Ferrari brings back their 80s hero, name SF90 successor Testarossa

New Delhi: Ferrari Testarossa is one of the most iconic cars ever made. Launched in 1984 and named after the 1950s race car Testa Rossa, the Testarossa had the looks and the attitude. It had celebrity written all over it and remained in production for a decade. 

Now, the Testarossa is making a slight comeback with Ferrari introducing the 849 Testarossa. It is a successor to the SF90; the hybrid hypercar comes with an electrified V8 powertrain producing more than 1,000 bhp. It will do 0-100 kph in 2.3 seconds and will have a top speed of 322 kph. 

The new Testarossa comes with an updated version of the Ferrari F154 V8 engine that produces 818 bhp. It has much stronger internals and larger turbochargers than the SF90. It gets three electric motors, two at the front and one in the back, which provide the V8 with an added 218 bhp, delivering standard all-wheel drive with torque vectoring. The 849, in fact, can go for 16 miles on the battery, 130 kph of speed on the back of the 6.5 kWh pack.

The combined system makes 1,036 bhp, and around Ferrari’s Fiorano test track, the 849 has gone a second and a half quicker than the SF90 Stradale. 

In order to maximise its performance, Ferrari have given it an active rear spoiler that can deploy or retract in less than a second, complemented by two smaller "twin tail” spoilers integrated into the rear bumper. At 250 kph, they have a 415 kg, 24 kg more than the SF90.

In the Assetto Fiorano track package it has even more aggressive aerodynamics and has around 30 kg added to the standard model. Much like the new Ferraris, like the 12Cilindri and F80, the 849 comes with a gloss black trim piece that connects the headlights with the lower front bumper, being angled, giving a nod to the original Testarossa's front fascia. 

Like most new Ferraris in both coupe and convertible variants, the 849 also gets a retractable hardtop which folds away in only 14 seconds at speeds of 45 kph. It is because of this that the Spider gets 91 kgs added over the coupe.

On the inside, it is a much more driver-focused approach than the SF90. The cockpit comes with sculpted detailing which frames the driver’s seat, making it a more racing-inspired layout. On the steering wheel, the buttons make a return, replacing the touch-sensitive controls of the current models. It gets a digital instrument cluster, and includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MyFerrari Connect-plus wireless smartphone charging as well.

Overall, the Ferrari 849 Testarossa might reek of the past, but it is a modern car and while retaining the quality of being stylish. It is an aggressively looking sporty Ferrari.