Ferrari 849 Testarossa Styling

This may be of interest to some. When we remove ourselves from our little microcosm of Ferrari Fanatics and talk to people outside of this realm about these cars, their perspectives are often fascinating, or at least very different, than ours.

Yesterday evening, with everything ready to go and some time to kill in the cockpit before push, I turned to my First Officer (a former F-15 squadron commander and overall Man's Man) and said I wanted his opinion on something. I had already established that he wasn't much of a car guy. I first asked if he remembered the Testarossa from the 1980s. He did quite well. I then told him that a new one had just arrived, and that I wanted his opinion on its looks. I said nothing about mine or any other's opinions on the car. I then showed him the photos. His first comment was, "My daughter would say it's way too low to the ground!" He then said, "That's a cool looking car. I like it." I then pressed him for more thoughts. At this point, he realized this was an interrogation. He looked at it awhile longer and said, "Well, I don't really like the front with the big hole." I then asked if anything else struck him. He kept staring at it, and, again, said it looked good. "Nothing else?" I asked one more time. "Nope." I then asked what he thought about the vertical stripe. He was fine with that. I then told him that that vertical stripe and the stripe on the nose were much derided. I then specifically asked him if that vertical stripe bothered him. He shrugged, saying "No. It's a good looking car."

So, there you go. An observation from an outsider, and it was like I had to literally point to the vertical stripe to get him to see what I wanted him to comment on. He seemed to be looking at the whole and not the minutiae. Even then, when it was pointed out, he didn't have any problem with it. Other than the big hole in the front, he liked the car.

 

Here's a quick follow-up to the above post. I'm sitting here eating lunch with my FO, and he just said to me, "You know, I was in the gym this morning, and started thinking about that black stripe you asked me about, and why it doesn't bother me. It occurred to me that it reminds me of the intakes of the T-38 I used to instruct in. They are basically vertical, and sometimes have a vertical stripe painted along the front of them."

He likes the look of it, because it reminds him of his old jet.

 

Different people view Ferrari cars very differently, and IMO, they can perhaps be subdivided into two categories. Those who know little or nothing about the brand, which I believe are the overwhelming majority, and for whom a Ferrari can be associated with wealth, power, prestige, high performance, beauty, and a lifestyle of luxury and success.
Then there is the rest. The Ferraristas, who have a deep knowledge of the brand's history, the design, and technical characteristics of many of its models. Those whose emotional connection with Ferrari was established through classic models and who base their aesthetic references on the past. The ones who see Ferrari design as a blend of art and engineering and who have learned to appreciate its deep connection to racing heritage. Those who believe that a Ferrari becomes beautiful when it is very fast or wins and emphasize the performance-driven aspect of its appeal.
Despite all of them seeing a Ferrari car as an object that should trigger emotion and a sense of magic, there are very different aesthetic criteria, with some liking more classic design elements and others preferring more aggressive and futuristic features. The reality is that in any Ferrari, there are always those who find the design breathtaking and beautiful, those who think it's neither beautiful nor ugly, and the ones who find it hideous.

 

This is interesting because the black band in the rear intake reminds also me from some fighter jet. I even tried to search images earlier but didn't really find what I was looking for.

 

I might be mixing it also to passenger airplane engine inlets. Those have sometimes chrome circle at the front. I have been wondering how it would look if rear intake black band in 849 would be changed to chrome one.

 

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Exactly right and clearly the company is aiming at the former here. Any non enthusiast has a very high chance of seeing some new supercar and saying it looks cool or fast or whatever. For some a crappy bottle of wine is still a good bottle. But the enthusiasts know the difference especially from a lineage standpoint. The other person isn’t wrong. They are just more broadly responsive to anything, not necessarily bespoke design concepts.

 

Not sure I agree with this, there are quite a few elements of past cars, not least of which bein the winglets at the back which are very 512S. The front of the car has a similar squared off appearance to a 512Bb.

