If there’s one thing Ferrari does better than anyone else, it’s making obsession look effortless. The new 296 Speciale is proof that the prancing horse never stops refining, even when it’s already galloping at full stride. The “Speciale” name, once worn by the 458, now returns on the 296, a car that marries ferocity with finesse, and science with soul.
The Art of Less and More
In true Ferrari fashion, the Speciale manages to offer less and more at the same time, less weight, more power; fewer indulgences, more intensity. At first glance, it looks familiar, but its intent is altogether sharper. The 296 GTB, midway through its life cycle, has now spawned this leaner, keener evolution, and it shows how far Maranello is willing to go to push the limits of performance without losing sight of beauty.
Ferrari has long mastered the art of scarcity, deliberately making just a few fewer cars than customers desire. With the 296 Speciale, it continues this fine balancing act by increasing the number of models in its range but keeping each one exclusive, boosting overall sales while preserving that aura of unattainable luxury.
Hybrid, But Hardly Gentle
The words “hybrid” and “Ferrari” may once have seemed at odds, but today they coexist in perfect harmony. The 296 Speciale is driven by a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 paired with an electric motor, producing a combined system output of 880 PS, some 50 PS more than the standard 296 GTB.
On paper, it reads like pure engineering, but on the road, it’s sheer ecstasy. The extra 37 PS extracted from the combustion engine comes from lightweight titanium components – conrods, pistons, bolts, crankshaft plus turbochargers that spool quicker and sing louder. The electric side of the equation adds 13 PS more without any increase in battery size, closing the gap between physics and fantasy.
The result is breathtaking: 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and a top speed north of 330 km/h. Yet the true marvel lies not in numbers but in the way the hybrid system disguises lag so completely that acceleration feels more like a continuous surge than a sequence of gears.
A Study in Weight and Balance
Lightness is everything in a car this precise, and Ferrari’s engineers took to it like sculptors trimming away excess clay. A total of 60 kg was shaved off the car- 9 kg from the engine alone, 20 kg from the interior, and 31 kg from the body. Carbon fibre door panels and seats, titanium fasteners, lightweight Alcantara upholstery, and a Lexan rear windscreen all play their part.
This attention to weight pays dividends on the road. With a 40:60 weight distribution and a centre of gravity seemingly welded to the tarmac, the 296 Speciale turns in with surgical accuracy. Ferrari even developed new Michelin Cup 2R K1 tyres, a more forgiving version of the track-oriented Cup 2R to provide grip in the wet without punishing ride comfort.
The suspension setup is equally telling. Ride height drops by 5 mm, while spring rates climb dramatically to handle the downforce this car now generates: a mighty 435 kg at 250 km/h. Remarkably, Ferrari achieved this without adding drag, a rare feat that left even the brand’s head of design, Flavio Manzoni, begrudgingly impressed.
Design and Aerodynamics
Visually, the Speciale remains beautifully restrained, no oversized wings or brash diffusers, just sleek aerodynamic sculpting honed by Ferrari’s F1 and Le Mans expertise. It’s aggressive without being ostentatious, like a tailored suit with a hidden lining of Kevlar.
Aerodynamic addenda direct most of the extra downforce to the front axle, sharpening turn-in and stability at speed. The result is a 4 percent improvement in lateral acceleration and a full metre shorter braking distance from 200 km/h. Brake-by-wire ABS EVO, already stellar in the 296 GTB, now feels telepathic in response.
On the Road and Track
At Ferrari’s Fiorano circuit, the 296 Speciale proves predictably devastating. But the real revelation comes when it leaves the track. On the undulating roads of the Apennine mountains, it feels alive, a road car that channels the precision of a racer while being fully articulate with the surface beneath it.
The optional active Multimatic dampers deliver just enough pliancy for bumpy tarmac, while the standard fixed-rate setup on track feels unflappable. Even in Race mode, the car never feels punishing, only alert, communicative, and relentlessly capable.
The steering, as always, is a Ferrari hallmark, delicate yet decisive, feeding back every nuance of grip. Push harder, and the 296 Speciale doesn’t bite; it rewards. Every apex feels like a handshake between driver and machine, a moment of trust built on thousands of lines of code and decades of racing instinct.
The Essence of La Dolce Vita
Each Speciale that leaves Maranello is a reminder that perfection is not a destination but a pursuit. Ferrari’s engineers may speak of aerodynamics, torque curves, and weight savings, but what they really craft is emotion distilled, amplified, and delivered through carbon, metal, and electricity.
As we edge closer to the electric horizon, the 296 Speciale reminds us why Ferrari remains the north star of driving passion. It’s not just about speed or numbers; it’s about connection — between man, machine, and the open road.
Ferrari 296 Speciale – Specifications
Engine: 2992 cc, V6 twin-turbo hybrid single motor
Power: 700 PS @ 8000 rpm + 180 PS (electric) = 880 PS total
Torque: 755 Nm @ 6000 rpm + 315 Nm (electric)
Gearbox: F1 8-speed dual-clutch transmission
0–100 km/h: 2.8 seconds
Top speed: 330 km/h
Fuel efficiency: 8.9 L/100 km (WLTP)
