Ferrari reveals hot, new 868-horsepower 296 Stradale

The Prancing Horse cooked up one “Speciale” GTB for thrill-seekers

When it comes to words used to describe the stylish, 830 horsepower Ferrari 296 GTB plug-in hybrid sports car, one of those words is not the word ‘slow.’ However, for the overachieving engineers at Ferrari’s Maranello factory and development center, there is always a higher accolade to reach and another benchmark to break.

This process is best shown with the progression of each Ferrari model. Since Ferrari introduced the 360 Challenge Stradale, customers and fans were treated to a special “hot” version of their mid-engined sports cars a few years after their introduction — an additional nod by Ferrari engineers to the Prancing Horse’s dedication to making the best driver’s cars.

The 296 Speciale is one special Prancing Horse

As part of a bloodline that includes the 488 Pista, the 458 Speciale, the 430 Scuderia, and the 360 Challenge Stradale, the 296 Speciale is the newest child born into a family of world-class performers. Compared to the standard 296 GTB, the Speciale partly lives up to its name due to its newly added features; it’s lighter, more powerful, and contains aerodynamic alterations that make a difference on the racetrack.

Under the hood, the turbocharged V6 hybrid receives a few modifications to extract more power. The turbochargers receive a different boost mapping setup, more akin to the one used in the 296 Challenge race car. Meanwhile, the engine is upgraded with forged pistons and a titanium crankshaft from the F80 hypercar, resulting in an additional 37 horsepower. In addition, the electric motor between the 3-liter V6 and the eight-speed sequential gearbox receives a slight power boost, increasing from 165 horsepower to 178 horsepower.

Overall, it makes for a powertrain that delivers 868 horsepower, about 50 more than what customers get in the ‘regular’ GTB. Zero to sixty miles per hour is achieved in a blistering 2.8 seconds, while top speed is pegged at 205 miles per hour.

To keep all that power on the ground, the 296 Speciale gets some aerodynamic enhancements designed to eek out every last ounce of downforce possible. From the front to the back are new bits designed to channel air where needed. Up front is a new ‘aero damper,’ another 296 Challenge feature that brings air from under the front end of the 296 Speciale, to over the hood and windshield for extra front-end stability.

Over in the back are two, short, little side-mounted wings that Ferrari calls the “Gamma” wings, which are designed to increase the car’s rear downforce, reduce drag and improve the flow of air going to the inverter and the oil cooler. These little wings work in conjunction with the car’s active rear spoiler, which can rise to its maximum height of 2.75 inches in a half-second and rise to a sort of “halfway mode when full downforce isn’t needed.

In addition to the retuned aero, the 296 Speciale gets a new suspension setup to keep the car closer to earth. The springs on the Speciale are stiffer than the GTB and GTS models and are made of lighter titanium. They ride on Multimatic shocks from the 296 GT3 car, which helps it sit slightly lower than the standard model. The new wheels are fitted with special Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s, designed explicitly for the Speciale.

Ferrari engineers also put the 296 on a crash diet specifically programmed for the Speciale, which removed 60 kilograms (about 132 pounds) from the car. The turbochargers are lighter units, while the engine itself gets lighter titanium parts, including its head studs, fasteners, and exhaust system. If that wasn’t thorough enough, Ferrari’s engineers removed any unnecessary excess metal from the engine block and crankcase to chase away those extra pounds.

Additionally, carbon fiber is used throughout the car, even in unexpected places. For instance, Ferrari says that the door cards in the 296 Speciale are made from a single, shaped sheet of carbon fiber. This sheet contains speakers but no grille, so customers will have to hear their tunes through holes drilled into the carbon itself. For an extra cost option, you can have the bumpers, engine cover and wheels in carbon fiber.

Ferrari says that the hardtop coupe Speciale will arrive in the U.S. during the first quarter of 2026, with the spider to follow later in the year. However, curious customers would be out of luck, as all the cars have been sold out before their introduction.

Final Thoughts

It’s admirable that Ferrari engineers can create a piece of art like the Speciale when tasked with making one of their creations even more “hardcore” than it already is. My favorite detail, personally, is the little winglets on the rear quarter panels; they make the car look more like a spaceship than anything else. I would spec mine as a convertible (the Speciale A) in the new Verde Nürburgring color or in red, as in the pictures.

Source link