Say the word ‘Testarossa’ to petrol heads of a certain vintage and it will immediately transport them back to the shoulder-padded days of the 1980s. The wedge-shaped original is arguably the definitive model of its decade, with the white Miami Vice-spec version the poster car of a generation. And now the name has been revived for the 21st century.
Ferrari is using its storied nameplate for the new 849 Testarossa – the Italian marque’s most powerful series-production road car yet unveiled at a glitzy invite-only event in the Italian fashion capital Milan on Tuesday evening. The new-era Testarossa uses the brand’s latest plug-in hybrid drivetrain that generates a colossal 1,035bhp – almost 50bhp more than the SF90 it succeeds.
As such, it can tick past 62mph in a mere 2.35 seconds. Flat out, Maranello’s finest reckon it will do ‘more than’ 205mph. As you might expect, it’s equally expensive as it is fast, with prices starting at a shade under £400,000 – and that’s before customers even consider delving into the account-emptying options list typically accompanied by the iconic car maker.
But – and this is a big but – despite the famed badge, the new Testarossa carries little resemblance to the legendary vehicle with which it shares a name: no pop-up headlights, no enormous rear grille and no slicing strakes through its profile. The legendary moniker dates back some 70 years to the original Testa Rossa, the 500 TR racer.
However, most will undoubtedly associate it with the 1984 road car, which the manufacturer claims has inspired the comeback. What does the ‘849’ designation mean, you ask? This apparently relates to there being ‘eight’ cylinders, which used to divide the 3,990cc engine displacement returns ’49’ decilitres. Convoluted? Somewhat, yes.
But it is the latter part of the nameplate that’s most important – and one that will ultimately strike a chord with most car nuts. Ferrari bods say the new Testarossa boasts a ‘futuristic yet deeply historically rooted design’.
Yet it is missing some of the key trademark cues previously mentioned that 40 years ago made the Testarossa the ultimate head turner. This will undoubtedly disappoint a section of the 1980s supercar-loving fraternity, especially those hoping to see Ferrari follow in the tyre tracks of rival Lamborghini when in 2021 it revealed the new Countach LPI 800-4 as a limited-edition retro reboot. In the defence of Maranello’s design team, their hands have been shackled by the canvas they’ve been forced to work with.
That’s because the 849 Testarossa is more a ‘facelift’ of the mid-engined SF90 it replaces rather than an out-and-out new model. In fact, despite the dramatic new bodywork, the two share the exact same weight – though the Testarossa Spider is 90kg heavier than the outgoing open-top SF90. Chief designer Flavio Manzoni during the unveiling said it was the team’s ‘duty to create something new’, though pointed to some features of Ferraris from the back catalogue.
For instance, the ‘twin-tail’ wing is reminiscent of that of the seventies 512 S racer, with two sections flanked over the wheel arches to generate 10 per cent of the downforce at the rear. The ‘sharp and geometric lines’ also hark back to the legendary 512 Testarossa of 1991. While there are no strakes along its profile, one of the most notable design features are the gaping side intake vents, which are required to feed the powerplant’s massive intercoolers.
The aluminium panels, Ferrari says, took two years to put into production simply due to the difficulty to manufacture the shape. In terms of performance, the remodelled body does have some impact. It’s just 8mm longer than the SF90 but produces 25 per cent more downforce when travelling at a speed of 150mph. Much of this is down to the aforementioned wings, a redesign of the floor, and a new diffuser.
Mechanically, its much the same as the 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 plug-in hybrid system – married to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox – deployed in the model that came before it. The 818bhp combustion engine is supplemented by a trifecta of electric motors – one providing additional power to the rear axle and the other two managing a front wheel each – that combined produce 217bhp with energy delivered by a 7.45kWh lithium-ion battery.
There’s an electric-only mode too, with the battery providing enough range for a maximum of 18 miles before the petrol engine bursts into action. Inside, the cockpit does without a traditional stacked dashboard layout, which is highlighted by the lack of a central infotainment touchscreen. Instead, functionality is provided to the driver via the digital instrument cluster and to the passenger with their own letterbox-style display.
One notable throwback to the eighties is the interpretation of a classic gated manual shifter – though this is to control an automatic ‘box. While UK pricing hasn’t yet been ironed out, in Europe, the 849 Testarossa coupe starts from €460,000 – which converts to approximately £398,250 – with first deliveries arriving in spring. The Spider, due to be presented to customers from autumn 2026, will ring in at €500,000 (circa £432,900).
Those wanting more for more performance can opt for the Assetto Fiorano package adding a further €52,500 (£45,450) to the bill. This shaves some 30kg – the equivalent bulk of a German Shepherd – off the car’s 1,570kg dry weight, as well as introducing track-focused upgrades to the suspension, tyres and bodywork.
