It’s A Ferrari But Not As One Imagines: The 849 Testarossa

I dream of owning a Ferrari, but that doesn’t mean I have to like every Ferrari. And I’m not liking the all-new 849 Testarossa, because there will only ever be one true Testarossa: the Type F110, introduced in 1984, immortalised by Miami Vice, and etched into the cultural fabric of an entire decade. Of course, the Testarossa name itself has an even deeper history—most notably the 1957 250 Testa Rossa, which looked completely different from the F110 that succeeded it decades later.

Engineering, design, and philosophy inevitably change over time. Now, decades after the 1984 Type F110, the 849 Testarossa Coupe and Spider follow its own path. In fact, in many ways, it echoes the spirit of the 1957 250 Testa Rossa, with its primary mission once again being singular: built for speed. But underneath that busy-looking exterior styling lies the mechanical underpinnings of a plug-in Hybrid SF90.

The plug-in hybrid system that pairs its 828 bhp twin-turbo V8 with three electric motors, a high-voltage battery, and an inverter, adding 216 bhp for a total of 1,035 bhp—the most ever in a production Ferrari. Its PHEV architecture is engineered to deliver a 210 mph top speed and a 0-60mph time of just 2.3 seconds.

The 849 Testarossa debuts Ferrari’s new FIVE system, a real-time digital twin that refines dynamic controls by estimating unmeasurable data such as speed (accurate to within 1 km/h) and yaw angle (within 1°). This improves traction, e-diff management, and e4WD delivery, while enabling ABS Evo to optimise braking distribution for later, harder, and more consistent stops than the SF90 Stradale.

The braking system has been overhauled with larger discs, redesigned callipers, and improved cooling for durability under extreme use. A bespoke suspension setup with lighter springs, revised geometry, and optimised damping boosts handling, cutting roll by 10% and raising lateral performance by 3%.

Thanks to weight-saving measures offsetting new high-performance components, the car matches the SF90 Stradale’s mass while delivering Ferrari’s best-ever power-to-weight ratio. The result is sharper acceleration, especially above 5,500 rpm, with improved high-rev performance and seamless low-end response.

The 849 Testarossa’s aerodynamics are engineered to boost cooling efficiency and downforce. The car produces 415 kg of load at 250 km/h—25 kg more than the SF90 Stradale—while cooling performance improves by 15%.

A completely reworked front underfloor with vortex generators delivers 20% more downforce than the SF90, while a larger splitter and refined bumper geometry further reduce drag.

At the rear, a twin-tail design inspired by the 512 S, an active spoiler with rapid adjustment, and a multi-level diffuser combine to generate up to 100 kg of additional downforce in high-load mode, all while cutting drag by 10%.

The 849 Testarossa launches in Europe priced from €460,000 (£398,260) for the coupé and €500,000 (£432,890) for the spider.