The name Testarossa has always carried a certain magic that only Ferrari can pull off. In the ’80s, it wasn’t just a car; it was an icon. White linen suits, synthwave soundtracks, and posters on every teenager’s wall, it was the automotive equivalent of shoulder pads. After the 512M in the mid-’90s, though, Ferrari quietly retired the name, leaving Testarossa fans with nothing but nostalgia and eBay diecasts. Fast-forward to today, and Maranello has decided to resurrect it. But instead of retro strakes and pastel charm, meet the Ferrari 849 Testarossa: a hybrid hypercar that can probably outrun your Wi-Fi.
Here’s the deal. The 849 Testarossa packs a twin-turbo V8 that’s been hitting the Maranello equivalent of CrossFit — stronger internals, bigger turbos, and 818 bhp on its own. Then Ferrari threw in three electric motors, because why stop at fast when you can be ridiculous? Add them all up, and you’re looking at 1,036 bhp. Yes, four digits. That’s Bugatti territory, except this one can also creep silently through the streets for 26 km on pure battery power. It’s like Superman agreeing to drive a Prius for half a day — just because he can.
Performance? Try 0–100 kmph in 2.3 seconds. That’s ‘spill your espresso before leaving the driveway’ quick. Top speed? 330 kmph, which is basically “please don’t tell the insurance company” territory. Around Ferrari’s Fiorano track, the 849 is 0.5 seconds quicker than the SF90 Stradale, which used to be Ferrari’s poster child for speed. Now it’s just the younger sibling getting roasted at family dinner.
The aero game is strong, too. The 849 has an active rear spoiler that pops up in under a second, plus a pair of subtle twin-tail spoilers out back. Together, they generate 415 kg of downforce at 250 kmph. Translation: this car could practically iron your clothes if you strapped them to the bumper. And if that’s still not enough, check the Assetto Fiorano package box—it drops 30 kg and makes the car even sharper, because apparently, Ferrari thinks ‘too much’ isn’t in the vocabulary.
Looks? No, Ferrari didn’t slap on giant ’80s side strakes for nostalgia’s sake. Instead, you get tasteful nods — a black trim strip linking the headlights, a front bumper angle that quietly winks at the OG Testarossa. It’s less “retro cosplay,” more “subtle homage.” Call it the difference between a tasteful nod and showing up in parachute pants.
You can have it as a coupe or a Spider. The Spider lets you drop the roof in 14 seconds at speeds up to 45 kmph. Sure, it adds about 90 kg, but if you’re buying a 1,000 bhp Ferrari, you probably aren’t counting calories. Inside, Ferrari finally ditched the frustrating touch-sensitive steering wheel nonsense and went back to real buttons. Actual tactile buttons! Somewhere, Ferrari purists are weeping tears of joy. Add in wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and you’ve got a cockpit that’s equal parts fighter jet and tech lounge.
