On April 29, Ferrari unveiled the new special series model, the 296 Speciale A. The new car features a mid-rear-engine layout and is equipped with a plug-in hybrid system.
As the latest distinctive masterpiece in the family of Ferrari Berlinetta convertible special series models, the Ferrari 296 Speciale A inherits the essence of special series models such as the Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M, Ferrari 458 Speciale A, and Ferrari 488 Pista Spider, setting a new benchmark for Ferrari production models and even the entire segment in terms of open-top driving pleasure.
The Ferrari Styling Centre, led by Flavio Manzoni, successfully drew on the rear proportions of the Ferrari 296 Speciale when designing the new car, while fully taking into account the need to stow the retractable hard top inside the engine compartment. In addition, the new car's engine cover is lower than the surrounding areas, and through precise shaping of surfaces, it creates a visually sculpted effect that adds unique beauty to the rear. The most striking design element in the central section is the air vent derived from the Ferrari 296 GT3.
The Ferrari 296 Speciale A follows the floating bridge design of the Ferrari 296 GTS and further emphasizes this visual element with a dark roof finish. At the same time, the flying buttresses are cleverly integrated into the overall form, preserving the harmonious beauty of the original structure. Thanks to this ingenious design approach, the cockpit shape appears even sharper, like a bubble embedded in the body structure, presenting an even more novel and sporty visual effect even when the top is open.
The Ferrari 296 Speciale A unveiled this time features a Rosso Dino exterior color and introduces a new livery scheme. Notably, this livery scheme introduces a white version for the first time, with one or two longitudinal stripes running from the front to the rear. In addition, customers can choose any number from 00 to 99 to add a personalized touch to the livery.
In terms of interior design, the Ferrari 296 Speciale A follows the design philosophy of the latest generation of Ferrari special series models. Compared with the Ferrari 296 GTS, the new car's interior greatly simplifies design elements, giving the overall style a more minimalist feel. At the same time, carbon fiber and Alcantara© materials are extensively used in the cabin to achieve weight reduction. In addition to the widespread use of carbon fiber and aluminum, this pure and minimalist design philosophy further highlights the new car's cockpit atmosphere centered on racing style.
The door panel tailor-made for the Ferrari 296 Speciale A adopts a one-piece carbon fiber structure, fully demonstrating the minimalist design style. The door handle cleverly integrates a functional area, whose slightly raised shape naturally extends into a clean and smooth surface, showcasing a distinctive beauty. In addition, to maintain material continuity with the rest of the panel, the speakers of the high-fidelity audio system are also integrated into this area, with the sound of the woofers emanating through carefully arranged small holes in the carbon fiber panel.
Exposed fasteners complement the strong racing atmosphere in the cockpit. The center console area adopts a full carbon fiber structure, with the center console embedded within it. The center console itself features a convex design and integrates various controls, the most striking of which is the iconic "gear shift structure" design, an element that has become a distinctive feature of the interiors of various Ferrari models launched in recent years.
This element draws on the gear shift structure design from past Ferrari models. At the time, this gear shift structure stood out as a distinctive and independent feature in the center console area. The designers reinterpreted this design element according to the characteristics of the Ferrari 296 Speciale A, making it more modern and sporty. The ingenious center console design and the woven pattern formed by the carefully arranged carbon fiber elements naturally draw the eye to the "gear shift structure," making it unquestionably the focal point of the entire interior.
The Ferrari 296 Speciale A retains the agile handling, excellent responsiveness, and exceptional stability of the coupe model, the Ferrari 296 Speciale, while also being equipped with a retractable hard top, delivering unparalleled open-top driving pleasure. This special series model not only greatly enhances the already outstanding performance of the Ferrari 296 GTS, but also delivers intuitive and predictable handling characteristics, providing the driver with a distinctive driving experience. The Ferrari 296 Speciale A is tailor-made for Prancing Horse enthusiasts pursuing extraordinary performance and ultimate driving control, making it the new pinnacle of this model series.
The Ferrari 296 Speciale A fully taps the potential of the Ferrari 296 GTS's plug-in hybrid architecture, pushing its agility and responsiveness to a new level. The hybrid system comprises a mid-rear-mounted 120° V6 twin-turbo engine and an electric motor, paired with a short-wheelbase architecture and innovative dynamic control systems, delivering a combined output of up to 880 cv, an increase of 50 cv over the Ferrari 296 GTS, setting a new power record for Ferrari rear-wheel-drive production models.
To endow the new car with extraordinary performance, the Prancing Horse brand drew on its technical heritage in motorsport. The new car's internal combustion engine fully draws on the development experience of the Ferrari 296 Challenge powertrain in terms of management parameters and boost strategies, and is also equipped with titanium connecting rods, reinforced pistons, and a lightweight crankshaft. Furthermore, combined with an F1-derived knock control system, the V6 engine in the Ferrari 296 Speciale A achieves a maximum output of 700 cv, an increase of 37 cv over the Ferrari 296 GTS. At the same time, this V6 engine not only continues its distinctive sound character, delivering a pure harmony woven from third-, sixth-, and ninth-order sounds, but also achieves further optimization in terms of sound quality, intensity, and volume.
The electric motor has also been optimized and upgraded, achieving an output of up to 180 cv in the new overboost mode. Thanks to this, Ferrari has introduced a new strategy for the 8-speed dual-clutch transmission—cleverly utilizing extra torque during gear shifts to effectively shorten shift times, thereby enhancing overall vehicle performance and providing the driver with a better driving experience.
Thanks to innovative solutions developed and tested on the Ferrari 296 Challenge, the Ferrari 296 Speciale A can generate up to 435 kg of downforce at 250 km/h with the top closed, a 20% increase over the Ferrari 296 GTS. These innovative solutions include the air vent integrated into the front hood and the vertical "winglets" integrated into the rear bumper with new side profiles, which work in concert with the active rear spoiler to generate additional downforce. The spoiler of the Ferrari 296 Speciale A is managed through a new actuator control strategy, which not only reduces the switching time between the two different settings of low-drag (LD) mode and high-downforce (HD) mode by 50%, but also adds a medium-downforce (MD) mode, effectively improving the new car's rear stability at high speeds.
Ferrari devoted considerable effort to reducing overall vehicle weight, which is crucial for enhancing driving pleasure. Compared with the Ferrari 296 GTS, some body components of the new car use carbon fiber material, while engine components introduce titanium alloy material, successfully achieving a weight reduction of 50 kg. Thanks to this, the new car's weight-to-power ratio is just 1.69 kg/cv, setting a new benchmark for rear-wheel-drive Ferrari Berlinetta convertibles.
