The Most Hardcore Ferrari 296 Might Not Stay That Way Much Longer

Just last month, Ferrari launched its most powerful rear-drive sports car ever. The 296 Speciale was the latest in a very long line of very serious Ferrari sports car evolutions that included cars like the 430 Scuderia, 488 Pista, and 360 Challenge Stradale.

Evidently, a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 that made an extra 49 horsepower and was lighter in nearly every component than the 296 GTB wasn’t enough. Now, according to rumor, Ferrari is planning an even more special 296 Speciale Piloti. Yum.

Even Better 296 Could Come Next Month

The rumor comes from The Supercar Blog. They’re reporting that the 296 Speciale Piloti could make its debut as soon as next month. That’s an incredible pace for the company, which would normally let buyers sit and contemplate the Versione Speciale they’ve already ordered for a while before making one that turns it obsolete.

For the Piloti, Ferrari is said to be tweaking the suspension. New lighter and stiffer titanium springs, as well as adjustable Multimatic shocks are said to be part of the package.

Ferrari’s last special car to wear a badge like this was the 488 Pista Pilote. It was a version of the already very track-focused Pista that was reserved for customers who were members of one of its racing driver client programs. Despite that restriction, the car was road-legal. The cars came with special Italian flag tricolore stripes and wore the number 51 to recognize the Ferrari that won the FIA World Endurance Championship the prior year.

While Ferrari only finished third in the FIA’s Hypercar World Endurance Manufacturers’ Championship last year, it could still potentially use that car’s number. A car wearing the number 50 finished in second in the Hypercar World Endurance Drivers’ Championship last year, with Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Neilsen sharing driving duties.

296 Speciale Is Already Incredible

Even if the car doesn’t get even more performance upgrades, it will no doubt be a serious bit of hardware. The 296 Speciale makes 868 horsepower from a combination of that 3.0-liter engine and its plug-in hybrid power system. Ferrari applied a host of things it learned from making the 296 Challenge racers even quicker. Including a knock control system that allows it to run closer to the limits, new titanium connecting rods, and a lighter engine block and cylinder head.

It even generates nearly 1,000 pounds of downforce. The 959 figure is 650 more than the standard 296 GTB. Ferrari could go beyond the Speciale’s new aero, including a new front vent, fender louvers, and FXXK-inspired side wings.

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The 296 Special was 132 pounds lighter than the GTB. A Piloti version could end up even lighter. Whatever the plan, a new 296 model will likely be more than $500,000. And it will likely sell out almost instantly, if it hasn’t already, before anyone has even seen it.

Source: The Supercar Blog