Ferrari’s 2026 296 Speciale A turns the GTS into a razor-edge spider
Ferrari rarely lets its mid-engined spiders rest on their laurels for long. Coming off the commercial success of the 296 GTS, Maranello has peeled back the roof—and quite a bit more mass—to create the 2026 Ferrari 296 Speciale A. The new open-top flagship lands alongside the fixed-roof 296 Speciale coupe and serves as a factory-fresh answer to aftermarket specials such as the Novitec N-Largo 296 GTS. Headline numbers are loud: 880 hp, a 0–62 mph sprint in 2.8 seconds, and more aerodynamic downforce than any production rear-drive Ferrari to date.
Hybrid hardware with a harder edge
The familiar 3.0-liter, 120-degree twin-turbo V6 returns, but it has been re-worked with titanium connecting rods, lighter crankshaft, reinforced pistons, and a Formula 1-derived knock-control strategy. Output climbs from the 296 GTS’s 663 cv (654 hp) to a stout 700 cv (691 hp) at 8,000 rpm, while peak torque rises to 755 Nm (557 lb-ft).
Backing the internal-combustion half of the powertrain is a single axial-flux electric motor that now contributes up to 180 cv (177 hp) in its new “extra boost” mode—13 hp more than before. Total system output stands at 880 cv (868 hp). A small 7.45 kWh battery supplies up to 25 km (15.5 miles) of electric range, although most owners will care more about the e-manettino’s Qualify setting, which unlocks the full punch.
Ferrari quotes a top speed north of 205 mph and 0–200 km/h (124 mph) in 7.3 seconds. The eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox keeps its ratios but gains new shift logic that slips extra electric torque into the gaps, shaving split-second pauses between gears.
Less weight, more aero, same rigidity
Replacing the GTS’s standard body panels with carbon fiber and adopting titanium hardware sheds roughly 50 kg (110 lb), pegging dry weight at 1,490 kg (3,285 lb) despite the retractable hardtop mechanism. That works out to an impressive 1.69 kg/metric hp.
Downforce is up 20 percent versus the 296 GTS—435 kg (959 lb) at 155 mph with the roof in place—thanks to a multifaceted aero package. A front “aero damper” channels under-floor air through the hood, while new vertical fins and side wings feed an active rear spoiler that now offers Low Drag, Medium Downforce, and High Downforce settings. Transition times between modes have been cut in half.
Ferrari’s latest ABS Evo brakes tap a 6-D sensor for more precise wheel-slip targets, and Multimatic spool-valve dampers (borrowed from the 296 GT3) sit 5 mm lower than the GTS setup. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber was developed specifically for the Speciale twins.
Design: familiar silhouette, sharper details
At first glance the 296 Speciale A looks opportunistically similar to the GTS, but details reveal serious wind-tunnel time. Up front, the bumper’s deep scallops and triple splitter slots guide air toward enlarged radiator inlets and brake ducts hidden behind the headlights. The hood’s twin louver sets bleed pressure from the wheel arches, a nod to the 296 GT3 racer.
Aft of the cockpit, the decklid dives deeper to package the two-piece retractable roof; the contrast-color “flying bridge” helps disguise the mechanical real estate. Vertical wings wrap the taillamps and merge with a revised diffuser to tidy turbulence and boost downforce without a towering spoiler. Buyers can spec twin over-the-top stripes—now also offered in white—and add individual race-style numbers.
A cockpit trimmed for purpose
The interior trades some GTS civility for track-day intent. Door cards are single slabs of exposed carbon fiber with integrated grab handles; speaker apertures are drilled directly into the weave to save grams. A reimagined aluminum “shift gate” crowns the carbon center tunnel, paying homage to gated manuals without missing the DCT’s rapid clicks. Alcantara dominates, although Ferrari will still upholster the seats in leather—for a price.
Position in the 296 hierarchy
Compared with the 296 GTS, the 2026 Ferrari 296 Speciale A brings:
- +50 cv (+49 hp) overall power, +37 cv (+36 hp) from the V6 alone
- 110 lb lower dry mass
- 20 percent more downforce
- Quicker 0–62 mph (2.8 s vs. 2.9 s) and 0–124 mph (7.3 s vs. 7.6 s)
- Extra-boost electric strategy and Multimatic dampers that the GTS lacks
The fixed-roof 296 Speciale Berlinetta promises all of the above and a smidge more stiffness, but the Spider’s RHT remains the brand’s go-to solution for open-air thrills with coupe-like security.
How does it stack up against the wide-bodied Novitec N-Largo 296 GTS? The German tuner ekes out 868 hp—still a dozen shy of the factory Speciale A—and relies on lower springs, 21/22-inch wheels, and dramatic fender flares for presence. Novitec’s kit turns heads, but it can’t match Maranello’s integrated aero work, OEM warranty, or the acres of carbon fiber Ferrari fits as standard.
Price, options, and the seven-year carrot
Ferrari has yet to publish U.S. pricing, but given that a 2025 296 GTS stickers at roughly $367,000, expect the 2026 296 Speciale A to clear $430,000 before personalization. Owners receive the brand’s seven-year maintenance plan and access to tailoring programs that range from lightweight titanium exhausts to full carbon bumpers.
Top-down engineering flex
The 2026 Ferrari 296 Speciale A is more than a 296 GTS with stripes and a louder soundtrack. It blends race-car aero tricks, meaningful hybrid upgrades, and a cabin drilled down to essentials, all while keeping the retractable hardtop that many buyers refuse to relinquish. Whether it’s enough to lure customers away from bespoke tuners or the arguably purer Speciale coupe will come down to personal taste, but on paper the new spider sets a high bar for any mid-engine supercar that aims to mix open sky with closed-course pace.
-Ed
2026 Ferrari 296 Speciale A
