Ferrari Says The 849 Testarossa Is Not About Chasing Headline Figures

BANGKOK, Thailand - When a flagship Ferrari comes around, everyone pays attention. The SF90’s replacement has a familiar name - Testarossa - while its model number 849 stands for the 8-cylinders of its V8 engine and the 499 cc displacement of each cylinder. It boasts eye-watering stats, like having the best power-to-weight ratio ever of any Ferrari, with 1,050 PS. But its superlative numbers weren’t the goal of the engineering team. Instead, they sought to build a better drivers’ car. We were flown to Bangkok to learn how they did it.

A lot has been said among the Ferrari community about how the 849 Testarossa looks. It’s important to note that it draws its inspiration from the racing cars of the 1970s, especially the 512 S. Many of us may recognise the Testarossa as the one featured in Miami Vice instead, which may lead, understandably, to some consternation when comparison is drawn between the two. To my eyes, the 849 Testarossa sits a lot lower in person than it looks in photos. It’s probably a design that has more presence than the outgoing SF90, too. And to me, that is a win, although I must admit I do prefer the Pininfarina generation of Ferraris.

Marco Spessotto, a Product Manager at Ferrari who flew down to attend the event in Bangkok, Thailand, emphasised that the additional performance over the SF90 was hard fought for. The whole engine block now utilises recycled aluminium for sustainability sake, while every possible gram was saved to ensure that the 849 Testarossa would weigh in exactly the same as the SF90 at 1,570 kg. For example, titanium screws were employed where possible.

This makes the installation of a bigger turbo feasible without a weight penalty over the SF90, which is in fact the biggest turbo you’d find on any production Ferrari ever. Spessotto correctly pointed out that the potential turbo lag would be a concern, but that has been addressed by the team early on in the development. Having driven the car, Spessotto shared that the extra 50 PS can really be felt, and it isn’t just an improvement on paper.

Aside from the power, the emotional aspect of a Ferrari has not been forgotten. Spessotto stressed that the 849 Testarossa had to be a true drivers’ car, and there are indications that this is true. The three electric motors employed, for example, are very close in design to the one used in the Formula 1 cars. Sound also has been a major point for the engineering team, especially at a lower RPM. Presumably, the car has to be enjoyed even while driven around urban locales. The car wasn’t started up at the launch, so we’d have to wait till it arrives in Singapore to hear how it sounds like.

Lastly, perhaps the most comforting thing I heard on the trip is that Ferrari made sure that the tech-heavy 849 Testarossa would feel very natural, despite the incredible amount of tech in it to make sure it will outrun and outhandle almost anything out there. “When we set out to build the 849 Testarossa, a better 0-100 km/h timing was not the goal. We wanted to build a better drivers’ car, and the improved figures are simply a result of that,” quipped Spessotto.

First demonstration examples of the 849 Testarossa will arrive in Singapore in the 1st quarter of 2026, while deliveries are expected to arrive in the 3rd quarter. The Coupe will start at$2,098,251, while the Spider starts at $2,281,858. Both prices exclude COE and options.

Photos by Ferrari

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