One of the most revered names from Maranello’s stables makes a triumphant return: Testarossa.
Growing up, we all had it as a glossy poster adorning our walls, it had a character and appeal that captured the imagination of a generation. You didn’t have to be a car nut to know the Testarossa and so it’s with great anticipation that we waited for the covers to be thrown off the new car that would bear this iconic name. But this is not a nostalgic reboot; it is a reclamation of a legacy that defined Ferrari in the 1980’s and is reinterpreted to match the supercar standards of today. The 849 Testarossa has arrived, and it is the new absolute benchmark, a machine that speaks the language of legacy with a thoroughly modern accent.
To utter the name Testarossa is to invoke the spirit from Ferrari’s most glorious racing eras. It first belonged not to a road car, but to the fearsome 500 TR of 1956, its cam covers painted a brilliant red—testa rossa—a badge of honor for a competition engine bred for victory. The name later defined an era of automotive glamour in the 1980s. Its return is therefore a profound statement, a name reserved for a car that embodies extreme performance. The 849 is not a simple evolution of the formidable SF90 Stradale. It is a comprehensive rethinking, a masterclass in how to elevate the already sublime. The philosophy is pure, unadulterated Ferrari: extract more power, eliminate every superfluous gram, and forge a deeper, more intuitive bond between man and machine.
The numbers are, in a word, staggering. The award-winning twin-turbo V8 from the SF90 has been completely re-engineered, a testament to Ferrari’s relentless pursuit of perfection. Engineers fitted larger turbos—the largest ever on a Ferrari production car—revised the block, and crafted intricate Inconel exhaust manifolds. The result is a monumental 830 cv from the internal combustion engine alone, a 50 cv increase that is felt not as a peaky surge, but as a relentless, building wave of power. Paired with the sophisticated trio of electric motors, the total system output climbs to a breathtaking 1,050 cv.
Yet, in a triumph of engineering that separates the great from the truly legendary, this colossal power gain comes with zero weight gain. Through obsessive weight-saving—including titanium fasteners, magnesium components, and machining techniques that are lessons taken directly from the racing department—the 849 achieves the best power-to-weight ratio in Ferrari’s road car history. This is a machine where every single horsepower is earned, and nothing is wasted. It’s a lesson in efficiency that any connoisseur of mechanical art can admire.
But this car is far more than a spec sheet. It earns the hallowed Testa Rossa name through its intent and its execution. Its design, led by Flavio Manzoni’s team, is a breathtaking fusion of futuristic ambition and timeless racing heritage. The deeply sculpted bodywork is functional art; its dramatic lines and scoops are not for show but for air, channeling it with the ruthless efficiency of a 1970s Sports Prototype. The most striking feature is the rear ‘twin tail’, a direct and glorious nod to the legendary 512 S. The iconic side strakes from the 80’s have given way to a pair of single intake channels carved into the new model. It’s this black vertical stripe that is the defining graphic of the new car. Nor is this pastiche; it is a modern reinterpretation that has true aero function and channels large volumes of air into the intercoolers to dissipate the greater heat generated by the jump in power. This is form and function in harmonious balance.
But where the 849 truly transcends from a machine into a companion is in its conversation with the driver. This is a car that speaks in clear, confident tones. The introduction of the new ABS Evo system and the FIVE (Ferrari Integrated Vehicle Estimator) represents a quantum leap in control. FIVE acts as a digital twin, creating a real-time model of the car’s dynamics to make estimations of speed and yaw angle with near-perfect accuracy. This data feeds the ABS Evo, which is no longer just a safety system but a performance tool. It’s about achieving a level of braking consistency and pedal feel that builds unshakable confidence, allowing you to brake later and harder, lap after lap, with telepathic precision. The Manettino now offers a purer, more connected dialogue with the car’s vast capabilities, making those capabilities more accessible than ever before.
Inside, the cockpit is a sanctuary meticulously focused on the driver. The architecture is cleaner, more rational, and more enveloping. The iconic engine start button, now a satisfying, mechanical switch on the steering wheel, provides a tactile initiation ritual that connects you to seven decades of history before you’ve even turned a wheel. It’s a detail that speaks volumes about Ferrari’s commitment to the emotional theatre of driving.
The Ferrari 849 Testarossa is more than a new chapter; it is a new testament. In an age where electrification often comes at the cost of character, the 849 proves that soul need not be sacrificed at the altar of performance. It demonstrates that the most advanced technology can and should be used to amplify, not isolate, the raw, emotional thrill of driving. It takes a legendary name and does the only thing worthy of it: rather than repeat it, it builds upon it, creating a new legend for a new era. This is a car that doesn’t need to shout, but its authority is announced in every meticulously crafted detail, felt in every nuanced input. For the aficionado who understands that true performance is a blend of art, science, and soul, the message is clear. The king is dead. Long live the king.
Forza Ferrari!