When you step into Ferrari headquarters, you’ll hear the word “passion” tossed around more than a pizza in Naples. Why? Because no one drops the price of a beach house on a fire-engine red missile unless their heart skips a beat doing it. Ferrari isn’t selling cars—they’re selling emotional rollercoasters that just happen to go 0–100 km/h faster than your brain can process.
And now, that heart-racing formula has reached its next chapter: the 296 Speciale. Think of it as the regular 296GTB that went on a strict diet, hit the gym, got a master’s in aerodynamics, and came back with a chip on its shoulder.
The GTB Just Got Speciale
Every few years, Ferrari takes its already bananas mid-engine supercar and makes it even nuttier. It started with the 360 Challenge Stradale in 2003, and the tradition continues with this hulked-up version of the 296GTB. Let’s call it the “GTB: Now with Extra Spice Edition.”
And spicy it is. The regular 296GTB already had a hybrid V6 pumping out 819 horsepower (that’s 611 kW if you’re a metric purist), making it the fastest rear-wheel-drive car Car and Driver ever tested. Now, Ferrari’s gone full mad scientist with the 296 Speciale.
Engine: Because “Fast Enough” is for Quitters
Ferrari engineers cranked up the turbo boost by 3 psi, bumping the V6 from 654 hp to 691 hp (488 to 515 kW). Torque nudges up to 755 Nm from 740. To survive this extra firepower, the engine got reinforced pistons, titanium connecting rods (stolen from the F80 hypercar), and a lighter crankshaft—cutting 2.2 kg. Yes, Ferrari is counting grams like a juicing bodybuilder before competition.
They even used F1-style knock detection via spark plug ionization. Translation: this car can practically hear itself thinking, so it doesn’t explode from its own fury.
In total, the engine lost nearly 9 kg. That’s like tossing a bowling ball out the window and yelling, “Go faster!”
Even the electric motor got some love, jumping from 165 hp to 178 hp (123 to 133 kW), thanks to better cooling. The total output now sits at a face-melting 868 hp (647 kW), with torque sticking around 755 Nm.
Shifting Faster Than You Can Say “Ciao”
The Speciale keeps the same 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox, but shift times are now one-third quicker. Apparently, this is due to a cheeky electric-motor torque slap to the clutches just before a gear change—like a caffeinated Italian pit crew inside the transmission.
Air Benders: Aerodynamics, Ferrari-Style
The Speciale doesn’t just go faster—it sticks harder. Aerodynamics got a serious upgrade, starting with a nostril in the hood (technically an “aero damper”) that manages front-end lift better. There are brake-cooling ducts, larger radiator openings (12% bigger), and a wild rear spoiler that rises in 0.5 seconds—half the time of the GTB. Because patience is for parking lots.
Then there are the “Gamma” wings—tiny rear flaps that sound like a Marvel villain but actually reduce drag and boost cooling. The underbody’s been reworked too, making the diffuser more effective. Combined, these tweaks give the Speciale 435 kg of downforce at 250 km/h—way up from the 296GTB’s 295 kg and even more than the Assetto Fiorano version’s 360 kg. All that, with zero extra drag. Black magic? Probably.
Handling: Stiffer, Lower, Meaner
Ferrari also gave the Speciale a 5 mm lower ride height, more negative camber, beefier anti-roll bars, and 15% stiffer springs. The ABS now uses a “6D sensor” that tracks what the car’s center of gravity is doing. Basically, the brakes are now smart enough to pass the SATs.
The car rides on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s that grip 4% better. Doesn’t sound like much, but at this level, that’s the difference between “That was fast” and “Holy sh*t.”
Lighter, Louder, Lovelier
The Speciale is dripping in carbon fiber, including the interior door panels, which skip speaker grilles and instead just drill holes straight through the CF. Sound system? Yes. Luxury? No. Vibes? All day.
Total weight savings? About 60 kg compared to a fully-optioned 296GTB. That brings the curb weight down to an estimated 1542 kg, giving the Speciale a power-to-weight ratio of 1 hp per 1.78 kg. Basically, this thing has the gym stats of a cheetah on pre-workout.
Lap Times & Top Speed: Lap of the Gods
With all this wizardry, the Speciale laps Ferrari’s Fiorano test track in 1:19—a full 2 seconds faster than the GTB with Fiorano pack. That ties it with the more powerful, more expensive SF90 Stradale. The top speed stays at 330 km/h, but the quarter mile should fall in around 9.5 seconds at 248 km/h. That’s motorcycle quick.
Civilized…Kind Of
Despite being faster, sharper, and louder, Ferrari says the Speciale is still street-friendly. Apparently, it won’t shake out your fillings on a grocery run, and it comes with a 7-year maintenance plan—because if you’re paying half a million bucks, the oil changes better be on the house.
Too Late, It’s Gone
Here’s the catch: they’re all sold out. Ferrari only offered the Speciale to current clients—basically anyone who’s bought a Ferrari in the last five years. If you weren’t on that list, you never had a chance.
Price? Expect a hike of about ₹1 crore over a regular 296GTB. In India, it will likely be around ₹6.5cr. So yeah, start checking your couch cushions now.
But hey, if you missed it, don’t worry. Ferrari will build another special version eventually. Just make sure you already own one, and maybe—just maybe—they’ll call you next time.
