Stealth Ferrari 296 GTB Returns for the Full Build: XPEL Stealth Satin PPF, Matte Ceramic Coating, and Novitec x Vossen Wheels

This Grigio Silverstone Ferrari 296 GTB is no stranger to our Los Angeles facility. It first came to us for a quick XPEL Ultimate Plus full front-end paint protection film job, smart armor for an owner who actually drives his supercar. At the time, we said the next steps would be a full-vehicle build, and the car is now back to make good on exactly that. This visit was the big one: a complete change of finish, end-to-end protection, and a forged-wheel-and-tire package to match the chassis underneath.The 296 GTB earns that level of attention. As the first road-going Ferrari to wear a V6 badge since the Dino era, it is a genuine turning point for Maranello, pairing a compact 120-degree twin-turbo V6 with a plug-in hybrid system in a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive berlinetta.

The GTB stands for Gran Turismo Berlinetta, and the 296 name follows Ferrari tradition, denoting 3.0 liters of displacement and six cylinders.The numbers are staggering. The 3.0-liter V6 produces 663 horsepower at 8,000 rpm on its own, and the 165-horsepower (123 kW) electric motor brings the combined output to 819 horsepower, backed by 546 lb-ft (740 Nm) of torque through an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox. A 7.45-kWh battery even allows around 16 miles (25 km) of silent electric driving. The result is a 0-to-62-mph (0-to-100-km/h) sprint in just 2.9 seconds and a top speed exceeding 205 mph (330 km/h). This is a car engineered for both the canyons and the track, and it deserves a build to match.

The factory Grigio Silverstone is already a sophisticated metallic silver-grey, but the owner wanted to take it somewhere new: a deep satin finish that trades shine for stealth while protecting every panel underneath. That is a job for paint protection film, not a vinyl wrap. The plan was full-vehicle XPEL Stealth PPF for the transformation, a matte ceramic coating to lock it in, full-vehicle ceramic window tint, and a forged Novitec x Vossen wheel set on track-grade rubber.

Full-Vehicle XPEL Stealth PPF: The Satin Transformation

The centerpiece of this build is full-vehicle XPEL Stealth paint protection film, applied with custom-cut, bulk coverage across every painted panel. Stealth is XPEL’s satin-finish PPF, and it does something a wrap cannot: it converts the glossy Grigio Silverstone into a refined satin silver-grey while delivering the same heavy-duty, self-healing protection as a clear film. Back in our facility, the team wrapped the entire car in Stealth, bringing the front end we had previously protected in line with the rest of the body for a seamless satin finish from nose to tail.

Because Stealth is a true protection film rather than a cosmetic finish, it stays uniform across the 296’s complex surfaces, from the buttresses and side intakes to the tea-tray rear wing. The self-healing top coat lets light swirls and wash marks vanish with heat, and the satin look holds without the stretch marks or lifting edges that plague film wraps over time. Just as importantly, the original Grigio Silverstone paint is now sealed away from rock chips, road debris, and UV exposure, and it remains perfectly preserved should the owner ever want to return to factory gloss.

Full-Vehicle Matte Ceramic Coating

Satin and matte surfaces are notoriously hard to keep clean. The same micro-texture that gives a satin finish its soft, flat look also gives dirt, dust, and road film more to cling to, and once grime settles into that texture, it is far harder to remove than it would be from slick glass-like gloss. Worse, most owners cannot reach for the usual fix. Standard car shampoos, polishes, waxes, and conventional ceramic coatings are all designed to add gloss and depth, which is exactly what you do not want on a satin car. Use the wrong product once, and you can leave permanent shiny streaks that ruin the uniform finish, turning a deliberate satin look into a patchy, inconsistent mess.

To solve that, the entire car received a matte-specific ceramic coating, a formulation engineered to bond to the XPEL Stealth film and protect it without altering its flat appearance. Rather than building gloss, it lays down an invisible, chemically bonded layer that preserves the satin sheen exactly as installed while adding the slick, protective properties of a true ceramic. The finish looks identical to the bare film, just sealed, consistent, and far easier to live with.

The benefits show up every time the car is cleaned. Strong hydrophobic performance means water beads and sheets off the surface, carrying dust, brake fallout, and road grime with it instead of letting them settle into the texture. Contaminants like bug splatter, bird droppings, tree sap, and industrial fallout struggle to bond, so they wipe away with far less effort and far less risk of marring. Maintenance washes become faster, safer, and gentler, which matters enormously on a satin finish where aggressive scrubbing is the enemy. The coating also resists the water spots, fingerprints, and smudging that satin surfaces are otherwise prone to, keeping the panels looking even and clean from every angle.

Just as importantly, the coating works in concert with the film beneath it. The XPEL Stealth PPF provides physical protection by absorbing rock chips, scratches, and abrasions, while the matte ceramic coating adds a durable chemical barrier on top, shielding against UV exposure, chemical etching, and staining. Together, they form a complete two-layer defense that is built to last. It is the correct way to maintain a satin car, and it is what keeps this 296 looking deliberate rather than dirty, holding its stealthy, factory-fresh character for years rather than months.

Full-Vehicle XPEL Prime XR Plus Nano-Ceramic Window Tint

Next, the team installed full-vehicle XPEL Prime XR Plus, the brand’s flagship nano-ceramic window tint, rejecting up to 98% of infrared heat and blocking 99% of harmful UV rays. In Southern California’s sun, that means a noticeably cooler cabin and protection for the 296’s leather, carbon-fiber trim, and screens from fading. Prime XR Plus is non-metallic and signal-friendly, so it never interferes with the Ferrari’s electronics or connectivity, and the shade we selected adds privacy and complements the new satin exterior beautifully without compromising outward visibility.

Novitec x Vossen NF10 Wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Tires

With the finish handled, the build turned to stance and grip. The factory wheels were swapped for a forged Novitec x Vossen NF10 set, a staggered 21-inch front and 22-inch rear fitment with a motorsport-inspired multi-spoke design and centerlock-look center caps. Forged construction keeps the wheels lightweight for sharper response, and the larger diameters fill the arches perfectly against the satin bodywork. These wheels come wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, the road-legal, track-focused rubber that gives the 296 enormous dry grip and the kind of turn-in bite this chassis was built to exploit.

To keep the new setup looking flawless, the wheels and brake calipers received a full ceramic coating. This guards the barrels and calipers against baked-on brake dust, corrosion, and the high temperatures generated during spirited driving, so a quick rinse is all it takes to keep them clean. It is a small step that pays off every single wash.

The 296 GTB will turn heads, but it is also highly protected for years to come

This Grigio Silverstone 296 GTB is the perfect example of a build done in the right order. What started as a simple front-end protection job has become a complete transformation: full-vehicle XPEL Stealth PPF reinvents the car as a satin machine while protecting every panel, a matte ceramic coating keeps that finish looking intentional and easy to maintain, premium ceramic tint defends the cabin, and a forged Novitec x Vossen wheel package on Michelin Cup 2 tires sharpens both the stance and the drive. Every choice serves a purpose, and the execution reflects the precision that defines every project, leaving our detailing & protection facility in Los Angeles.

For a more detailed look at this Ferrari 296 GTB build, please see the gallery below. If your Ferrari needs detailing & protection work in the Los Angeles area, please don’t hesitate to contact us for a free paint inspection and quote.