Ferrari 849 Testarossa Styling

Just like my architect, draws incredible things until my structural engineer brings him down to earth. There are a tone of things you have to consider when you design a car but the internet made everyone an expert.

 

Although the SC 40 is a modern reinterpretation of the F40 in its design, there are other references to the past. What you call "rear quarter sawed off" is part of Ferrari's legacy, as it can be found in several racing models such as the 250 Le Mans (1963), 365 P (1965), 330 P4 (1967), 512 S (1970), 512 M (1971), and in the road model Ferrari 512 BB (1976).

 

The SP3 evokes the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona and the three models: 330 P3/4, 330 P4, and 412 P, which famously shot past the chequered flag side by side. However, due to its rear horizontal blades, a nod to Ferrari's signature DNA, the SP3 looks much more Testarossa-like than the 849, which doesn't use any design elements and clues that relate it to its predecessor with the same name.

Comparing the two cars from this angle, it's clear that the 849's strongly accentuated rear fender is very similar to that of the SP3. Also, on the flanks, both the 849 and the SP3 have narrow waistlines, although visually they look very different. On the SP3, the air intakes are embedded in the frontmost area of the doors, creating a sensual sculptural effect on the intersection of the outward curve of the door volume and the powerful rear muscle. However, this effect wasn't achieved on the 849, as the intersection where the air intakes are located features a vertical black band that looks more like a waist-tightening belt. This element feels awkward, disrupts the harmony, and makes the design flow poorly. The rear end of the 846 also appears to be like a cheap copy of the SP3.

Although the overall design of the 849 seems acceptable to me, the use of that vertical black band is incomprehensible to anyone who enjoys design harmony and fluidity. What we can infer from this comparison IMO is that the SP3's design has been much better achieved.








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Whenever I look at photos posted on Fchat the car looks terrible. The angles posted above of 849 and SP3 also favour the SP3 (it’s slightly lower and more flattering). I recently went to the London launch and have to conclude that the car looks far different up close. I tried to take some photos to show but even they looked different to standing by it and looking with your own eyes. I can’t overstate how different this car is to its photographs. More than any I can remember.

The issues I had when first seeing it on those photos ended up being different to the ones I felt when looking at it myself. Standing by it, the lines are fantastic. Futuristic, much nicer than the SF90 (which I also love) and really bold yet steeped in both Ferrari design history and fresh interpretation of that. For example, the 849 has themes of SP3 (itself themed on the ‘P’ series racers) and F80, but also on the F76 which is a concept that has been around for a couple of years now with a very similar front to the 849 and a kicked up rear plus very similar wheel design. The rear wheels on the 849 are spectacular by the way. So deep-dish and beautifully connected to the rear area. I tried to show it on a photograph I posted here but it still doesn’t capture just how fabulous that area really is. And the thing that most bothered me before, the vertical blade on the side, looked absolutely fine and didn’t jar with me at all. I even thought it added a bit of character in the way the side strakes do on the Testarossa. When you stand by the door of the car, the the top-edge ‘ledge’ looks amazing and feels so low and sporty. It really does make you think “c’mon, let’s go!”

What I didn’t like? The rear spoilers on the AF car just looked too much, too (dare I say) try-hard. The black roof on the AF car didn’t look good with the stripe going over it. The standard car we saw was painted in GT and the black roof looked fine but I think if you did it in red it might not. I like the black roof on SF90 and F80, didn’t order it on XX and I’m glad I didn’t.

The interior is a triumph, beautiful to sit in, behold and touch. The exterior surfacing close up is exquisite. This is a car that will really reward an owner who enjoys details that reveal over a little time and will feel good to walk up to and get inside. So many people had told me how nice it was when you see it properly but despite these advance notices, I was still surprised at how much my opinion on this car shifted. Not everyone on our table for dinner felt the same but all had already placed an order. I was the only one who hadn’t, which I’ve now changed. Although Manzoni is accredited for the design, it was designed by a young English guy who actually went to Coventry University which has a well-known car design course, Coventry being a city I grew up in. He also did F80, XX and a number of others.

One thing I asked him was about the door panel. The crease is insane, I thought it had to be two panels but it’s not, it’s one pressing! Anyone who knows car manufacturing knows how difficult that is. I’ve never seen anything like it before. He didn’t believe it would be possible but they have been able to do it. It allows a much better and more fluid design into the intakes, which needed to be larger. Some may not like the cohesiveness of these designs but the details are simply incredible.

This car is going to be well liked when people start seeing them on the roads. It is bold, brave, forward-thinking but observant of the past and screams “here I am, come drive me”. Like the 80’s Testarossa before it it will be a pin up because of its boldness and maybe even craziness, it will offend the more cautious brand followers for a while and then it will have a renaissance as people come to realise in 20 years’ time what a unique and great design it is. All my own opinion of course


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As I was saying….

Maybe will regret they spoke too soon some will admit some won’t, I agree with you on the AF rear winglets they look odd and I wish they had a better solution for the aero, I much prefer the non AF rear spoiler section

 

Does anyone know when the media drives are? The 296 Speciale was announced on April.29 and we got media drives on Oct. 24th so about a 6 month gap.
The 849T was announced on Sept. 9th should we expect media drives in March 2026?