It’s back to the future for Ferrari’s latest launch, the 849 Testarossa which marries up-to-the-minute hybrid powertrain technology with styling harking back to the heydays of the 1970s/80s.
While most automotive industry eyes were turned to the Munich Motor Show, the Italian automaker unveils the new model in Milan to replace its SF90 Stradale as its flagship street car.
It draws inspiration from the Testarossa nameplate that has stood as the pinnacle of performance for the brand over more than 70 years.
At its heart is a plug-in hybrid powertrain employing a gasoline V-8 claiming 1,035 hp, 49 hp more than the outgoing SF90.
The system’s 3.99L twin-turbo V-8 gains extra power from an all-new larger blowers, cylinder heads, engine block, exhaust manifolds, intake plenums, titanium fasteners, valve train system and fuel rail.
Work to boost power is offset by a lightweighting exercise that shaves nearly 10% of weight off the engine compared to the SF90 including the adoption of titanium screws.
The electrified part of the powertrain sees the use of three electric motors adding 220 hp to the system.
Two of them are located on the front axle and make up an electronic cornering set-up regulator system enabling all-wheel drive and torque vectoring to boost traction and power out of corners.
A third electric motor and generator sits on the rear axle, a system lifted directly from Ferrari’s experience in Formula 1 racing.
Claimed performance capabilities for the combined system is the 0-to-62 (100 km/h) sprint time of 2.3 seconds and a top speed of more than 205 mph (330 km/h).
The battery and electric motor management modes are selectable to cover eDrive, Hybrid, Performance and Qualify to accommodate different driving behaviors. In eDrive mode, the car can travel up to 15.5 miles (25 km) in electric drive only thanks to the 7.45-kWh lithium-ion battery which is installed low in the chassis.
Styling draws inspiration from the brand’s sports prototypes of the 1970s that began the development of the V-8 mid-rear Berlinetta layout.
Aerodynamic features of the car’s design see the 849 Testarossa generating a total load of 913 lb. (415 kg) at 155 mph (250 km/h), an increase of 55 lb. (25 kg) compared to the SF90 Stradale, while powertrain cooling performance improves by 15%.
Ferrari says its cockpit is more enveloping and ergonomic than on the previous models with a new steering wheel equipped with mechanical buttons, including the engine start button.
The 849 Testarossa and its spider version will be available for European deliveries in the second and third quarter of 2026 with deliveries to the U.S. and other global markets three months later.
Prices in Europe will start from €460,000 ($540,000) for the coupé and €500,000 ($585,250) for the spider.
