Many automobile fanatics eagerly await Ferrari’s first totally electrical mannequin, due subsequent 12 months. Till then, there are small steps towards electrification – comparable to the brand new Ferrari 296 Speciale.
The Ferrari 296 GTB has not gained over all Ferraristi – for some, a six-cylinder is a sacrilege in a sports activities automobile. The brand new 296 Speciale might not add extra cylinders, but it surely does provide 50 extra horsepower, a 60-kilogram weight discount, and sharpened aerodynamics. With 435 kilograms of downforce on the rear axle at 250 km/h, it clearly outperforms its siblings, the 296 GTB (300 kg) and the 296 Assetto Fiorano (360 kg). The identify “296” refers back to the 2.9-litre displacement and the six cylinders mounted longitudinally within the mid-rear. The 296 isn’t Ferrari’s first plug-in hybrid – it follows the SF90 (2019) and LaFerrari (2013).
Powering the 4.60-metre-long two-seater is a combustion engine whose output will increase from 663 to 700 PS. That is achieved by way of a 13 p.c enhance in turbo stress, new titanium connecting rods, bolstered pistons, and a lighter crankshaft, which alone saves 9 kilograms. The electrical motor is mounted between the eight-speed automated gearbox and the combustion engine, working solely in electrical mode. The automobile can drive as much as 25 kilometres purely electrically at speeds as much as 135 km/h.
The lithium-ion high-voltage battery has a modest capability of seven.4 kWh and may be recharged at as much as 7 kilowatts. From a standstill, the 880 PS Ferrari 296 Speciale accelerates to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and reaches 200 km/h in seven seconds; the open-top Spider takes 0.3 seconds longer. Prime velocity exceeds 330 km/h. On Ferrari’s Fiorano check observe, it laps in 1 minute 19 seconds – an image-boosting 2.5 seconds quicker than the present 296 GTB.
The highly effective hybrid system is saved thermally in test by high-flow auxiliary coolers. The bumpers and bonnet are manufactured from carbon fibre, whereas the doorways are aluminium. The engine cowl is out there in clear acrylic or carbon fibre. The Speciale’s rear wing is especially placing and answerable for the rise in downforce. Additional enhancements in driving dynamics are offered by the lowered physique – 5 millimetres nearer to the bottom – which additionally reduces roll in high-speed cornering. The efficiency improve additionally consists of stiffer titanium springs, digital dampers from Multimatic, and customary Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 tyres (245/35 ZR20 on the entrance, 305/35 ZR20 on the rear), that are paired with carbon-ceramic brake discs.
The 296 Speciale’s inside stays largely unchanged, persevering with its centered mix of carbon fibre, Alcantara, and aluminium. The door panels are produced from a single carbon fibre block, as is the central tunnel. For weekend getaways, there’s a entrance baggage compartment providing 169 litres, and a cupboard space behind the game seats of simply over 100 litres – although the seats themselves might be extra comfy. These wishing to benefit from the solar and the frenzy of wind can go for the open Spider model, which prices €462,000 in comparison with the €407,000 coupe – offered the potential purchaser has bought a brand new Ferrari throughout the previous 5 years.
