Ferrari doesn’t just unveil a new flagship convertible every day. So when the Prancing Horse pulled the covers off the 849 Testarossa Spider, the successor to the SF90 Spider, the international press and Ferrari’s most loyal clientele knew they were witnessing more than just a model launch. This is a landmark car for Maranello: a plug-in hybrid V8 super-spider packing 1,050 cv (1,036 hp), a dizzying blend of motorsport-derived technology, cutting-edge aerodynamics, and a design that deliberately resurrects one of Ferrari’s most evocative names.
Power, Electrified
At the core of the 849 Testarossa Spider is Ferrari’s latest iteration of its award-winning twin-turbocharged V8, internally coded F154FC. Completely reworked, it now produces 830 cv on its own thanks to new turbos—the largest ever fitted to a Ferrari road car—revised cylinder heads, lightweight titanium fasteners, and racing-inspired machining throughout.
That engine is paired with a trio of electric motors: one mounted on the rear axle and two up front, together contributing 220 cv. The result is a 1,050 cv all-wheel-drive monster that doesn’t just eclipse the SF90 Spider but establishes a new benchmark for Ferrari road cars.
The numbers are staggering. Expect face-flattening acceleration and top speeds that demand private autobahn stretches or a track. But the real genius lies in the hybrid system’s seamless calibration: Ferrari’s eManettino switch allows the driver to toggle between pure electric cruising (up to 25 km), hybrid efficiency, performance, and a full-on “Qualify” mode that unleashes everything the system can muster.
A True Coupe, A True Spider
Ferrari has refined its Retractable Hard Top (RHT) system to perfection. In just 14 seconds, even at speeds up to 45 km/h, the Testarossa Spider morphs from berlinetta to open-air missile. Engineers also developed a clever new wind catcher behind the seats, ensuring that high-speed top-down blasts won’t punish occupants with turbulence.
That duality—coupé precision and spider thrill—defines the car. It’s equally at home slicing through Alpine passes as it is storming Imola’s straights.
Race-Bred Dynamics
Performance hardware comes straight from Ferrari’s motorsport playbook. A brake-by-wire system paired with the ABS Evo controller delivers surgical stopping power. The chassis has been lightened and stiffened, suspension geometry revised, and the new FIVE digital estimator system creates a real-time “digital twin” of the car to refine traction, torque vectoring, and braking.
Despite the added complexity of hybrid components, the 849 Testarossa Spider matches the SF90 Spider’s curb weight—thanks to obsessive mass reduction—yielding the best power-to-weight ratio of any Ferrari in series production.
Aerodynamics With a Purpose
The styling, penned under Flavio Manzoni, channels the sports prototypes of the 1970s with sharp, geometric surfaces and a cab-forward stance. But every crease serves function as well as form. The 849 generates 415 kg of downforce at 250 km/h, 25 kg more than the SF90 Spider, while improving cooling efficiency for both the engine and hybrid systems by 15 percent.
The rear features a distinctive twin-tail architecture inspired by the 512 S, complete with an active spoiler capable of flipping between low-drag and high-downforce modes in less than a second. Beneath, a sophisticated multi-level diffuser ensures stability at warp speeds.
Inside the Future
Ferrari has leaned into its vision of a driver-centric cockpit, evolving the layout first seen in the SF90. A floating dashboard, digital cluster, and passenger display give the cabin a futuristic vibe, while the gated-style gear selector pays homage to Ferrari tradition. A new HMI interface streamlines hybrid management, and the redesigned steering wheel integrates both digital controls and old-school mechanical buttons, including the iconic red start switch.
Seats can be spec’d for comfort or track-ready aggression, and new trim options—including the rich Giallo Siena Alcantara—ensure owners can personalize every inch. Connectivity, wireless charging, and Ferrari’s MyFerrari app keep this supercar firmly in the present day.
The Return of a Name
Perhaps most significant is Ferrari’s decision to revive the Testarossa badge, first coined in 1956 for the red-painted cam covers of the 500 TR and later immortalized on the 1984 Testarossa road car. With the 849 Testarossa Spider, Maranello isn’t just paying tribute—it’s redefining what the name stands for in a hybrid, electrified era.
Assetto Fiorano: The Sharper Edge
For those who want their Testarossa Spider with extra bite, Ferrari offers the Assetto Fiorano package: carbon-fiber and titanium components for a 30-kg weight reduction, Multimatic dampers, Michelin Cup 2R tires, and aggressive aerodynamic tweaks including dual high-incidence wings. Think of it as Maranello’s track-day prescription for the boldest clients.
The 849 Testarossa Spider is not just another chapter in Ferrari’s hybrid experiment—it’s a declaration that the future of performance can still be visceral, analog in feel, and true to Ferrari’s racing DNA. With its heady mix of 1,050 cv, hybrid intelligence, and open-air drama, it doesn’t just replace the SF90 Spider; it redefines what an open-top Ferrari should be.
The Testarossa name is back, and it’s louder, faster, and sharper than ever.
Source: Ferrari