Ferrari 296 Sped

FIRST DRIVE Mid-engined 867bhp Speciale sets a new high-water mark for supercars

- Jordan Katsianis

THERE'S always a sense of trepidation when you approach a 'hardcore' supercar, especially one with prancing horses on its front wings.

These cars take no prisoners. They're intense, uncompromising and often intimidating - whether that be on account of their performance, visibility or expense. But behind the wheel of the Ferrari 296 Speciale, this isn't the overwhelming impression.

On paper the Speciale has an intense set of stats. Power generated from the hybrid-assisted powertrain has been uprated to 867bhp, derived from a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 engine combined with an electric motor sandwiched between it and an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The e-motor itself can produce 178bhp, 13bhp more than the standard 296 GTB, and it's fed by a 7.45kWh battery. Power is sent exclusively to the rear wheels.

In total this peak figure is 38bhp more than in the GTB, and is thanks to a comprehensive set of new components inside the engine. Torque is 755Nm, but the car's overall weight has been cut by 60kg to a dry weight of 1,410kg. This gives the 296 Speciale a power-to-weight ratio of 614bhp per tonne. For context, the Bugatti Veyron has a ratio of 523bhp per tonne, and it has two extra driven wheels. This gives you an idea of how extraordinary the Speciale's figures are, and why the chassis technology Ferrari has integrated into the car is so important.

There are two chassis options that offer quite different experiences. As standard the Speciale has the same adaptive Magneride dampers as the GTB, but buyers can also specify a set of Multimatic passive dampers with lighter titanium springs. These are suitable if you plan consistent track driving.