Ferrari has officially revealed its latest high-performance berlinetta, the 296 Speciale, a focused evolution of its mid-rear-engined plug-in hybrid line-up. Designed to elevate the driving experience to new heights, the 296 Speciale is the spiritual successor to a storied lineage of hardcore V8 special series cars, including the Challenge Stradale, 430 Scuderia, 458 Speciale, and 488 Pista.

At the heart of this latest creation lies a significantly enhanced version of Ferrari’s hybrid powertrain. The familiar 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine now produces 690hp, identical to the output found in the track-only 296 Challenge. This is no coincidence—Ferrari has confirmed that the 296 Speciale inherits its engine mapping and boost calibration from the race car, along with several internal upgrades including titanium connecting rods, new pistons, and a lighter crankshaft. Borrowing from Formula 1 technology, the engine also employs a sophisticated knock control system, enhancing performance and reliability under high-stress conditions.

Augmenting the internal combustion engine is an upgraded electric motor contributing an additional 177hp, bringing total system output to 867hp—up from 818hp in the standard 296 GTB. Power is channelled exclusively to the rear wheels through Ferrari’s eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, which retains its original hardware but features recalibrated shift strategies to better exploit the added performance. Despite its race-ready credentials, the 296 Speciale remains a plug-in hybrid, capable of covering up to 24km on electric power alone.

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