- The new car could take inspiration from Ferrari’s new flagship F80 hybrid hypercar.
- Various weight-saving measures will be made, and the V6 could be tuned to deliver more grunt.
- A special Piloti version with a race-inspired livery may premiere at June’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.
While the its predecessors served as the Ferrari’s ‘entry-level’ supercars, the 296 GTB is an altogether different kind of beast. Packing a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 delivering 819 hp and 546 lb-ft (740 Nm), it boasts performance once reserved for the upper echelon of supercars – and soon, an even more rapid version will hit the market.
Over the past couple of years, many Ferrari owners and collectors have been waiting with bated breath for a more focused version of the 296. According to one source, it could be known as the 296 VS (Versione Speciale) and serve as a spiritual successor to the likes of the 360 Challenge Stradale, 430 Scuderia, 458 Speciale, and 488 Pista. Its unveiling could reportedly take place on April 29.
Read: Novitec N-Largo Kit Makes Ferrari 296 Look Like A Hypercar Killer
A member of the FerrariChat forum understands the new 296 will take design inspiration from the new F80 hybrid hypercar. It could receive the same wheels as the F80 and much like the 12Cilindri, may feature two active flaps on the rear decklid, not dissimilar to those of the Pagani Huayra that could aid in braking and increase downforce over the rear axle.
Other upgrades are expected. For example, the 296 VS should rock a new exhaust system and a custom rear diffuser. Presumably, it will also weigh less than the standard model and pack even more grunt. While there’s no word on its output just yet, it could pose as a serious challenger to the 907 hp Lamborghini Temerario.
The same source adds Ferrari will also sell the 296 VS in a limited-edition Piloti version with either one of Ferrari’s GT3 or Le Mans liveries. This variant could debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the second week of June.
There’s no word on whether Ferrari will cap production of the 296 VS, but it usually does for its stripped-out hardcore supercars. Naturally, at this point, there is no word whatsoever about pricing, although the VS will in all likelihood command a rather hefty premium over the standard model.
