The Testarossa name is back, but not the way you thought it would be. That’s because the 2026 Ferrari 849 Testarossa is not related in any way, shape, or form to the Testarossa from the 1980s. Serving as a major mid-cycle facelift of the SF90 Stradale, the Testarossa is available in both coupe and spyder versions.
But why is it called the 849 Testarossa? Well, the ‘Testarossa’ part means ‘red head’ in Italian. The name was applied to the 250 Testa Rossa in the 1950s, as well as the famous 1980s wedge-shaped supercar that you probably remember the most. The red head is an engine design that is applied to the most powerful in the range, but wait a minute, isn’t there an F80 that’s more powerful than the 849 Testarossa?
Well, you’re right. But the F80 is a limited-production LaFerrari successor. The 849 Testarossa isn’t, and its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, which is a heavily updated version of the SF90’s V8, produces 819 horsepower. It also includes the largest turbos ever fitted to a Ferrari. Meanwhile, the electric motor adds 217 horsepower, bringing the total output to 1,036 horsepower. As for the ‘849’ designation, the 8 is from its eight cylinders, while the 49 comes from the cubic centimeters of displacement. Yeah, we’ll let you be the judge on how creative they actually were with the numbers.
Anyway, there are three electric motors in the 849 Testarossa, two of which power the front wheels, while the third sits between the engine and the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Interestingly, when in pure electric mode, the 849 Testarossa only uses the front electric motors at up to 130 kph. Beyond that, the entire system kicks in to provide all 1,035 horses, while past 210 kph, the front electric motors deactivate.
Basically, the front electric motors are mainly there to provide all-wheel drive (AWD) traction when cornering. Besides, you’re most likely in a long straight when you’re at 210 kph anyway. Speaking of which, the Ferrari 849 Testarossa sprints from 0-100 kph in just 2.2 seconds, and then it’ll take 6.3 seconds for it to reach 200 kph. Its top speed is at 330 kph, and this includes the spider version, too. Take note, however, that the spider’s slightly heavier weight will affect its 0-100 kph and 0-200 kph times.
As for its design, the Ferrari 849 Testarossa uses a heavily reengineered version of the SF90’s platform, and that’s also reflected in the way it looks. While some proportions give a hint of its SF90 origins, the front end has been given the now-signature full-width black bar that connects the two LED headlights. This is complemented by sharp front bumpers and geometric lines inspired by aeronautics.
Moving towards the car’s “waist”, there’s a vertical line that highlights the 849 Testarossa’s side air intakes. Finally, as we move to the rear end, there’s a sort of slit from its wheel arches towards the twin-tail rear wing, inspired by the 512 S from the 1960s. At high speeds, the active rear spoiler, which is the black middle section, raises to provide additional downforce, thus connecting the two outer rear wings.
Once you sit inside the Ferrari 849 Testarossa, you’ll appreciate the heavily updated interior with new switchgear. There’s a sculpted, driver-focused dash design, featuring a separate canopy for the driver’s area. Thankfully, there’s a good amount of physical controls that were lacking from the SF90, while the front passenger’s area also contains a small digital screen for quick driving information at a glance.
For those who want to make their 849 Testarossa stand out even more, whilst also somewhat improving its performance, you can opt for the Assetto Fiorano version. Thanks to the additional use of carbon fiber and titanium, the weight has been reduced by 30 kg. Exterior changes include twin rear wings that triple its downforce, along with a unique livery that can be customized to match whatever color you choose. Handling improvements come from Multimatic dampers and Michelin Cup R2 tires.
Orders and deliveries of the Ferrari 849 Testarossa are pegged to begin in 2026, which means that a Philippine launch and availability through Velocita Motors could also happen by then.
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