 

True. Even though 849 is having some bold new elements, it is relating with historical models more than SF90.

 

a friend who's not a car guy sent me this photo recently, I am not sure if ferrari's styling is as distinctively ferrari as it used to be

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I find it truly strange the Corvette link because honestly the 12c looks completely different to the C8. Ironically in South Africa where a C8 is much rare than a Ferrari its the Vette thats likely to get more attention.

 

Doesn’t mean much to me. I have had several people mistake our 812SF for a corvette….

Besides, there are people who think taillights on any particular Ferrari look like Camaro lights…

 

@willcrook
Everyone knows what a rolex is.

Not everyone knows what an AP or a Patek is.

Think about it that way.

 

The Ferrari 288GTO was penned more than 40 years ago by Leonardo Fioravanti( Pininfarina )and is widely praised for its beauty. The car features wide flared fenders and distinct air intakes similar to those of the 849. The prominent black vertical side intake on the 849 flanks, a key styling element used by Flavio Manzoni, seems to fit the 288GTO perfectly. The only problem is that this element, in the case of the GTO, completely distorts the car profile design.




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I’m not sure I understand what you are getting at. What are you not agreeing with? I understand the second line but not the comment in general.

 

You may like them or not, but I think that if someone doesn´t recognize modern Ferraris must be because he only knows them for Magnum PI and Miami Vice. Excepting the Purosangue for obvious reasons, all the current models are some sort of remake, hommage, etc... of previous cars, Actually, I think maybe they´re playing the retro card too hard. The exception could be the F80, but it´s not a car you´re going to see often anyway.

 

As it distorts the 849 as well. I know it is all personal opinion but it would look better without. I do need to see this car in person though.

 

The new stripe on the old car simply doesn't work
On the other hand the new car without the side stripe, and black rear wheel arch trim would work just fine.

 

The fact that the observer didnt wax poetic is a very telling statement about the effect of the design. Too many exagerrated features which don't gel and complement as a whole. The "Hot Wheels" are too strong and aren't in any harmony with the body. On the other hand the standard more plain wheels aren't a great design either. I feel that the designers should have allowed for more feedback from an audience which the car was meant to please.

 

The 12C looks incredible in this picture.

 

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Ferrari has never hidden its priorities for the 849. It took the SF90 as a reference, improving its power, tire grip, responsiveness, braking efficiency, and electronic systems.
Although Ferrari claims that the front and rear design of the 849 was inspired by past models, the reality is that in this modern "reinterpretation" of the Testarossa by Flavio Manzoni, few can see a descendant that even remotely lives up to its name. The Testarossa's most iconic and instantly recognizable feature is its famous side gills, which are absent from the 849. Therefore, another designer decided to add them and simultaneously slightly refine the front and side, but without altering the headlights. The end result is undoubtedly a Ferrari that evokes much more of the Testarossa's spirit while simultaneously possessing additional visual charm. However, the big question is whether these more aesthetically appealing tweaks won't negatively impact the 849's aerodynamic efficiency, which is crucial for a car of this power? This is Ferrari's biggest dilemma in its current hybrid lineup. Between stylistic heritage and absolute performance, the brand has clearly chosen the latter. The 849 Testarossa will undoubtedly remain an exceptional supercar, but its design will continue to divide people. For those who still believe in timeless designs, Ferrari reminds us in this hybrid segment that its priorities lie elsewhere: beating lap times.




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FYI, I'm sorry, but that is not an 'improvement' to my eyes. To each their own.

 

There have been complaints about 849 being too boxy and not having classic beautiful round lines. Then somebody thinks that it is too soft and requires strakes.

Does this SP3 inspired design with a 80's twist really need strakes? I don't think so.

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If the 849's design was inspired by the SP3, it's hardly evident in the final result. Aesthetically, the SP3 is arguably among the prettiest Ferraris, and its design and lines are timeless. As much as it pains me to say it, I've been wondering how it's possible that the 849 and the SP3 were designed by the same man.