Green with Envy: 2025 Ferrari 296 Speciale is an 880 HP super stallion

Ferrari gives its twin-turbo V6 plug-in hybrid thoroughbred one heck of an upgrade

The Ferrari 296 GTB (and GTS convertible) is quite the special stallion for Maranello. Apart from the fact that it's one of the latest Ferraris to come with a twin-turbo V6 under the hood, it also serves as the brand's premier plug-in hybrid offering, which serves up 830 PS of electrified power.

But if you think Ferrari is done with the 296, the Maranello-based automaker revealed a more powerful (and more hardcore) version of the twin-turbo V6-powered PHEV. Say buon giorno to the 2025 Ferrari 296 Speciale, and yes, it gets quite the special treatment under the hood, and then some.

Under the hood, the 2.9L twin-turbo V6 engine is more lightweight and generates more power than the regular 296 GTB/GTS. Thanks to the extensive use of lightweight components such as castings, piston assemblies, and engine studs, the twin-turbo V6 now generates 700 PS, 37 PS more than what the twin-turbo V6 alone makes. It's also 9kg lighter, which allows the engine to rev faster.

Since the twin-turbo V6 engine now makes more power, Ferrari installed strengthened pistons and connecting rods derived from the F80 flagship. This was done to withstand the increased combustion chamber pressures. Meanwhile, new oil jets are used to deliver better cooling.

Last but not least, the hybrid system has been refined and makes additional power, resulting in a combined system output of 880 PS, 50 PS more than what the 296 GTB/GTS generates. Power is then sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The sound of the V6 engine during both upshifts and downshifts has been recalibrated and accentuated to offer an even more exciting aural experience.

From a standstill, Ferrari claims the 296 Speciale can sprint from 0 – 100 km/h in just 2.8 seconds. It can also catapult itself from 0 – 200 km/h in 7 seconds flat. In comparison, the stock 296 GTB can do those in 2.9 seconds and 7.3 seconds, respectively. The faster acceleration was made possible not just by giving it a lighter and more powerful twin-turbo V6. Ferrari was also busy removing deadweight to make the 296 Speciale as light and as aerodynamic as possible.

There's greater use of carbon fiber composites to further cut down on weight, new bumpers that allow the 296 Speciale to cut through the wind faster, a bigger diffuser, and a new retractable spoiler to generate more downforce. In fact, Ferrari says that compared to the regular 296 GTB, the Speciale makes 20% additional downforce. In addition, the interior has been stripped of unnecessary materials to further give the 296 Speciale a lighter curb weight.

Complementing the improved downforce is a lowered ride height, which sits 5mm closer to the pavement. It also gets unique Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires for better grip and Multimatic dampers with titanium springs, which give the 296 Speciale better agility when being driven on the limit.

In case you haven't noticed it yet, the 296 Speciale can be painted in an eye-catching shade of green called Verde Nürburgring, which is exclusive only to the high-performance stallion. Ferrari says the unique hue emphasizes the sporting spirit of the vehicle.

Interested in getting one? Better let Ferrari Philippines distributor Velocita Motors know you want one.