Unveiled only a few days ago, the new Ferrari 849 Testarossa is already the talk of the town. The successor to the SF90, it takes up a legendary name from Maranello's history: Testarossa. When this name is mentioned, the collective imagination immediately conjures up a unique, iconic, almost sculptural design. And this is precisely where the debate begins.
Ferrari puts performance before style
As with the recent Ferrari F80the impression is that the Italian manufacturer has put aerodynamic efficiency and performance before visual identity. Ferrari makes no secret of its priorities. The brand explains that it took the SF90 Stradale as a reference, with the aim of improving power, tire grip, responsiveness, braking efficiency and the evolution of electronic systems.
The figures speak for themselves:
- +3 % lateral performance compared with the SF90 Stradale,
- -35 % on the weight of road springs,
- -10 % of roll for better body control,
- optimized longitudinal acceleration thanks to weight/power ratio and engine calibration.
As a result, the 849 Testarossa boasts a colossal 1,050 hp, without sacrificing responsiveness at low revs. A technological feat, to be sure, but one that begs the question: where has the Testarossa's stylistic soul gone?
A descendant with a hard-to-read design
Ferrari claims that the front of the car features volumes inspired by the Ferrari geometries of yesteryear, while the rear is dominated by a twin tail reminiscent of the 512 S. But for many enthusiasts, it's hard to see this as a true descendant of the Testarossa. The immediately recognizable character of the original, with its famous side gills, seems absent from this modern reinterpretation.
Independent designers let loose
With this in mind, a number of designers had fun revisiting the 849 Testarossa. Among them, Jonsibal stood out. He too regrets the absence of any clear reference to the original Testarossa. "The exterior design of the new Ferrari 849 Testarossa seems to be quite distinctive. But it was the Testarossa part of the name that caught my eye. I looked for hints of the original design, but nothing," he explains.
His idea: add the Testarossa's most emblematic feature, the side gills. The result is an immediately more identifiable proposition. Jonsibal also slightly simplified the nose and refined the profile, without touching the headlights. The result? A Ferrari that at last evokes the spirit of the Testarossa, with added visual appeal.
But at the expense of efficiency?
The big question remains: wouldn't these more aesthetically appealing adjustments have a negative impact on aerodynamic efficiency, so crucial on a car of this power? This is Ferrari's dilemma. Between stylistic heritage and absolute performance, the brand has clearly decided in favor of the latter. The 849 Testarossa will undoubtedly remain an exceptional supercar, but its design will continue to divide. At a time when we still dream of timeless lines, Ferrari reminds us that its priorities lie elsewhere: breaking records, at the risk of sacrificing a little visual magic.
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The problem with this car is that everyone focuses on the name "Testarossa" and looks for references to the 1984 berlinetta.
And yet the 849 draws its references from other legendary cars from the brand, notably those used in competition (330 P3, P4 and... 250 Testa Rossa).
5 lines embossed on the side and "she looks better this way"?
It's the death of our designer profession for those who think they are!
Obviously, touching the grail always poses problems...Let's not forget that the first "red heads" ...in reference to the cylinder head covers....date from the fifties.....but, either, as a very fresh fiftieth anniversary....the 1984 Testa must remain the only emblematic model and Huge shame on this "holding company" ...which is ruining the image of the Cavalino !!!!
Hätte man nicht über die Begleitgahrzeuge,
Die offensichtlich den Tankstopp, und auch die Videos organisierten, an den Ferrari-Piloten kommen können, da mindestens ein
Kennzeichen, in dem hier gezeigten YouTube Film gut lesbar war.
All in line with Zafira500.
In fact, in my opinion, Testarossa is a tribute to the lineage of 70s/89s "super-berlinettes" that were the BBs (which the 849 resembles more closely) and the Testarossas that are now the SF90s and 849s. In a way, it's a sign of the family spirit.
In a similar vein, the 812 Superfast nodded to the prestigious line of Superfast cars, very small and very luxurious series of large V12 front-wheel drive GTs from the late '50s to the mid '60s. And yet the 812 took no styling cues from these illustrious elders. It was just the spirit.
At the same time, Ferrari has never been in the neo-retro business. Good for them. When you consider what Lamborghini dared to do with the remake (there's no other word for it) of the Miura and Countach, or to a lesser extent Aston with the revival of the AM V8 (the one from the 70/80s), you're reassured that Ferrari respects the Commendatore's adage that the best Ferrari is the next best Ferrari. Always better (in terms of performance, that is) and, above all, no turning back.
As long as the rocker covers are red, what we expect from such a car is that it should be at the top of the list and surpass all the other brands. The 1959 model was unique, as was the 80's, so why always want to "refair" or "a la manière de"? What we expect above all is excellence, not a copy and paste, nor a cutting up of such and such a model to remake one, the important thing is that it stands out from all the others!
I find it really magnificent, nothing to add or take away, an exceptional car, as usual, you have to keep up with the times, we're in the world of technology, performance and advancement, admittedly less aesthetically pleasing, even though I find it very beautiful, but tastes and colors, as they say!
Una Ferrari dovrebbe essere la massima espressione in tutto, senza compromessi o rinunce, avrei preferito andasse 20 km orari in meno ma, essendo bellissima.
テスタロッサと聞いて心が躍り、同時にドアパネルに複数のスリットがついたイメージは、確かに浮かんだよ。
だけど添付されているイメージ画を見て、採用しなかったことは正しかったと言える。
まったくナンセンスだ。
でも、1984年の180°V型エンジンのベルリネッタは、あまりにも我々の心に深く残っているから、しょうがないことかも。
自分はそれをマイアミバイスで初めて見て、激しい感動しかなかったよ。
En mi opinión personal si, se ha dejado detrás el diseño en busca de prestaciones. No se necesita que el nuevo Testarrosa se parezca al de los años 80, como bien se dice Ferrari no necesita para usar un término dar guiños del pasado, aunque nos ha malacostumbrado con el 12cilindri... Algo está cambiando en los diseños de Ferrari y no para bien... Desde el SP3 Daytona veo un coche que me guste en su totalidad, y eso es grave cuando acabamos de ver el bestial (pero impersonal) F80 y el polémico Testarrosa