\u201cAll Ferraris are special, but this one is more Special than the rest,\u201d quips Flavio Manzoni, Chief Design Officer at Ferrari, with a playful nod to the name of the newest creation to come out of the Maranello design centre. And it\u2019s no coincidence it\u2019s called the 296 Speciale, the most powerful, exclusive and lightweight evolution of the 296 GTB we have seen since it debuted in 2021. Just one glance is enough to appreciate how much effort has been poured into this model by Ferrari\u2019s technicians, engineers and designers: \u201cWe wanted the most fun car Ferrari has ever built\u201d, says Enrico Galliera, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer at Ferrari, at the model’s unveiling in Maranello.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
![\"Ferrari](\"https:\/\/autodesignmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/2025070402_Ferrari296Speciale.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\u201cWeight-loss programme\u201d<\/strong><\/span> A strong character<\/strong><\/span> Highly technical bonnet<\/strong><\/span>
\nTo achieve this, Ferrari put the 296 Speciale on a strict weight-loss programme, shedding an impressive 60 kg compared to the standard 296 GTB. \u201cTwo main strategies were used for this: extensive use of lightweight materials such as carbon fibre and aluminium, and the maximised integration of aerodynamic elements\u201d, explains Manzoni. The outcome? A vertical downforce of 435 kg at 250 km\/h, 20% more than the 296 GTB. This was the result in part of principles developed in the world of racing, particularly in the 296 Challenge, applied here in a form never before seen on a road car.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\u201cThe entire design process was guided by a blend of technical evolution and direct racing-derived innovation\u201d, Manzoni adds, \u201ccomplemented by painstaking work in the wind tunnel to strike a perfect balance between aerodynamic performance and styling\u201d.
\nJust one look at the front end leaves no doubt that the Speciale \u2013 also available in the Speciale A spider version \u2013 is a mean Ferrari, seriously mean. And its strong character is not only the result of the 880 horsepower unleashed by the 3.0 V6 hybrid powertrain.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\u201cThe integration of the GT3-inspired aero damper and an unprecedented focus on volume has produced a highly technical bonnet, while the lower part is defined by a suspended splitter that stretches the front intake and widens the car’s stance, significantly boosting aerodynamic load, reminiscent of the twin-hull form of a catamaran\u201d, explains Carlo Palazzani, Head of Pilot Design Projects. At the rear, the most distinctive feature is the two new cantilevered aerodynamic wings that frame the transom\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>