4 Minutes
Digital homage: the Neo Testarossa appears
The Ferrari Testarossa is shorthand for 1980s supercar excess — wide hips, dramatic side intakes and that unmistakable silhouette that even non-car people recognize from film and TV. Recently, an Instagram artist known as @mrfrooqi published a series of renderings dubbed the 'Neo Testarossa' that explicitly reach back to the original while imagining how Ferrari might reinterpret the classic today.
Why the Testarossa still matters
Produced between 1984 and 1996 in roughly 10,000 examples, the original Testarossa combined a rear mid-engine layout and rear-wheel drive with a two-door berlinetta body. Its market presence is healthy: average asking prices hover around $150,000, with rougher cars near $100,000 and pristine examples exceeding $200,000. Beyond numbers, the Testarossa captured pop-culture attention and became a design icon — a very valuable asset for Ferrari to revisit.
Enter the 849 Testarossa: modern power, classic name
Ferrari has already brought the Testarossa name back, officially, with the 849 Testarossa. Slated for production to begin in 2026, the 849 follows the SF90 as the brand's latest halo car. It pairs a hybridized V8 with three electric motors, producing a claimed 1,035 bhp (772 kW/1,050 PS). Performance figures are brutal: 0–62 mph in under 2.3 seconds, which nudges it ahead of contemporary rivals such as the Lamborghini Revuelto.
Key specs at a glance
- Powertrain: hybrid V8 + three electric motors
- Peak output: 1,035 bhp (772 kW/1,050 PS)
- 0–62 mph: under 2.3 seconds
- Body styles: coupe and convertible (production from 2026)
Design debate: modern efficiency vs. retro drama
As technically impressive as the 849 Testarossa will be, not everyone feels it pays visual tribute to the 1980s original. The modern Ferrari is sleeker and shaped by contemporary aerodynamic and thermal requirements, which leaves little room for the exaggerated side strakes and wide, flat flanks that defined the classic. Some fans argue Ferrari should have allowed more retro cues — even if that meant a slight aerodynamic compromise — in favor of capturing emotional appeal.
@mrfrooqi's Neo Testarossa renderings answer precisely that longing. The artwork reintroduces signature elements: layered side gills, a more pronounced rear haunch, and a wedge-like profile. It’s a design study rather than a production proposal, but it highlights what purists miss: tactile, attention-grabbing styling that reads as both nostalgic and fearless.
Market positioning and collector angle
Ferrari’s revival of the Testarossa name with a 1,000+ bhp hybrid supercar is a strategic move — it keeps the brand both technologically cutting-edge and steeped in heritage. The 849 will target collectors and buyers who want race-bred performance with the cachet of a famous nameplate. Conversely, digital renderings like the Neo Testarossa serve as a reminder that styling can be as much of a selling point as horsepower.
Which would you pick? A high-tech 849 with modern engineering and blistering performance, or a neo-classic Testarossa that leans heavily into the drama of the original? For many enthusiasts, the answer blends both: admire the tech, but never forget the shapes that built Ferrari's legend.
Highlights:
- Classic Testarossa: iconic design, growing collector interest
- Ferrari 849 Testarossa: hybrid V8, 1,035 bhp, sub-2.3s 0–62 mph
- Neo Testarossa renderings: stylistic tribute, sparks design debate
Source: autoevolution
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