Testarossa

Testarossa is a name most closely associated with Ferrari’s mid-engined sports car produced from 1984 to 1991. The name, Italian for “red head,” refers to the red-painted cam covers of the flat-12 engine. The car is widely known for its distinctive side air intakes along the doors, commonly nicknamed “cheese graters,” and its wide, low-slung stance.

Power comes from a 4.9-liter flat-12 engine delivering about 390 horsepower, with torque around 490 Nm. It was paired with a five-speed manual transmission. In performance terms, the Testarossa could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in roughly five seconds and reach a top speed near 290 km/h.

Design and engineering were by Ferrari's longtime styling partner, Pininfarina, with a mid-rear engine layout that supported high-speed stability. The Testarossa helped define Ferrari’s image in the 1980s and remains a recognizable symbol of the era’s automotive design.

Variants and successors included the original Testarossa (1984–1991), followed by the 512 TR in the early 1990s, which offered increased power and refined aerodynamics, and the final F512 M in the mid-1990s with further styling and mechanical updates.

The Testarossa’s combination of bold styling, distinctive features, and Ferrari performance contributed to its enduring legacy in both automotive journalism and popular culture, making it one of the most recognizable supercars of its generation.