Looks absurd. Absolutely absurd. The SF90, while bloated for a Ferrari, was cohesive. This is a hodge-podge mess. And this is coming from a guy that likes the 12 Cilindri and F80. Aft of the A-pillar is out of proportion from what precedes the A-pillar. I did have to warm up to the 12 Cilindri and F80, but I think this is one of those instances where I just won't. A dog's dinner this is.
It's as if it was a Ferrari that was made for 2025 if it was done for a 1980's sci-fi movie.
I like thick haunches as much as the next guy, but dang! And, yeah, they over-did it with those piano black exterior trim. I was fine with it on the Cilindri and the F80, but if you're going to apply to all other Ferraris, it really takes away from Cilindri's and F80's character.
I do like the interior.
Yeah, RL pics, matte paint, stripes, and the Assetto Fiorano pack save for the double two-tiered rear wings does help a little, but it still looks wacky and not delightfully wacky. More tragically wacky.
Upon first look, I was pretty adamant with my distaste, but, dammit, I don't hate it....as much. It's very spec sensitive, and I am pretty annoyed that I am changing my opinion, ever so slightly as it may be. I was also thinking about if it had a V12, would I be so critical. I concluded I would definitely be more forgiving.
Though, one thing I am steadfast about is the name....what is essentially a SF90 Evo or Modificata definitely does not merit the Testarossa name.
I think Ferrari, Porsche, etc. get a lot slack and leeway from us, or perhaps I should speak for myself. I think a lesser esteemed, lesser established brand would not nearly as much benefit of doubt as these more storied names.
It took all of 20 days, but I begrudgingly have come around to it. There, are you happy, Flavio?
An excellent point by Shmee that the 80s testorossa, that some of us love, must have caused uproar because it didn’t look like the testorossa of the 60.
I think the new car is super cool and fills a void that Ferrari has had for decades: No sexy mid engine cars between their entry level mid engine car and the once every 10-12 years flagship halo car.
The SF90 wasn’t hot enough but the 849 has curb appeal that’s closer to the Revuelto.
That point was covered here, weeks ago. Not everything about cars is the gospel according to Shmee.
Off course not. My main point was that we tend to nostalgic and emotionally defensive about thing we were find up growing up.
However we don't realise that those born before or after feels the same about different things. A great example is the Porsche 911, Ford Mustang or VW Golf. Ask which generation someone wants and they will give a different answer depending on when they were born.
Let's just call it.....personalisation
Regarding the whole TestaRossa brouhaha, my issue is not that it doesn't resemble a 1980's TR. A modern Ferrari can crib details here and there from their past, but it ought to be its own thing. No, my issue is that the TestaRossa that is a storied name from the 1960's and became iconic with its reintroduction of 1980's. The latter TR was so iconic that I'd wager a there's a whole generation of enthusiasts where that was one of the most, if not the most, wall-postered car. I know I definitely count myself as one.
So for it to be reintroduced for a third time, that's a nomenclature that ought to be applied to something that is very much worthy of the cachet that comes with it. I watched the Shmee video up till the 8'30" mark (I no longer have the patience to sit through a video.) Per Shmee, he said that Manzoni thought when ever "TestaRossa" is applied, it's essentially starting a new epoch for Ferrari, but is that really what's going on? From a mechanical perspective, it was revolutionary when a hybridized Ferrari was introduced, and the Enzo did that in 2013 and did it again with the SF90. And then again with the 296. So there's not much of revolution in that aspect with 849, especially since it's based on the SF90's bones. Regarding the design, Ferrari's
Nuovo Classe (that's my term since I am ripping off BMW's new design directive) was introduced on their decade-defining supercar, the F80. It was then seen again on 12 Cilindri and Amalfi.
So, with all that said, I think Manzoni's argument for calling a TestaRossa just falls flat. To me, it seems like a craven attempt to cash-in on nostalgia so they can sell a new cover on a revamped SF90. And while I will freely admit that I am a cynical S.O.B., I can't also deny what is pretty obvious too.
