Ferrari 296 Speciale vs Lamborghini Revuelto Drag Race

The Ferrari 296 Speciale and Lamborghini Revuelto represent 2 very different approaches to building an incredibly fast Italian supercar. On paper, the Lamborghini appears to have a major advantage, but when the 2 cars lined up for a series of drag races, the result was much closer than the specifications might suggest.

The Ferrari 296 Speciale uses a 3.0 liter twin turbocharged V6 combined with an electric motor. Together, the hybrid system produces 880 horsepower and 755 Newton meters of torque, with all of that performance sent to the rear wheels. Compared with the regular Ferrari 296, the Speciale gains around 50 horsepower while also shedding roughly 60 kilograms. The car weighs just over 1.5 metric tons, giving it an impressive power to weight ratio.

The Lamborghini Revuelto takes a completely different route. Sitting behind the driver is a naturally aspirated 6.5 liter V12 assisted by 3 electric motors. One electric motor works with the rear axle while 2 additional motors power the front wheels, creating an all wheel drive system. Combined output is 1,015 horsepower, giving the Lamborghini a significant power advantage over the Ferrari.

There is a catch, however. The Revuelto weighs just under 1.9 metric tons. That extra mass means the Ferrari has considerably less weight to move, helping compensate for its lower output.

That difference became obvious almost immediately. From a standing start, the Lamborghini used its all wheel drive traction to launch hard, while the rear wheel drive Ferrari had to work harder to put its power down. Once both cars were moving, however, the 296 Speciale began closing the gap.

The first quarter mile run was incredibly close. In fact, it initially looked almost impossible to determine which car had crossed the line first. Later examination showed that the Ferrari had managed to take the victory.

The rolling races revealed another side of the matchup. When the Ferrari’s V6 was operating higher in its rev range, its combination of turbocharged power, electric assistance and lower weight allowed it to accelerate extremely hard. Starting from different gears produced noticeably different results, showing just how important engine speed and power delivery were in this comparison.

The cars also went through an exhaust sound test. Neither was running a completely standard exhaust system. The Ferrari featured an aftermarket exhaust, while the Lamborghini was fitted with a Gintani system. The naturally aspirated V12 delivered the kind of high revving sound expected from a Lamborghini flagship, while the Ferrari offered a very different turbocharged V6 character.

A braking test from 100 miles per hour gave the lighter Ferrari another opportunity to show the advantage of carrying less mass. The 296 Speciale stopped approximately half a car length ahead of the Lamborghini, with the Revuelto’s additional weight working against it.

The final standing races were where things became especially interesting. Lamborghini’s all wheel drive system repeatedly helped the Revuelto establish an early advantage, but the Ferrari kept charging back as speeds increased. Several finishes were so close that slow motion footage was needed to separate the cars.

In the deciding run, the Lamborghini ultimately crossed the line just ahead of the Ferrari. The remarkable part was the time: both cars completed the standing quarter mile in exactly 10.0 seconds.

That result says a lot about the Ferrari 296 Speciale. It has fewer cylinders, less power and only rear wheel drive, yet it was capable of running alongside Lamborghini’s 1,015 horsepower V12 hybrid flagship.

The Revuelto demonstrated the benefits of massive power, electric assistance and all wheel drive traction, while the 296 Speciale showed what can happen when lower weight and strong hybrid performance are combined effectively.

More than anything, this race demonstrated that specifications alone do not always tell the entire story. With 2 completely different engineering philosophies producing almost identical quarter mile performance, the Ferrari 296 Speciale versus Lamborghini Revuelto battle turned into a far closer fight than the numbers suggested.