by Wallace Wyss
The Ferrari Testarossa name goes back a long way, supposedly it came about when they had a new racing car prototype and in the shop it was referred to as “the red car”. Testa Rossa means “red head” in Italian (originally two words).
Then they had a road car decades later carrying the name and this is an all new one following Ferrari’s penchant for reviving old names. But not necessarily the styling of the last car they made with that name. Here’s a quick description with more than 1,000 hp available from its plug-in hybrid, twin-turbo V-8 powertrain, they dare to say there will be daily-drivability . Horsepower for the engine rises to 819 hp at 7,500 rpm, a tad over the 769 hp in the SF90. Torque is rated 621 lb-ft at 6,500 rpm.
No it’s somewhat electric but a hybrid, there’s three electric motors—two on the front axle and one on the rear, enabling all-wheel-drive traction. Top speed is said to be 205 mph.
The spider will be 198 pounds heavier than the coupe, due to the insistence on a retractable hard top equipment and 22 pounds of chassis reinforcements.
2027 Ferrari 849 Testarossa Coupe and Spider Specifications
BASE PRICE
$540,000-$587,000 (est)LAYOUT
Mid-engine, AWD, 2-pass, 2-door coupe and convertibleENGINE
4.0L/819-hp/621-lb-ft twin-turbo DOHC 32-valve V-8, plus 2x 133-hp (front) and 201-hp (rear) electric motors; 1,035 hp (comb)TRANSMISSION
8-speed dual-clutch autoCURB WEIGHT
3,850 lbWHEELBASE
104.3 inL x W x H
185.7 x 90.7 x 48.2 in
0–60 MPH
2.0 sec (MT est)ON SALE
April 2026 (coupe), July 2026 (Spider)
Here is my humble take on the design, going strictly from pictures as I have not yet seen it in person. My credentials are, as a fine artist specializing in exotic cars (and author of three Ferrari books).
SIDE
I don’t know what they have so much black area ahead of the windscreen., Why do they need it, unless it’s to de-emphasize the wipers? The wheels are very clever and look like they want to move. The vertical side flat black piece is not “naturalistic,” i.e. born from the shape but in their fastest road cars they feel compelled to have race car style vents and scoops. It looks very painted on and totally unnecessary. The split spoiler is at least less of an imposition in street use than a full width one would be, though we wonder what the downforce comparison would be with one that went all the way from side to side.
FRONT
The general shape of the upper front is of a 365GTB/4 Daytona, though the spoiler is much more of an integral body part than in the original front engine Daytona, (the original Daytona spoilers were added for racing). The band full width across the front is similar to that on the Euro-only Daytonas before they had to switch to flip ups for US buyers.
REAR
The split rear spoiler is at least less of an imposition in street use than a full width one would be, though we wonder what the downforce comparison would be with one that went all the way from side to side (in which case it would look like a Camaro Trans Am spoiler from ‘70s racing.
It’s controversial to be sure. First of all you see the engine or top of it anyway and that part is sunk into flat black, so no shiny bits that would need frequent cleaning. Not sure why there’s two gas caps. Exhaust pipes seem awfully high positioned above the bumper. Not even sure if that’s legal in every country.
The roadster version’s top is best appreciated from a high rear view, presenting a very smooth curve to the windowsills, more rounded and organic than the shape than in the old 246GTS Dino, the car that started their road version targa tops. I don’t care for the blade-like tail lights. Whatever happened to the round taillights in the Ferrari world? It once was such a brand identifier. And these thin-blade lights seem too small.
IN SUM
I am bowled over by how many new Ferraris there are. But, hey, this is the top of the sports car market more or less (below of course Bugatti and a couple others), so they have discerning customers who always want something new, and fast even if it costs North of $500,000.
I think they will eventually drop that black paint on the vertical side bar , and maybe even the Daytona paint treatment on the nose. Really out of place (and cheap looking) is an optional stripe over the roof, and down the bonnet, with its ”broken” surface. Who needs stripes when it’s already a road car that screams “race car?”
I am glad to see a targa version offered right away along with the coupe, as in the old days with Ferrari you would have to wait a year or two for the open version.
It’s a magnificent car, but looking at the price tag and top speed, wouldn’t we still expect a V-12? It could be the V12 would no longer meet emissions in various countries, or they wanted to save the 100 or so pounds that is the difference in engine weight between a V8 and a V12. I guess we can’t complain when exotic car manufacture is a dicey business in view of forces trying to eliminate the breed.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
THE AUTHOR: Wallace Wyss, a fine artist often featured on these pages, specializes in depicting exotic cars. He will be offering prints of his paintings of the new Testarossa that are in progress. Text your email address to 213 344 6496 to see a sample.
Photos compliments of Ferrari.
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