Ferrari 849 Testarossa Review: A Legacy Reimagined

I’ve gone deep into everything this car represents, on paper, in engineering philosophy, and in the way Ferrari has positioned it within its own lineup. And I can tell you this much upfront, the 849 Testarossa is not simply an SF90 Stradale with a new name stitched onto the boot lid. It’s a genuinely reworked, more mature, and in many ways more emotionally resolved machine. Whether that’s enough to justify the name it carries is a different conversation entirely, and we’re going to have it properly.

Quick Overview Of The Ferrari 849 Testarossa

The Ferrari 849 Testarossa, internally coded Type F173M, is the successor to the SF90 Stradale, sitting at the top of Ferrari’s mid-engined V8 hybrid lineup. It borrows its name from Ferrari’s racing heritage of the 1950s, where Testa Rossa, literally red head, referred to the red-painted cam covers on the brand’s most extreme competition engines, not the flat-twelve road car most enthusiasts immediately associate with the name.

Unveiled to the public in September 2025, with production scheduled to begin in mid-2026, the 849 Testarossa arrives as both a coupe and a Spider convertible variant, alongside a more track-focused Assetto Fiorano package for buyers chasing outright lap times.

If you’re wondering whether this car deserves to wear the Testarossa name, here’s what you must know before forming that opinion, because the answer is more nuanced than social media reactions suggested at launch.

Exterior Design: Heritage Reimagined, Not Recycled

Let’s get the biggest debate out of the way first. This car does not look like the 1984 Testarossa, and it was never meant to.

Ferrari’s Chief Design Officer Flavio Manzoni has pushed the brand’s styling language in a bold new direction across recent models, and the 849 Testarossa continues that trajectory unapologetically. Rather than borrowing visual cues from the flat-twelve icon most people picture when they hear the name, Ferrari looked further back, drawing inspiration from the 1970 Ferrari 512S and other Sports Prototype endurance racers from that golden era of motorsport.

Key exterior highlights include:

Distinctive twin-tail rear design, directly inspired by 1970s endurance racing prototypes

Full-width rear light bar creating a striking nighttime signature

Vertical side air intakes feeding both the engine and intercoolers, a functional design element rather than pure styling

Redesigned front underfloor featuring three pairs of vortex generators for improved aerodynamic efficiency

Optional Assetto Fiorano package with twin active wings, reminiscent of the Ferrari FXX-K

Multi-level rear diffuser generating equivalent downforce to the SF90 with a notable reduction in aerodynamic drag

This is where things get genuinely interesting from an engineering perspective. The active element positioned between the twin rear wings can add up to 100 kg of additional downforce when deployed in its highest setting, a detail that reveals just how seriously Ferrari has approached this car’s aerodynamic performance, not just its visual drama.

Reactions to the design have been divisive, and honestly, that’s understandable. Longtime enthusiasts who grew up idolizing the flat-twelve Testarossa expected a more direct visual tribute. Instead, Ferrari chose to honour the name’s original racing pedigree rather than its most commercially iconic form. It’s a bold, somewhat controversial decision, and one that will likely age better with time than it landed at first glance.

Interior Design And Comfort: Where Racing Precision Meets Everyday Usability

Step inside, and Ferrari’s second-generation digital cockpit immediately signals that this is a genuinely modern supercar, not merely a reskinned predecessor.

The cabin architecture builds on the SF90 Stradale’s layout but introduces meaningful refinements to usability, something Ferrari has openly acknowledged needed attention after feedback from SF90 owners.

Standout interior features include:

Second-generation digital cockpit with augmented reality display elements

Revised steering wheel controls, addressing long-standing criticism of the SF90’s overly complex haptic interface

Racing-inspired bucket seats with genuine long-distance comfort, a rare combination in this performance bracket

Front axle lift system, now available even alongside the track-focused Assetto Fiorano package

Adjustable spring and damper calibration accessible through selectable driving modes

Premium leather and Alcantara upholstery combinations with extensive personalization options

Here’s an insight most reviews gloss over. Previous Ferrari hybrid flagships, particularly the SF90, faced criticism for cabin technology that felt rushed and occasionally unintuitive. The 849 Testarossa’s interior updates directly address this, with a more coherent, driver-focused control layout that feels genuinely resolved rather than experimental.

If you’re planning to actually use this car for longer drives rather than just weekend track days, this matters significantly. Ferrari has clearly listened to real-world ownership feedback, and it shows in the details.

Engine Specifications And Performance: The Numbers That Redefine The Segment

This is where the 849 Testarossa genuinely earns its place at the top of Ferrari’s range, and where the engineering story becomes fascinating.

