Ferrari revives Testarossa name with 1,035bhp 849 Testarossa plug-in hybrid

Ferrari has resurrected the Testarossa nameplate with the 849 Testarossa, a plug-in hybrid the company says is its most powerful series-production road car to date. Unveiled at an invite-only event in Milan, the model pairs a 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 with three electric motors to produce a combined 1,035 bhp, deliver a 0–62 mph time of 2.35 seconds and a top speed the company describes as "more than" 205 mph.

The 849 Testarossa is a significant technical update to the mid-engined SF90 it replaces, but Ferrari acknowledged the new model is more an extensive reworking than a ground-up reinvention. The marque positioned the car as a modern interpretation of a storied name first used on the 500 TR racer some 70 years ago and most commonly associated with the wedge-shaped 1980s road car.

Ferrari said the 3.9-litre V8 produces 818 bhp and is assisted by three electric motors that add 217 bhp, fed by a 7.45 kWh lithium-ion battery. The battery supports an electric-only mode with a maximum range of about 18 miles. Power is routed through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Despite abundant body changes, Ferrari engineers said the coupe’s dry weight remains 1,570 kg, the same as the outgoing SF90; the open-top Spider variant is 90 kg heavier.

The company applied aerodynamic revisions to the bodywork: the 849 is 8 mm longer than the SF90 and produces 25% more downforce at 150 mph, changes Ferrari attributed to a twin-tail wing concept, a redesigned floor and a new diffuser. The twin-tail arrangement, the manufacturer said, is a nod to the 1970s 512 S racer and is responsible for about 10% of rear downforce. Large side intake vents were incorporated to channel cooling air to the intercoolers and Ferrari said the aluminium panels required two years to bring into production because of their complex shapes.

Designers deliberately avoided literal retro styling. The new Testarossa omits several trademark cues associated with the 1980s road car — including pop-up headlights, the prominent rear grille and the horizontal side strakes that gave the original its name — a choice that is likely to divide enthusiasts who had hoped for a closer visual revival. Chief designer Flavio Manzoni said the team felt a "duty to create something new" while referencing historical Ferrari details in the car’s geometric lines and rear treatment.

Interior changes emphasize a driver-focused cockpit rather than a central infotainment touchscreen. Ferrari fitted a digital instrument cluster for the driver and a separate, letterbox-style display for the passenger. A reinterpretation of a gated manual shifter appears in the cabin, although it functions as a selector for the automatic transmission rather than a mechanical gearbox.

Ferrari explained the 849 nameplate as a reference to the car’s eight cylinders and the engine displacement represented in decilitres; the marque acknowledged the notation is unconventional. The company also highlighted the car’s performance envelope relative to the SF90, noting the combined system output is almost 50 bhp higher than the model it succeeds.

Pricing in Europe starts at €460,000 for the coupe, roughly £398,250 at prevailing conversions, with first deliveries scheduled for spring 2026. The Spider is priced from €500,000, about £432,900, and is expected to reach customers from autumn 2026. An optional Assetto Fiorano package, focused on track performance, is available for an additional €52,500 and is claimed to reduce weight by about 30 kg while adding suspension, tyre and aerodynamic upgrades.

Market observers said the rebadging choice highlights Ferrari’s reliance on heritage names to broaden appeal while advancing the marque’s electrified performance strategy. The 849 Testarossa sits within Ferrari’s expanding plug-in hybrid portfolio as the company balances traditional internal combustion engineering with electrification to meet tightening emissions standards and customer demand for high-performance hybrids.

Deliveries of the coupe are expected in the spring; Ferrari did not disclose production volumes or allocation details at the launch. As with other limited-production Ferraris, buyers can expect a wide range of bespoke options that will raise final prices materially above base figures.

The 849 Testarossa revives a name that has strong cultural resonance for collectors and enthusiasts, but its technical and visual departures from the 1980s icon underline Ferrari’s approach of blending historical references with modern performance and regulatory realities.