Ferrari unveils the 296 Speciale

Any keen Ferrari follower will know that with each iteration of Ferrari's mid-engine berlinetta sports car, there typically follows a more track-focused special version to cap off that model's production cycle. We've had the likes of the Challenge Stradale, 430 Scuderia, 458 Speciale and 488 Pista. And now, rather unsurprisingly given that the 296 GTB has ended production and with the GTS variant nearing the end of its life cycle, Ferrari has pulled the covers off the latest special version iteration - the new 296 Speciale. And alongside the coupe model, the spider variant - the Speciale A (A standing for aperta which is 'open' in Italian) - is being introduced concurrently as well.  

Ferrari is unveiling both the coupe and spider variants concurrently - the 296 Speciale and 296 Speciale A

In some ways, the special series formula from Ferrari is quite simple: more power, less weight, more downforce. 

Expectedly, the 296 Speciale delivers. Power from the hybrid powertrain has been increased by 50bhp to reach a staggering 868bhp. The 3.0-litre V6 engine now boasts lighter components such as titanium connecting rods, reinforced pistons and a lighter crankshaft. Together with reworked engine management maps and boost strategy (borrowing from the 296 Challenge racecar), power has been increased by 37bhp, which means the engine alone produces a stonking 690bhp. 

The electric motor has also been uprated by optimising the operating and cooling strategies, and consequently combine with the V6 to produce the car's immense 868bhp, and allows the car to sprint from 0-100km/h in just 2.8 seconds. 

Lighter engine components and revised operating strategies allow the hybrid powertrain to develop a total of 868bhp

Reducing weight is also a key component in improving overall performance, and the 296 Speciale manages to shed 60kg. Besides the lighter engine components, ample use of carbon fibre on both the exterior and interior help bring down the car's overall weight. For example, the door panel consists of a single block of carbon fibre, the lower dash trim elements are all carbon fibre, and the new carbon fibre seats are the lightest seats Ferrari has developed. The interior upgrades alone shave 21kg off the weight of the whole car. 

And of course, downforce. The key figure here is an improvement of 20%. One of the most notable aerodynamic elements is the 'aero damper', which again borrows from the 296 Challenge racecar. Similar in concept to the S-Duct found on the F80 but executed differently, the aero damper helps to stabilise the ride height of the car during hard acceleration and braking, which allows the underbody aero to function as efficiently as possible. And the underbody aero is key - Gianmaria Fulgenzi, Chief Product Development Officer, says that "80% of the downforce is created in the underbody". 

Another notable aero element are the twin fixed side wings at the rear of the car, which have the dual function of increasing downforce and also reducing drag. They work in tandem with the three-position active rear spoiler. And, the huge rear diffuser looks like one straight off a racecar.  

Notable aero elements include the two fixed wings at the rear, as well as a large rear diffuser, which all combine to improve downforce by 20%

Other hardware upgrades include the recalibrated suspension setup, with Multimatic single-rate shock absorbers derived from the 296 GT3. A dedicated version of the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 tyre has also been developed for this car. Expectedly, the car's electronics have also been refined to deliver a sharper driving experience, such as the ABS Evo controller system that improves braking performance. The car also features the extra boost control strategy introduced on the SF90 XX Stradale, which takes advantage of the electric drive system to improve corner-exit performance. 

On the styling front, the 296 Speciale is perhaps less 'hardcore' than some might have envisioned. According to Flavio Manzoni, an important consideration in the design process was to retain the elegance of the 296 GTB. "Form follows function, but we have to always find a way to treat these elements in an artistic way". The 'mouth' of the car has been made wider, which not just increases the sense of visual width, but also allows the integration of larger air intakes. The fixed rear wings frame the tail of the car, and contribute to a Kamm tail effect at the back. The tail lights are also now integrated into a broader black strip, while the tailpipe has beet set above the diffuser. 

With the Speciale A, the retractable hard-top adds an additional level of flair and drama to the car. The car's performance figures are the same as the coupe, but the additional hard-top element adds 80kg in weight. 

The retractable hard-top adds 80kg of weight, but otherwise the Speciale A retains the same extreme performance as its coupe twin

With this special edition model, Ferrari states that it will not be limited in number, but rather will have a "significantly shorter" life cycle (meaning limited in production period). Total volume is expected to be similar to the previous special model, and the car will be available to existing active Ferrari clients (those who have purchased a new or pre-owned Ferrari in the last five years). 

The global market availability of the 296 Speciale begins in Q1 2026, and the Speciale A will follow in Q2. The model is expected to be introduced to Singapore in late-2026.