Coinciding with the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend from 6th to 8th December, Ferrari celebrated its 30th anniversary in the Middle East at the prestigious Casa Ferrari event by unveiling six exclusive and highly customised 296 GTBs designed and built specifically for the occasion.
The Special Equipment team within Ferrari’s Customisation, Colour, and Finishing department created the six 296 GTBs in six unique colour combinations, with a specific finish for each Gulf country.
The six unique and highly customised 296 GTBs pay homage to the Gulf States. Every element of the cars is inspired by the six Gulf States, paying tribute to their unique spirit and character.
The cars feature a unique palette of highly distinctive metallic colours, incorporating an original matte colour that has never been used before, “Arabian Gold Shine.” The striking and original tone was specially created to represent the reflection of sunlight on the desert sands and extend to the car’s roof, rims, and spoiler. It is also used to brilliantly depict the name of each country in Arabic calligraphy on the bonnet.
The UAE’s stunning pearl white reflects its rich history and deep connection to pearl diving traditions. At the same time, Saudi Arabia’s vibrant green takes inspiration from the lush beauty of its oases, representing life, growth, and resilience in the heart of the desert. Kuwait’s metallic brown celebrates landscapes symbolising warmth, strength, and timeless elegance. Qatar’s deep, dark red colour embodies its people’s strength, pride, and enduring spirit. The metallic black of Bahrain, flecked with gold, evokes the mystery and magic of its nightscapes, paying homage to the elegance of starry evenings. Finally, the deep metallic blue of the Sultanate of Oman reflects the enchanting beauty of its seas and coastline, embodying tranquillity, depth, and natural charm.
The design features new materials inspired and dedicated to the Middle East. The seats and lower door panels feature a diamond-shaped embroidered design and are finished in unique leather alongside metallic gold leather, creating a sporty and elegant combination. The metallic gold leather has a translucent surface that makes it glow. It is used on the seat inserts and part of the carpet from the central tunnel, under the seats, and on the rear luggage compartment. The front luggage compartment is upholstered in leather for the first time on this model.
As Ferrari tradition goes, attention to detail remains paramount. The embroidery of the Prancing Horse on the headrests and the logo using a special shiny gold thread with a metallic effect adds a touch of elegance and precision. The addition of satin gold plating to the H-shaped gearshift gate on the central tunnel is a final reminder of the importance and uniqueness of the six cars that represent this exceptional anniversary with unedited exclusivity.
These six exclusive 296 GTBs are so important that they inspired the creation of six unique Maranello clutches.
