7 years after the legendary 488 Pista was revealed by Ferrari, the 296 Speciale make’s way for Ferrari as the new baby track weapon. It’s not been long since the 296 GTB was launched and now this lighter and mightier Speciale version of the 296 is ready to attack corners. At it’s heart lies the same 3.0 litre V6 Hybrid engine now making 869 Horsepower making this, as the most powerful rear-wheel drive Ferrari ever made. This can send the 296 Speciale to a 100 from standstill in under 2.8 seconds.
Ferrari’s goal was to achieve a crazier experience from the already existing aggressive experience the 296 GTB provides. The electrical power from the hybrid system has also been increased to receive this power figure along with a different more race focused face along with a racier rear fascia.
296 Speciale – Things We Like
- Stunning and Aggressive Design
- Track Ready Performance
- 2 Way Split Rear Wing
- Rear Wheel Drive Characteristics
- Ferrari’s Brand Reputation
Along with these, the 296 Speciale offers tasteful personalizations from Ferrari’s tailor made program which offers exclusive access to features such as tan leather interiors, Hand painted Ferrari Shield on the fenders, Alcan-Terra roofline and other features that make the supercar more desirable.
296 Speciale – Things We Dislike
- Capacitive Touch Buttons on The Steering Wheel
- Not a Big Upgrade Over 296 GTB
- Rear Diffuser Design
The 296 Speciale isn’t really that much of an upgrade over the regular GTB variant. Only 51 extra horsepower isn’t justifiable to the extra price the customer may have to pay. Along with that, Ferrari themselves have mentioned how this supercar is not pure-bred track car but a daily drive-able sports car, meaning indirectly that Ferrari indirectly hints us to not expect very high performance factors.
296 Speciale – Must Know Features
At the rear, the Speciale introduces new “Gamma” wings—short side wings that boost downforce, reduce drag, and enhance cooling to the inverter and oil cooler. Between these stubby horizontal wings sits the movable rear spoiler, a long, thin slab that rises nearly vertically from the tail. On the Speciale, it reaches its maximum height of 2.75 inches in just half a second, a notable improvement from nearly a full second on the GTB. There’s also a new intermediate position for situations where full downforce isn’t required. Aerodynamic refinements continue beneath the car, where the underbody has been reworked to channel more air to the diffuser, which now features a wider center section. The Gamma wings also contribute to this by increasing upward airflow and further enhancing the diffuser’s efficiency.
Cooling and airflow management have been optimized throughout the car. In addition to inlets near the headlights, underbody ducts now provide cooling for both the front and rear brakes. Small scoops on the rocker panels ahead of the rear wheels help smooth airflow around the car’s wide rear tires. Altogether, these aerodynamic upgrades generate an impressive 434 kilos of downforce at 250kmph —a significant leap from the base 296GTB’s figure, achieved with virtually no increase in drag.
296 Speciale – Performance and Specs
- Engine: 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (120° architecture)
- Electric Motor: Dual-rotor, central-stator axial flux motor
- Combined Power Output: 869hp (647 kW)
- Torque: 740 Nm (546 lb-ft)
- Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox
- Drive Configuration: Rear-wheel drive
- Battery Capacity: 7.45 kWh
- Electric-Only Range: Up to 25 km (15.5 miles)
- Weight: 1,410 kg (3,109 lbs)
- Weight-to-Power Ratio: 1.6 kg/hp
- 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph): 2.8 seconds
- 0–200 km/h (0–124 mph): 7.0 seconds
- Top Speed: Over 330 km/h (205 mph)
- Quarter Mile: 10.2 seconds @ 151 mph (243 km/h)
- Fiorano Lap Time: 1 minute 21 seconds
- Downforce at 250 km/h: 435 kg (20% increase over 296 GTB)
- Aerodynamic Enhancements:
- Vertical fins on the rear bumper
- Redesigned side wings
- Reworked active rear spoiler
- Enlarged rear diffuser
- Drive Modes: Low Drag, Medium Downforce, High Downforce
296 Speciale- Competitors
The only vehicle currently in the expected price bracket of 500,000 USD to rival this supercar will be the Lamborghini Temerario which comes with a rather similar architecture, Small, aggressive, rear engined and a ton of power. The Temerario will closely rival the 296 Speciale on road and on the track.
296 Speciale- Our Verdict
The 296 Speciale is another great addition to Ferrari’s lineup of high performance sports cars along with another desirable addition to every enthusiastic customer’s dream. The design of this supercar is very compelling but that story changes dramatically higher in terms of performance- extremely outrageous speed, an acceleration force that could pull your soul out of your chest and a price tag that could have you sitting on the streets. But the new 296 Speciale will surely sell in numbers comparable to the likes of the Lamborghini Temerario.
