

The arrival of a new Ferrari is always an occasion, and the 296 GTB came with a string of noteworthy firsts. It is the first model from the Prancing Horse to use a V6 engine - if we set aside the 206 and 246, which were launched under the Dino brand.

We have already pored over the technical specification of Ferrari’s latest darling - as well as being a V6, it is also a plug-in hybrid - but today the spotlight moves to its design. For that, it is hard to imagine a better guide than Mr Frank Stephenson.

Frank Stephenson’s background in car design

Stephenson served as Ferrari’s head of design from 2002 and went on to run virtually every design department within the Fiat Group of the time. He left in 2008 to take up the role of design director at McLaren.

At Ferrari, his position was later filled by Flavio Manzoni in 2010, who still holds the post today.

During his “shift” at Ferrari, models such as the F430 and the FXX (based on the Ferrari Enzo) emerged, alongside the Maserati MC12.

At McLaren, he oversaw the first generation of modern road cars, from the MP4-12C through to the P1, with the 720S being the last model to carry his signature.

His CV also includes cars as varied as the Ford Escort RS Cosworth and the first BMW X5, as well as the first BMW-era Mini (R50) and the Fiat 500 (which is still on sale).

There may be no better person in the industry to analyse, criticise, and even show what he would do differently on the new Ferrari 296 GTB than Frank Stephenson.

First impressions of the Ferrari 296 GTB design

Stephenson’s overall take on the new 296 GTB is, on the whole, very positive - in his final assessment he rates it slightly ahead of the also-new McLaren Artura, which is mechanically very close to the 296 GTB.

He made it clear he enjoys the blend of heritage and modernity. In his view, the 296 GTB nods to the 250 LM, particularly in the way the rear volume is defined (air intake and rear wings), without resorting to the easy visual aggression that affects so many cars today. The 296 GTB looks like a Ferrari and seems to match our expectations of what a Ferrari should be.

What would Frank Stephenson change on the Ferrari 296 GTB?

Even so, his close look at the various parts of the Italian supercar suggests there is room, in his opinion, for improvement.

At the front and along the sides, he mainly points to details and alignments - with the exception of the area around the B-pillar, where he would make more substantial alterations. His strongest criticism is reserved for the rear of the 296 GTB, which, to him, does the worst job of conveying that it is a Ferrari. In his view, a “Ferrari that is truly a Ferrari” must have circular rear lights - the 296 GTB was unveiled with straighter, more square-shaped lights - whether single units or twin round lamps.

His criticisms and suggestions set the tone for a series of digital changes to the original car, shown next (you can see the “before” and “after” to compare them more easily). Do you agree with the alterations he proposes?