Ferrari Testarossa returns — but this is no 1980s throwback

This isn’t a Testarossa as we know it…
This is a new generation of Ferrari Testarossa, far removed from the original production car that was launched in 1984. While there are some styling cues that hint back to that V12-powered classic, this is very much a beast of the modern age. The evocative name remains however, a term dating back to Ferrari racers of the 1950s when the firm painted the cam covers red in its most powerful machines; the literal translation is ‘redhead’.

It’s got some oomph then
Oomph would be an understatement. Ferrari quotes the 849 Testarossa to have a staggering 1035bhp. That’s achieved using a 4-litre V8 with twin turbochargers, plus three electric motors – one controlling each front wheel and one assisting the rear axle, thus creating temporary four-wheel drive. The engine is actually the same one used in this car’s predecessor, the SF90, but it’s boosted with new cylinder heads, exhaust manifolds and the biggest turbos ever fitted to a production Ferrari. The result is 0-60mph in 2.3sec.

It looks a little like a snowplough though
The styling is, erm, divisive… let’s go with that. But it’s also clever. The flat front end is a nod to the original car, as is the dark trim around the bottom of the front bumper, but mostly it pays homage to Ferrari’s sports prototypes of the past. The lower lip has echoes of the 308, while those twin rear wings are pure 512 S. The car creates more downforce than the SF90 (by 25kg, for those who care about that) and we do love how the huge side air intakes have been integrated with the doors. Inside, the F1-style gearbox control is retro-styled to look like a traditional H-pattern, while actual buttons make a return to do revolutionary things like indicate, wipe the windscreen and locate Radio 2.

What if we’re drop-top fans?
No problem! The 849 Testarossa will also come in a Spider variant so you’ll be able to enjoy the best of the British sunshine. You’ll have to make do with it weighing 90kg more, though…

Pity about that 90kg…
Ferrari’s also doing a range-topping Assetto Fiorano specification which uses extra carbonfibre and titanium to offset that weight, plus gets a dollop of track-tuned toys such as Multimatic dampers and Michelin Cup R2 tyres. Prices should start at around £400,000.