Engine specifications at a glance:

Engine Type 4.0-litre Twin-Turbocharged V8, paired with Three Electric Motors Combustion Engine Output Approximately 819 to 830 PS Combined System Output 1036 PS (approximately 1035 bhp) Torque Not officially disclosed in full, delivered through PHEV torque-fill Transmission 8-speed Dual-Clutch Automatic Drive Type All-Wheel Drive (Torque Vectoring) 0 to 100 kmph Under 2.3 seconds 0 to 200 kmph Approximately 6.3 seconds Top Speed Over 330 kmph (205 mph plus)

Let’s put this into perspective, because these numbers deserve context. This is the most powerful production powertrain Ferrari has ever built. The twin-turbocharged V8 alone produces more power than most flagship supercars manage with their entire drivetrain, and then Ferrari adds three electric motors on top of that.

Two of these motors sit on the front axle, forming what Ferrari calls its RAC-e system, an electronic cornering regulator that enables genuine all-wheel-drive torque vectoring, sharpening traction and stability when exiting corners. The third motor, an MGU-K unit borrowed directly from Ferrari’s Formula 1 experience, sits on the rear axle, working alongside the combustion engine.

But here’s the catch that separates this car from simply being a more powerful SF90. Ferrari engineers have specifically focused on transparency and cohesion in how this power gets delivered. Where the SF90’s calibration occasionally felt slightly unsettled, as though the electronics hadn’t fully found harmony with each other, the 849 Testarossa reportedly feels aligned, calm, and remarkably readable even when you’re extracting everything the powertrain has to offer.

This is a crucial distinction. Raw power numbers are one thing, but how usable and confidence-inspiring that power feels in the real world is what separates a genuinely great supercar from an intimidating one. Early reports from journalists who’ve driven the car on both road and track consistently mention this improved sense of composure as the standout characteristic compared to its predecessor.

The new gear-shift strategy, inherited from the track-focused SF90 XX Stradale, has also been revised specifically to generate a more exciting, emotionally engaging sound during upshifts under hard acceleration, addressing another common criticism levelled at modern turbocharged, electrified Ferraris, that they can sometimes lack the emotional soundtrack enthusiasts expect from the brand.

Mileage And Fuel Efficiency: Does It Even Matter Here

Let’s address this honestly, because it’s a fair question even for a car in this category. The 849 Testarossa is a plug-in hybrid, which technically means it can cover a short distance on electric power alone, useful for creeping quietly out of a residential driveway or navigating a low-emission zone without drawing attention.

But if you’re buying a car with over a thousand horsepower, fuel efficiency was never the point, and pretending otherwise would be dishonest. Real-world combined efficiency in mixed driving conditions typically falls well below what a conventional hybrid delivers, simply because the combustion engine works far harder, far more often, to unlock that performance envelope.

If you’re the kind of buyer genuinely comparing running costs before signing on the dotted line for a car like this, you’re likely shopping in the wrong category altogether. The 849 Testarossa exists for performance, emotion, and engineering theatre, not commuting economics.

Features And Technology: Where Racing DNA Meets Daily Usability

Ferrari has clearly used real-world SF90 ownership feedback to shape the technology experience here, and it shows in several thoughtful upgrades.

Key technology and feature highlights include:

Second-generation digital cockpit with augmented reality display integration

Revised steering wheel switchgear, addressing complaints about the SF90’s overly sensitive haptic controls

Multiple selectable driving modes affecting suspension stiffness, power delivery, and hybrid system behaviour

Front axle lift system available even with the Assetto Fiorano performance package fitted

Adaptive passive suspension calibration offering genuine everyday compliance alongside track-day sharpness

Formula 1 derived MGU-K technology integrated into a road-going production car

This is where things get genuinely interesting for anyone who has driven or read about the SF90 extensively. Ferrari hasn’t just added power, it has fundamentally rethought how the driver interfaces with that power, prioritizing clarity and confidence over raw complexity for its own sake.

Safety Features: Engineering Confidence At Extreme Speed

At this performance level, safety isn’t just about crash protection, it’s about how confidently and predictably a car behaves when you’re pushing anywhere close to its limits.

Standard and notable safety-related engineering includes:

All-wheel-drive torque vectoring through the RAC-e front-axle motor system, actively improving stability and traction

Carbon-ceramic braking system engineered specifically to handle the car’s substantial power-to-weight advantage

Multi-level rear diffuser and vortex generator aerodynamics improving high-speed stability

Adaptive suspension calibration reducing unpredictable body movement over uneven surfaces

Comprehensive electronic stability and traction control systems tuned specifically for the hybrid all-wheel-drive layout

The genuinely reassuring takeaway from early track testing is how composed and readable the car feels even when being driven hard. Reports consistently describe the electronics working with the driver rather than against them, a subtle but important distinction that separates confidence-inspiring performance from merely intimidating power.

