[Maranello, Italy] Ferrari unveiled new special editions of its best-selling sports car, the 296, in a bid to extend the life of the model and cash in on an incremental boost in performance.
The 296 Speciale coupé will start at 407,000 euros (S$607,180), with deliveries commencing in the first quarter of next year, Ferrari said on Tuesday (Apr 29). The Speciale A convertible, slated for the following quarter, will cost 462,000 euros. Both are big steps up from the 292,000 euro price tag on the base existing model, the 296 GTB.
Ferrari makes a tidy business of selling limited-run versions of its supercars to collectors willing to pay premiums for exclusivity. In the case of the 296 specials, customers also will take delivery of cars that are lighter and quicker, with both boasting total output of 880 metric horsepower, 50 more than their equivalent base models.
The specials are equipped with mid-rear-mounted V6 engines and electric motors that each eke out a little more power than the original 296 cars, which Ferrari continues to sell. The new models each weigh about 60kg reach top speeds of more than 330km per hour.
The 296 has driven a shift in Ferrari’s business under chief executive officer Benedetto Vigna, who joined the manufacturer from chipmaker STMicroelectronics NV in 2021. Hybrids led by the 296 GTS were 51% of the company’s shipments in 2024, up from just 22% in Vigna’s first full year in the job.
The carmaker is also on track to unveil its first fully electric vehicle in October, Vigna said in an interview with Bloomberg Television’s Francine Lacqua on Tuesday.
Ferrari plans to raise prices for some of its cars in the US by as much as 10% due to President Donald Trump’s new auto tariffs, the company said last month. The country is the company’s biggest market, accounting for around a quarter of shipments. The carmaker produces all of its vehicles – almost 14,000 per year – in Maranello, Italy. BLOOMBERG
