Ferrari 849 Testarossa First Drive: A Legend's Name, Earned?

> First Drive verdict: The 849 Testarossa is a monumentally fast, beautifully engineered plug-in hybrid Ferrari — 1,036 bhp, a genuine reworking of the SF90 that's more engaging than its predecessor. But critics raise a fair question: does its powerful-yet-slightly-clinical V8 fully earn the legendary Testarossa name, when the lighter 296 GTB arguably offers more purity? Hugely capable, genuinely debated. First impressions and the honest verdict.

A legendary name, reborn — and questioned

Ferrari doesn't revive the Testarossa name lightly. The original 1980s Testarossa is one of the most iconic supercars ever made — a cultural touchstone, a poster on a million walls. So attaching that legendary badge to the new 849 Testarossa, the plug-in hybrid successor to the SF90 Stradale, is a bold, freighted decision that invites an obvious question: does the 849 earn the name?

Our first drive found a monumentally capable car — 1,036 bhp, a genuine and thorough reworking of the SF90 that's more engaging than its predecessor, and beautifully engineered throughout. But we'd be doing you a disservice not to report the honest debate that surrounds it, because respected critics raise a genuine question about whether the 849, for all its ability, fully delivers the spine-tingling character its legendary name demands. Both things are true, and you deserve both.

What the 849 is

The 849 Testarossa is a comprehensive reworking of the SF90, not a mere facelift:

1. 1,036 bhp of hybrid power. A reworked 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 (830 bhp/819 bhp alone, depending on measure) paired with three electric motors — two on the front axle for e-AWD and torque vectoring, one F1-derived MGU-K-style motor at the rear. Combined output is 1,036 bhp (1,050 cv), 50 more than the SF90.

2. Genuinely reworked, not warmed-over. Top Gear notes the biggest turbochargers ever fitted to a Ferrari road car, a vastly changed engine (new block, new heads, lighter cams, titanium fixings, better cooling, an Inconel exhaust), plus more downforce (up to 415 kg at 155 mph with the Assetto Fiorano package) and a complete dynamic makeover. This is a serious engineering effort.

3. Staggering performance. 0–60 mph in just over 2.0 seconds, 0–124 mph in 6.3 seconds, a 205 mph top speed, and a Fiorano lap 1.5 seconds faster than the SF90. It's brutally, comprehensively fast.

4. Twin-tail Testarossa styling. The design nods to the 512 S/512 M racers with a distinctive "twin tail" (upgraded to "twin wing" with the Assetto Fiorano package) — a striking, aggressive, genuinely beautiful reworking.

The numbers

| Spec | Ferrari 849 Testarossa | |---|---| | Price | ~£400,000+ (UK); ~€460,000 / ~$540,000 (coupe); Spider higher | | Powertrain | 4.0L twin-turbo V8 + 3 e-motors (PHEV) | | Power | 1,036 bhp (1,050 cv) combined | | 0–60 mph | just over 2.0 sec | | Top speed | 205 mph | | EV range | ~15+ miles (eDrive mode) | | Fiorano lap | 1:17.5 (1.5 sec faster than SF90) | | Replaces | SF90 Stradale | | Assetto Fiorano | ~£42,000 package (more downforce, twin-wing) |

First impressions — the genuine strengths

It's monumentally fast and capable. No question here: the 849 delivers hypercar-adjacent performance with everyday-supercar usability. The acceleration is savage, the grip immense, the engineering flawless. As a technical achievement, it's superb.

More engaging than the SF90. This is the key improvement. Autocar found it genuinely more entertaining than its predecessor — the SF90 was fast but not fully satisfying as a driver's car; the 849 is more involving, feeling (per Autocar) like "a natural-handling, mid-engined, secure, rear-driven supercar" despite its AWD hybrid complexity. Ferrari has addressed the SF90's chief criticism.

Beautifully made and dramatic. The engineering, the styling, the sense of occasion — all are up to Ferrari's highest standard. The twin-tail design is genuinely striking, and 7% more expensive than the SF90 but arguably more than 7% better (per Autocar).

The honest debate — does it earn the name?