Ride Quality And Real World Driving Experience

This is arguably the most surprising part of the entire 849 Testarossa story, and it deserves genuine attention rather than a passing mention.

Unlike the Ferrari F80 or Purosangue, the 849 Testarossa does not use Multimatic’s active damper technology. Instead, it relies on a passive suspension setup with adjustable spring and damper calibration, and by most early accounts, this turns out to be a masterstroke rather than a compromise.

In its softer settings, particularly in what Ferrari calls its bumpy road mode, the suspension delivers remarkable compliance without ever feeling loose or unsettled. It breathes with imperfect tarmac, maintains composure over broken surfaces, and somehow manages to feel both relaxed and alert simultaneously, a combination that’s genuinely difficult to engineer well.

Here’s what makes this particularly clever. Ferrari has made this adaptive passive suspension setup available even with the Assetto Fiorano package, historically the most track-focused, uncompromising specification in the lineup. Previously, Assetto Fiorano models used a fixed, considerably firmer Multimatic setup that sacrificed everyday usability for outright track performance.

By offering this more usable configuration even on the hardcore variant, Ferrari has made its most focused Testarossa genuinely liveable for real-world driving, not just weekend track days, addressing a longstanding criticism of extreme performance packages in this segment.

On track, particularly on unfamiliar circuits, the car reportedly never feels intimidating despite its extraordinary power output. The way power gets metered out feels masterful rather than aggressive, giving drivers everything they ask for without ever tipping them unexpectedly into trouble. That’s an extraordinary achievement for a car producing over a thousand horsepower.

But here’s the catch worth mentioning honestly. Several reviewers who’ve driven both cars back to back have noted that the smaller, lighter, rear-wheel-drive Ferrari 296 GTB somewhat undermines the Testarossa’s positioning. The 296 offers more outright driving purity, feels every bit as sharp and connected through corners, and is quick enough that the Testarossa’s power-to-weight advantage starts to feel almost irrelevant in real-world driving scenarios.

This is where things get genuinely thought-provoking for prospective buyers. The 849 Testarossa is unquestionably the more powerful, more technologically advanced car. But raw capability and outright driving satisfaction don’t always move in perfect lockstep, and that tension is worth understanding before you commit significant money to either option.

Price And Variants: What Will It Actually Cost You

Given this car’s positioning, pricing understandably sits at the extreme end of the market, reserved for a genuinely exclusive clientele.

Variant Approximate Starting Price 849 Testarossa Coupe Around £407,617 (approximately €460,000) 849 Testarossa Spider Around £442,467 Assetto Fiorano Package Additional approximately £42,115

Note: Pricing varies significantly by market, currency exchange rates, and individual specification choices. Ferrari’s extensive personalization program through its Atelier division can also substantially increase final pricing depending on bespoke customization requests. Always confirm current pricing directly through an authorized Ferrari dealership.

Competitor Comparison: How Does The 849 Testarossa Stack Up

Context matters enormously at this level of the market, where buyers are often cross-shopping within Ferrari’s own lineup as much as against rival manufacturers.

Model Powertrain Approximate Starting Price Key Strength Ferrari 849 Testarossa 4.0L Twin-Turbo V8 Hybrid, 1036 PS combined £407,617 onwards Outright power, advanced hybrid technology, improved composure Ferrari 296 GTB 2.9L Twin-Turbo V6 Hybrid £241,550 onwards Lighter weight, purer rear-wheel-drive dynamics, sharper connection McLaren 750S 4.0L Twin-Turbo V8 £252,900 onwards Lightweight focus, exceptional steering feedback Lamborghini Revuelto 6.5L Naturally Aspirated V12 Hybrid £450,000 onwards Emotional naturally aspirated soundtrack, dramatic styling

This comparison genuinely highlights the internal tension within Ferrari’s own range. The 849 Testarossa sits as the more powerful, more technologically saturated flagship, yet the smaller, cheaper 296 GTB arguably delivers a more emotionally pure driving experience for a considerable savings in price.

