The Ferrari 296 lineup is now joined by the 296 Speciale and the 296 Speciale Aperta. As you may know, Ferrari is not used to openly disclosing the asking prices, but according to reports, the base price is gonna be somewhere around $464,000.
So, what’s so special about the Speciale, you ask? Well, as you can probably tell, the 296 Speciale wears a more aggressive bodykit compared with the base 296. These elements include air extractors on the hood, air curtains on the bumper, an air vent on the side sills, FXX K-like wings at the rear, and, of course, a more aggressive rear diffuser. There’s a generous application of carbon fibre, as you can probably tell, contributing to a weight shaving of ~60 kg (132 lbs) compared with the 296 GTB. In addition to those exterior carbon fibre parts, engine parts such as titanium connecting rods, titanium fastener screws and stud bolts for the cylinder blocks and cylinder heads, and nitrided steel crankshaft have also contributed to the weight shaving. An optional lightweight exhaust tailpipe in titanium alloy is also available. Those 20-inch forged wheels are wrapped with a Speciale-specific derivative of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 tyres.
Thanks to those aforementioned aerodynamic changes, the 296 Speciale is claimed to generate 435 kg (959 lbs) of downforce at 250 km/h (155 mph) – 20% more than the 296 GTB. The carbon ceramic rotors are the same size as the 296 GTB (398 mm at the front and 360 mm at the rear). If you opt for all the optional lightweight stuff Ferrari sells, the dry weight of the 296 Speciale is claimed to be 1,410 kg (3,108 lbs), which, as mentioned earlier, is 60 kg (132 lbs) lighter than the GTB.
As for the suspension setup, the 296 Speciale features specifically calibrated spring stiffness settings and linkage geometries. And when combined with the car’s lower mass and lower centre of gravity, the 296 Speciale is capable of 4% higher lateral acceleration than the 296 GTB, the company says. The maximum roll angle is now 13% lower. The car is equipped with Multimatic single-rate shock absorbers derived from the 296 GT3 and titanium springs to minimise overall weight.
Customers can opt for the new Verde Nürburgring exterior colour developed specifically for the 296 Speciale. Yes, the livery can also be ordered with single or double stripes, and the number can also be the customer’s choice from 00 to 99.
Moving on to the juicy bits of the story then, the 296 Speciale continues to pack a plug-in hybrid powertrain. A 3.0L (2,992 cc) twin-turbo V6 engine is coupled with an electric motor, integrated into the 8-speed DCT. With 98 RON fuel, the ICE produces 515 kW (700 metric hp) at 8,000 rpm and 755 Nm (557 lb-ft) at 6,000 rpm. There are 37 more horses. The YASA-supplied axial flux e-motor is rated at 132 kW (180 metric hp) and 315 Nm (232 lb-ft). 14 more horses from the e-motor. The max power output from the hybrid system is 648 kW or 881 metric hp, which is 50 horses more than the GTB. In eDrive mode, you’ll get a max power of up to 113 kW (154 metric hp).
As for the official performance figures, a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint is claimed to take 2.8 seconds (0.1 seconds quicker) and 7.0 seconds (0.3 seconds quicker) to 200 km/h (124 mph). The top speed is claimed to be over 330 km/h (205 mph), which is unchanged.
In the cockpit, you’ll find extensive use of carbon fibre and Alcantara.
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