Here's where we owe you candour. Respected critics raise a genuine question, and it's worth taking seriously:

Top Gear's critique: the massively powerful engine "feels lacking in character and spine-tingling excitement when you consider the price point" — that a huge part of a Ferrari's appeal (the emotional, character-rich engine) seems muted. More pointedly, they argue the 296 GTB undermines the 849 in many ways — it's lighter, offers more purity via rear-drive, feels every bit as sharp and connected, is savagely fast, and has a "sweeter but equally savage engine." The implication: the cheaper, purer 296 GTB might be the more satisfying driver's Ferrari.

The counter-view: Autocar found the 849 genuinely engaging and clearly better than the SF90, a real driver's car in its own right. The debate isn't "is it good" (it plainly is) but "does it deliver the emotional, character-rich magic the legendary Testarossa name demands, or is it clinically brilliant rather than soul-stirring?"

Our first-drive read: the 849 is a superb, monumentally capable, genuinely improved car — but the critics' point has merit. It's more clinically brilliant than emotionally intoxicating, and buyers seeking the purest driving thrill should genuinely cross-shop the lighter 296 GTB before assuming more power and a bigger name mean more satisfaction. Whether it "earns" the Testarossa badge depends on whether you prize capability or character most.

The competition

Ferrari 296 GTB: the in-house rival that complicates everything — lighter, purer, arguably more satisfying to drive, and cheaper. The 849's most pointed competitor.

Lamborghini Revuelto: the V12 hybrid drama merchant — more theatrical, with the character some find the 849 lacks.

McLaren W1 / hypercar elite: a step above in price and extremity, but the benchmark for driver engagement.

The bottom line

The Ferrari 849 Testarossa is a monumentally fast, beautifully engineered, genuinely improved plug-in hybrid Ferrari that addresses the SF90's chief flaw by being more engaging to drive. As a technical achievement and a capable, dramatic supercar, it's superb. But it revives one of the most legendary names in motoring, and that invites a fair, genuine debate — respected critics question whether its powerful-yet-slightly-clinical character fully earns the Testarossa badge, and whether the lighter, purer, cheaper 296 GTB is the more satisfying driver's Ferrari. Our first-drive verdict: hugely capable and clearly excellent, but more clinically brilliant than soul-stirring. Whether it earns the name depends on what you want from a Ferrari — capability, which it has in abundance, or character, where the debate is real. Cross-shop the 296 GTB, and decide which Ferrari magic matters most to you. A full rated review will follow.

• The Ferrari 849 Testarossa is the plug-in hybrid SF90 successor — 1,036 bhp, 0–60 in just over 2.0 sec, reviving a legendary name
• It's a genuine, thorough reworking (biggest-ever Ferrari turbos, new engine internals, more downforce) — and more engaging than the SF90
• The honest debate: critics (Top Gear) question whether its powerful-yet-clinical V8 earns the Testarossa name's emotional legacy
• The in-house 296 GTB complicates it — lighter, purer, cheaper, and arguably the more satisfying driver's Ferrari
• First-drive verdict: monumentally capable and excellent, but more clinically brilliant than soul-stirring — cross-shop the 296 GTB. Full review to follow

END OF BATCH 12

Section 4 (Expert Reviews) is complete — India Reviews Pipeline closed, plus the Ratings & Methodology subsection. Section 5 (First Drives) is underway — Global Debuts pipeline opened.

Next up (Batch 13): topic 121 (McLaren W1 first drive — "the P1 successor delivers") continues Section 5's Global Debuts.

Say "next batch" to continue.

Key takeaways

• The Ferrari 849 Testarossa is the plug-in hybrid SF90 successor — 1,036 bhp, 0–60 in just over 2.0 sec, reviving a legendary name
• It's a genuine, thorough reworking (biggest-ever Ferrari turbos, new engine internals, more downforce) — and more engaging than the SF90
• The honest debate: critics (Top Gear) question whether its powerful-yet-clinical V8 earns the Testarossa name's emotional legacy
• The in-house 296 GTB complicates it — lighter, purer, cheaper, and arguably the more satisfying driver's Ferrari
• First-drive verdict: monumentally capable and excellent, but more clinically brilliant than soul-stirring — cross-shop the 296 GTB. Full review to follow