2026 Ferrari 296 Speciale

• The 2026 Ferrari 296 Speciale delivers 880 hp, a 50 hp increase over the standard 296 GTB.

• Aerodynamic enhancements boost downforce by 20%, achieving 435 kg at 250 km/h.

• Weight reduction of 60 kg improves agility and performance.​

Powertrain Gets a Serious Wake-Up Call

Ferrari didn’t mess around here. The 2026 Ferrari 296 Speciale dials things up with a total output of 880 hp, a healthy jump over the standard 296 GTB. That’s split between a revised twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 — now making 700 hp on its own — and a 180 hp electric motor with a new "extra boost" mode. It’s still rear-wheel drive, but Ferrari claims a class-leading 1.60 kg/hp power-to-weight ratio. That’s not just a stat — it shows up the second you glance at the proportions.

There’s more titanium in the internals, too — rods, pistons, even the crank’s been lightened. All in the name of response, not just brute force.

Downforce Is the New Horsepower

This thing isn't just fast — it looks fast standing still, and Ferrari says it produces 435 kg of downforce at 250 km/h. You can thank the reshaped rear bumper, vertical fins, and an active rear wing that now reacts 50% quicker than before. There’s also a new Medium Downforce mode, which feels like Ferrari splitting the difference between track grip and road usability.

The aero tweaks are subtle but smart. Rear deck's a bit busier, side intakes look more intentional. Feels like every surface is doing something now, not just there to look pretty.

Lighter, Lower, Meaner

Weight is down by 60 kg, and Ferrari’s clearly proud of that. Carbon fiber everywhere, including the body panels, and a few titanium parts sprinkled into the engine bay. It all adds up. The 296 Speciale rides 5 mm lower than the GTB, and they’ve tweaked the suspension tuning to match. The stance backs it up — squat, planted, all business.

It looks shorter somehow, even though it’s not. Could be the way the rear haunches taper or how tight the overhangs sit. Whatever it is, it feels like the GTB’s louder, more serious twin.

Rivals? Not Many in This Lane

Sure, you can toss the McLaren Artura or Porsche 911 Turbo S into the same sentence, but this feels more distilled. More Ferrari. Less concerned with lap times, more focused on how it feels.

There’s tech in here — ABS Evo for sharper braking, a smarter e-diff, and loads of electronic control systems — but it’s the tuning that matters. The way it all comes together, not the individual pieces.

Final Thoughts

Ferrari didn’t reinvent the wheel here. They just sharpened it. The 2026 Ferrari 296 Speciale is leaner, louder (figuratively — it's still hybrid), and more alive in every corner.

It’s not perfect. It’s better.

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