Ferrari’s 849 Testarossa plug-in hybrid 4.0l V8 is here to tempt those with R10 million to spare

If you were ever caught by the 1980s allure of the Ferrari Testarossa, prominently featured in Miami Vice and Sega’s OutRun arcade racer, the launch of the Italian brand’s new plug-in hybrid version might be enough to reignite that passion.

You’ll still never afford one, but at least it’ll be a modern vehicle that’s out of your price range. That’s somewhat easier to reconcile yourself to. But, if you do happen to have a spare R10 million just wasting away in a trust fund, Ferrari might sell you a shiny new 849 Testarossa.

Surprise Testarossa

Ferrari’s newest uses a main four-litre V8 power plant to supply a little over 800 horsepower to the eight-speed dual clutch F1 gearbox. Three electric motors supplement this, generating a total of 1,035 horsepower for the 849’s 20-inch wheels. The petrol engine slurps from a 68-litre tank, while the electric motors have a 7.45kWh battery for power.

The 849 Testarossa will manage a mere 25 kilometres if you’re driving it in electrical mode only, but you’re unlikely to do that. It’s a Ferrari, after all, and that engine note deserves to be heard. If you do hear it, it’ll be blazing past. The 849 features a top speed of 330km/h, and it’ll get to that speed rather quickly. It’ll attain 100km/h in just 2.3 seconds, and it’ll double that in 6.35 seconds. From 200km/h, Ferrari says, it’ll come to a dead stop in 108 metres.

If you’re imagining yourself driving one, you can inject some further realism by noting the electronic assists. Ferrari notes that the 849 features “Side Slip Control (SSC) 9.0, TC, eDiff, SCM, FDE 2.0, EPS, FIVE, ABS Evo and performance EBD in all positions of the Manettino.”

But don’t go expecting a bargain, or even to walk into a dealership to buy one. The 849 Testarossa’s coupe version starts at R9.4 million (€460,000), rising to an even scarier R10.2 million (€500,000) for the spider. That’s before you start to get creative with your package, with extras like the “Assetto Fiorano trim level” adding weight reduction, more specialised build materials, and “exclusive content that cannot be specced on the standard car.” Extensive personalisation options are also on the table, but that’s between you and Ferrari (and your accountant). We’re not getting involved.