The Ferrari 849 Testarossa Is A Next-Generation Iteration Of A Motoring Legend
Seventy years later, the beloved Testarossa name is still as powerful as ever.
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The Testarossa name (‘red head’ in Italian) has been sacred among Ferraristi since 1956, when it was first used to describe the engine’s red cam covers (or ‘heads’) of the 500 TR. Then, in the 1980s, the Pininfarina-designed Ferrari Testarossa became not only a hall-of-fame supercar but also a cultural sensation, thanks to its long side strakes and widespread presence on TV. It will take something special to carry on the name, and now, in 2026, we finally have an heir deserving of the Testarossa moniker.
The Ferrari 849 Testarossa is a hybrid plug-in super sports berlinetta, capable of producing a total of 1,024bhp, thanks to its mid-rear twin-turbo V8, two electric motors on the front axle, and another on the rear axle. The SF90 Stradale’s replacement gets its name from its award-winning engine: eight cylinders, each of which has around 490cc of displacement. Its powertrain’s total output is a record for a production Ferrari, and has the best ever power-to-weight ratio ever by a vehicle in this range—1.5kg/bhp.
It has a maximum speed of more than 330km/h, does the zero-to-hundred sprint in less than 2.3 seconds, to 200 in 6.35 seconds, and screeches from 100km/h to a dead stop in 28.5m. For a dream machine with a lap time of the Fiorano track in one minute 17.5 seconds, the 849 Testarossa also has the nifty trick of going up to 25km in electric drive only, as it has a 7.45 kWh lithium-ion battery.
If you’re sensing a retro aura in the 849 Testarossa, you’re spot on. The Ferrari Styling Centre, directed by Flavio Manzoni, was inspired by sports prototypes of the 1970s, as well as aeronautics, when designing the car. The first things you notice standing in front of it are the horizontal fascia connecting the headlights (similar to what you’ll see in the 12Cilindri and the F80); an aggressive crease line from front to back; and a pair of tails at the rear, which are inspired by the legendary 512 S from 1970. That twin-tail architecture isn’t just for show either; they, together with an active rear spoiler, rear multi-level diffuser, side inlets, square front bumper with integrated bumperettes, and many more aerodynamic elements, work towards generating—and improving—downforce. With a total load of 415kg at 250km/h, it’s 25kg more than the SF90 Stradale.
Although the 849 Testarossa is chock-a-block full of cutting-edge tech—such as the Ferrari Integrated Vehicle Estimator (FIVE) digital system, ABS Evo (to improve braking performance), and an eManettino for electric driving modes, among many—you’ll still get creature comforts such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless charging, MyFerrari Connect to monitor your car via the app, mechanical controls on its steering wheel, and, of course, the iconic Engine Start button. A wealth of personalisation options is also available, as well as the Assetto Fiorano configuration, which will make your car even more breathtaking, aesthetically, aerodynamically, and amazingly.
The Ferrari 849 Testarossa was recently unveiled for regional media and clients at a lavish event in Bangkok’s ICONSIAM. “We designed this car for true drivers, for our clients that want the absolute maximum in performance for every situation, for every road, and for every track,” said Marco Spessotto, product marketing manager of Ferrari, during the launch. “Every single component in the car is designed for amazing, uncompromising performance.”
View more photos of the Ferrari 849 Testarossa below
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