PREVIEW

WORDS BYLINE: Hayley Chamberlain

Say the word Testarossa to petrol heads of a certain vintage and it will instantly transport them back to the glamorous, shoulder-padded days of the 1980s.

The wedge-shaped original became the definitive supercar of its decade, with the white Miami Vice-spec version gracing the bedroom walls of an entire generation.

Now, Ferrari has revived the iconic name for the 21st century – and it’s back in spectacular fashion.

Unveiled at a star-studded event in Milan, the new 849 Testarossa is the most powerful series-production road car Ferrari has ever built.

Using the latest plug-in hybrid technology, the car generates an astonishing 1,035bhp – nearly 50bhp more than the SF90 it succeeds. That means blistering performance: 0 to 62mph in just 2.35 seconds and a top speed of over 205mph.

Prices will start at just under £400,000, reflecting both its exclusivity and cutting-edge engineering.

The famous name stretches back some 70 years to the 500 TR racer, but is most closely associated with the 1984 road car that defined an era. Ferrari says that classic has directly inspired the comeback.

As for the numbers, the ‘849’ designation refers to its eight-cylinder 3,990cc engine displacement – though it’s the ‘Testarossa’ badge that will set pulses racing.

Design chief Flavio Manzoni described it as the team’s "duty to create something new", while also paying homage to Ferrari’s back catalogue.

Standout features include a dramatic ‘twin-tail’ rear wing reminiscent of the 1970s 512 S racer, generating 10 per cent of the rear downforce, along with 'sharp and geometric lines' that recall the 512 Testarossa of 1991.

One of its most striking details is the sculpted side intake vents, required to cool the car’s massive intercoolers. The aluminium bodywork took two years to perfect, thanks to its challenging and complex shapes.

Performance has been taken to the next level: the car is only 8mm longer than the SF90 but produces 25 per cent more downforce at 150mph, aided by the new wings, a reworked floor and a diffuser.

Power comes from a 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 plug-in hybrid system, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The 818bhp combustion engine is joined by three electric motors delivering 217bhp, with energy stored in a 7.45kWh lithium-ion battery.

There’s even an electric-only mode, giving up to 18 miles of silent driving before the petrol engine roars into life.

Inside, Ferrari has opted for a driver-focused layout. A digital instrument cluster handles functionality, while the passenger gets their own slim display. One nostalgic detail is the reinterpretation of the classic gated shifter – now used to control the automatic gearbox.