Pros And Cons: The Honest Breakdown

Pros

Most powerful production powertrain Ferrari has ever built, with genuinely usable, confidence-inspiring delivery

Significantly improved composure and driver transparency compared to the SF90 Stradale

Exceptional ride quality from the adaptive passive suspension, even on the Assetto Fiorano package

Distinctive, heritage-inspired design that pays tribute to Ferrari’s Sports Prototype racing history

Revised cockpit controls addressing longstanding SF90 usability criticisms

Available as both coupe and Spider, offering genuine lifestyle flexibility

Cons

Divisive styling that doesn’t visually reference the flat-twelve Testarossa most people associate with the name

Considerable price premium over the smaller, similarly capable 296 GTB

Some reviewers feel the powertrain, despite its numbers, lacks outright emotional character relative to its price point

Extremely limited practicality, as expected for the segment, but still worth noting

Complex hybrid system that may present higher long-term maintenance considerations

Who Should Buy The Ferrari 849 Testarossa

This car makes genuine sense if you’re a Ferrari flagship buyer specifically seeking the absolute pinnacle of the brand’s mid-engined V8 hybrid technology, and if outright power, cutting-edge engineering, and flagship exclusivity matter more to you than outright driving purity.

It’s also an excellent choice for buyers who want genuine everyday usability alongside track capability, something the improved suspension calibration and cockpit refinements genuinely deliver compared to its predecessor.

Who Should Avoid This Car

If you’re chasing the purest, most emotionally engaging driving experience Ferrari currently offers, several reviewers genuinely suggest the smaller, lighter 296 GTB might satisfy that craving more convincingly, at a considerably lower price point.

If the Testarossa name specifically means the flat-twelve, side-strake aesthetic to you, and that visual and emotional connection is non-negotiable, this reimagined interpretation may leave you wanting, since Ferrari has deliberately chosen a different heritage reference point for this car’s design language.

Expert Verdict: Does This Legacy Reimagining Actually Work

Here’s my honest, considered take after examining everything this car represents.

The Ferrari 849 Testarossa is a remarkable piece of engineering, genuinely a leap forward from the SF90 Stradale in composure, usability, and outright capability. Ferrari has clearly listened to criticism of its previous hybrid flagship and addressed it thoughtfully, rather than simply chasing bigger numbers for their own sake.

Yet the naming decision remains genuinely polarizing, and understandably so. This isn’t a visual or mechanical tribute to the 1984 icon most enthusiasts picture, it’s a reclamation of the name’s original racing heritage, a bolder, more intellectually honest interpretation, but one that will inevitably divide opinion among longtime fans.

And here’s the twist that makes this review genuinely fascinating to write. Despite being the more powerful, more technologically sophisticated flagship, the 849 Testarossa exists in an interesting shadow cast by its smaller sibling, the 296 GTB, which many reviewers feel delivers a more emotionally resonant, purer driving experience for considerably less money.

If you want the absolute pinnacle of Ferrari’s current engineering capability, the 849 Testarossa delivers that unquestionably. But if you’re chasing pure, unfiltered driving joy above raw numbers, this comparison within Ferrari’s own range is genuinely worth having before you decide, because sometimes the most powerful car in the lineup isn’t automatically the most satisfying one to drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Ferrari name this car the 849 Testarossa

The name references Ferrari’s original 1950s racing heritage, where Testa Rossa meant red head, describing the red-painted cam covers on the brand’s most extreme competition engines, rather than directly referencing the 1984 flat-twelve road car most people associate with the name.

How much power does the Ferrari 849 Testarossa produce

The combined output from its twin-turbocharged V8 engine and three electric motors totals approximately 1036 PS, making it the most powerful production powertrain Ferrari has ever built.

Is the Ferrari 849 Testarossa faster than the SF90 Stradale

Yes, Ferrari claims the 849 Testarossa laps its Fiorano test track approximately 1.5 seconds faster than the SF90 Stradale, with improved power output and refined aerodynamics contributing to the gain.

Does the Ferrari 849 Testarossa come as a convertible

Yes, alongside the standard coupe, Ferrari also offers a Spider convertible variant, with pricing starting slightly higher than the coupe version.

Is the Ferrari 849 Testarossa better than the Ferrari 296 GTB

Not necessarily in terms of pure driving satisfaction. While the 849 Testarossa offers significantly more power and advanced technology, several reviewers feel the lighter, rear-wheel-drive 296 GTB delivers a more connected, emotionally engaging driving experience at a considerably lower price.

What suspension technology does the Ferrari 849 Testarossa use

Unlike the Ferrari F80 or Purosangue, it uses an adaptive passive suspension setup rather than Multimatic active dampers, which reviewers have praised for delivering genuine everyday comfort alongside track-level composure, even with the Assetto Fiorano package fitted.