- A Ferrari 296 Challenge Stradale could follow in the footsteps of the Speciale.
- Hardcore model could have a tuned 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 with 720 hp.
- Upgraded aero, including a rear wing, will make the 296 CS a track weapon.
Barely a year has passed since Ferrari rolled out the track-sharpened version of the 296, the Speciale, and word is that something more extreme is already in development. This one may go so far as to drop the standard car’s hybrid system in the name of more old-fashioned driving thrills.
Throughout the first half of this year, several camouflaged prototypes of this new 296 model were snapped out and about near Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello. Much like the 296 Challenge race car designed to compete in the automaker’s one-make series, these prototypes have been spotted wearing aggressive aero kits.
Read: Ferrari’s Wildest V6 Supercar Will Rip Your Face Off And Leave You Smiling
According to The Supercar Blog, the new model will wear the 296 Challenge Stradale monikrt and, like the 296 Speciale, won’t be capped at a predetermined production number. It reportedly picks up where the Challenge race car left off with dramatic bodywork, including a distinctive front fascia and a towering rear wing, and it is said to lean on the twin-turbo V6 alone for motivation, with no hybrid hardware involved.
Engine Upgrades
The standard 296 GTB and GTS models, as well as the Speciale, use a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 working with a rear-mounted electric motor. In the Speciale, the V6 delivers 690 hp, while the hybrid system, including the 7.45 kWh battery, boosts combined grunt to 868 hp.
Ferrari abandoned the heavy hybrid setup for the 296 Challenge and is reportedly doing the same for the road car. Peak power from the V6 could be lifted from 690 hp to 720 hp, and it’s speculated the 296 Challenge Stradale could have a dry weight of just 2,866 lbs (1,300 kg), or about 375 lbs (170 kg) less than the standard road car. If true, this would give the CS an almost identical power-to-weight ratio of 0.251 hp per pound to the normal model’s 0.252 hp/lb.
Obviously, the addition of all the new aero parts will make this new 296 variant even quicker on a racetrack, so it could be the perfect option for Ferrari enthusiasts looking to have the ultimate road-legal track toy. The report says this new model could be unveiled in November.
Sources: The Supercar Blog
Â
