2026 Ferrari 296 Speciale ups the ante

Ferrari has unveiled a lighter, faster, more powerful 2026 Ferrari 296 Speciale, a new hard-core track-focused supercar based on its V6 hybrid-powered 296 GTB that goes on sale early next year.

Following in the tyre tracks of ‘Special Series’ Ferraris like the 360 Challenge Stradale (1999-2004), 430 Scuderia (2008-2010), 458 Speciale (2013-2015) and the 488 Pista (2018-2020), the latest Ferrari 296 Speciale faithfully follows the tried-and-tested recipe of adding more power, shaving off plenty of kilos and gaining motorsport-derived aero in the pursuit of the perfect lap.

The result is a car, Ferrari claims, that sets a new benchmark for driving thrills and engagement while dishing up levels of performance that continues to blur the boundaries between supercar and million-dollar hypercars.

Like the regular 296 GTB, the 296 Speciale is available in coupe and roadster Aperta body styles, with both coming equipped with an upgraded plug-in hybrid rear mid-mounted 120-degree 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 that now delivers 648kW – 37kW more than before.

The extra power is more than a cheeky ECU remap, with new titanium conrods from the F80 hypercar and reinforced pistons borrowed from the two-time Le Mans 24 Hour-winning 499P endurance racer.

Extra power also comes from the e-motor that now musters a maximum 132kW/315Nm in Qualify mode. Despite the extra power, the 7.45kWh battery still affords an EV-only range of 25km on a full charge.

Most buyers of the 296 Speciale, however, will be more interested in the extreme Ferrari’s ability to accelerate to 100km/h in just 2.8 seconds – 0.1 seconds quicker than the regular 296 and 0.05 seconds faster than the 488 Pista.

Thanks to the punchier electric motor, the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission uses the e-motor’s extra torque for even shorter shift times.

Helping it sound even better, the 296 Speciale gets equal-length exhaust headers and a new single-exit exhaust, while within the cabin there are extra intake ducts to pipe in more sound for the driver.

Emphasising the extra punch from the plug-in hybrid V6, in total Ferrari engineers have shaved up to 60kg off the kerb weight of the 296 GTB, with a 9kg saving coming from the new lighter engine bits alone.

Other kilo-cutting involves the option of bumpers and a rear engine cover that can be specified in carbon-fibre.

Keeping it stable right up to its 330km/h top speed, the 296 Speciale gets an entirely new package of aerodynamics that sees it produce 435kg of downforce at speeds of up 250km/h. That’s 20 per cent more than the standard car but a long way off the total 860kg of downforce generated by the current-gen Porsche 911 GT RS.

The latest Ferrari also does without the German car’s extensive active aero, featuring only a small and modest rear wing that rises up at speed.

Instead, as much as 80 per cent of all the 296 Speciale’s air bending happens beneath its skin.

External changes include a front bonnet that is more scalloped than before and incorporates a new S-duct-style intake that cleverly splits air to either reduce dive under brakes or lift under acceleration.

Bigger lower air intakes include a pair of larger openings to vent the front brakes.

At the rear, the extreme 296 borrows a pair of over-fenders that affix to the rear tail to better manage airflow. There’s also a redesigned diffuser with the new exhaust pipe set above it, mimicking the latest F80.

Finally, a set of new five-spoke forged alloy wheels have been created for the 296 Speciale that are said to be derived from the new carbon-fibre wheel developed for the F80.

Within, 296 Speciale gets a cabin that saves weight with a pair of new door cards and centre console made of lightweight carbon-fibre.

There’s also plenty of sporty Alcantara that adds to the racy feel.

With more power and less mass, engineers have introduced significant tweaks to ensure the 296 Speciale will have an edge over its rivals.

Changes include uprated springs and new bushings that are said to result in 4 per cent higher lateral acceleration and a maximum roll angle that has been reduced by 13 per cent for better body control.

New Multimatic adjustable dampers borrowed from the 296 GT3 racer are also standard, while owners can also specify titanium springs to save weight.

New rubber honed specifically for the Ferrari include a set of grippier Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres that are said to benefit from all the development work already lavished on the F80.

Proving that the combination of more power, less wight, trick aerodynamics and a comprehensive set of chassis tweaks remain a winning formula around its Fiorano test track, the new 296 Speciale set a 1 minute 19 second lap. That makes it quicker than a LaFerrari (1m19.7s), and equal to the firm’s flagship SF90 Stradale.

On sale in the first quarter of 2026, the new Ferrari 296 Speciale is estimated to cost $700,000 for the coupe and around $800,000 for the 296 Speciale Aperta.

However, it will take more than just money to own the hottest member of the 296 family, with Ferrari suggesting that you need to own both a current Ferrari and have an existing relationship with your local dealer.

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