Ferrari's first road car to break 1,000 metric horsepower was the SF90, an inflection point that shifted the conversation from supercar intangibles to cold, hard numbers. The divisive SF90 eventually passed the baton to the 849 Testarossa, a hybrid flagship flaunting a dramatic new design language and modest power gains. Though marketed as Ferrari's flagship, the 849 is technically not the top dog in the marque's lineup. That responsibility is carried by the F80, a limited-production range-topper that starts at $3.9 million. Yes, the hybrid 849 still produces outrageous power via a turbocharged V-8 and three electric motors, but the package is now wrapped in angular forms that look like a chip off the ol' F80 block. The dramatic restyling makes it feel miles apart from the more typical looking SF90, both in relative and absolute terms. More from Robb ReportAdvertisementAdvertisementHennessey's Newest High-Performance Car Sold Out Within Hours of Its Public DebutThe First Ferrari Luce Sold for $40 Million This WeekendCoachbuilt for Living? Pininfarina Designed 6 Single-Family Homes Across the U.S.The Ferrari 849 Testarossa Spider.The new open-air 849 Testarossa Spider version brings a folding aluminum top that deploys in 14 seconds at a penalty of 199 pounds. Despite incorporating upgraded components that would have yielded a net gain of 44 pounds, lightweighting makes the 849 essentially identical in mass to its predecessor. To better understand Ferrari's new droptop, we piloted it up the Mount Teide volcano on the Spanish island of Tenerife, a fittingly dramatic backdrop for the alfresco version of one of the most talked about supercars of 2026. DesignWhile the SF90 was characterized by angular curves and vented accents, the 849 Testarossa is planar, pointy and, here's the interesting aspect, even blocky in parts. The Spider version was designed alongside the coupé, and it shows: the folding hardtop fits perfectly against the rear haunches and stows under a beautifully curved panel. The 849 Testarossa Spider's dramatic restyling makes it feel miles apart from the more typical looking SF90 predecessor, both in relative and absolute terms.Up front, the delicately tapered nose hints at two of Maranello's greatest hits from the 1980s, the 512 BBi and the Testarossa. Eighties-era memories are all but forgotten as you move rearward; beyond the A-pillar, the door panels become more flat between two subtly tapered edges, the upward surface merging with air intakes and the lower area meeting with tapered rocker panels. Air intakes interrupt the visual flow with unexpectedly straight vertical bands, which give way to subtly flared rear haunches.AdvertisementAdvertisementIn the initially released press photos, the rear presents a dramatic flared tail that emerges from swollen fenders and resolves with twin flaps, reminiscent of sensual 1960s-era Ferrari race cars like the 330 P3. When viewed in person, however, the midsection and backside can look slabby, flat, and abrupt from certain angles. The rear view resolves nicely with two tidily tucked exhaust tips and artfully sculpted surfacing.The 849 Testarossa offers a refreshing design that is just as strong, if not even more intriguing, in its open-air configuration.Inside is a curious combination of a hyper-styled aesthetic and minimalism. The driver's seat is symbolically cordoned off from the passenger via a so-called tunnel wing, a design clearly intended to imply a pilot-like focus on the driver. In reality, it feels less intrusive than it could have, offering a more graceful spatial environment than that found in the Corvette C8's execution. The 849 driver faces a revised steering wheel that thankfully brings back the mechanical engine start/stop button, but retains a haptic hybrid-mode selector that requires tapping the bottom of the wheel and then selecting the illuminated setting. At least this distracting arrangement is countered by physical switches, such as the manettino dial and various secondary controls.The cockpit is a curious combination of a hyper-styled aesthetic and minimalism.Another well-intentioned but flawed execution comes from the reliance on a single digital instrument screen. The lack of a secondary screen means everything gets displayed on the instrument panel—Apple CarPlay, the navigation display, you name it—which means you'll need to ditch that traditional big Ferrari tachometer graphic in order to know where you're going or view select apps, which is a shame. At least the HVAC system has separate controls that interfere minimally with the display. While the SF90 combined more conventional styling cues with a modern design language that departed from the organic, flowing shapes that typified Ferrari's Pininfarina era, the 849 brings a bolder look, stepping away from a harmonious crowd-pleasing silhouette to a more avant-garde, iconoclastic form. Think less Zaha Hadid streamlined and more Frank Lloyd Wright monolith. In person, the 849 looks sleek and eye-opening, like a postmodern kinetic sculpture. While the debut of Ferrari's first-ever EV triggered an avalanche of negative feedback, the 849 Testarossa Spider nudges the brand's needle forward in a positive way, offering a refreshing design that is just as strong, if not even more intriguing, in its open-air configuration.The new droptop hits 62 mph from a standstill in 2.3 seconds.Power Train and HardwareThe 849 Testarossa benefits from a new, larger turbocharger and a series of upgraded engine components that boost system output to 1,036 hp. The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 mates with three electric motors (one at the rear and two in front) fed by a 7.45 kWh battery, which allows the 849 Testarossa Spider to cover 15 miles of electric-only driving before the big fuel-burning engine kicks in. AdvertisementAdvertisementWhile the higher output makes for incrementally improved bragging rights, the 849's more palpable advantages are subtler but unlock more speed. Styling isn't the only thing trickled down from the F80; the FIVE system (short for Ferrari Integrated Vehicle Estimator) works proactively instead of reactively by evaluating data from the six-axis sensor and, using precise slip angle and speed measurements, anticipating driving dynamics to manage traction control, electronic differential, and front/rear power delivery. New EVO brakes are derived from the track-focused SF90 XX for stronger stops. Numerous other small improvements combine to make the 849 more refined than its predecessor. The 1,036 hp output comes from the combination of a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 mated with three electric motors (one at the rear and two in front) fed by a 7.45 kWh battery.PerformanceRight off the bat, pressing a mechanical engine start button feels more special than touching a virtual one. Advantage: 849. From there, driving the 849 Testarossa Spider feels special and intuitive, from the tap of the large carbon-fiber paddle shifters to the mechanical feel of the manettino dial. Some ergonomic shortcomings remain, such as the fact that its precious screen real estate can't display Ferrari's iconic tachometer and a GPS screen simultaneously. Noise regulations have also forced a bit of engineering creativity: when the manettino is dialed to Sport, Race, CT Off, or ESC Off and the exhaust note becomes louder. The cabin sound is enhanced using technology that senses intake pressure and creates a corresponding engine sound routed through the speakers. While we'd prefer our engine sounds organic, we also couldn't imagine a hushed Ferrari. That said, there's nothing fake about the way the 849 Testarossa Spider makes you feel. Even at low speeds, the flat-crank V-8 feels alive and brimming with 8,300 rpm of possibility. When the sonorous internal-combustion engine kicks in, it reminds you why you fell in love with cars in the first place. The 849's light steering accurately dispatches the road's surface texture below, and outward visibility feels all the more immersive when the hardtop is stowed and the rear window dropped, enabling infinite upward headroom and better access to the mechanical acoustics coming from the engine bay. Even at low speeds, the model variant's flat-crank V-8 feels alive and brimming with 8,300 rpm of possibility.The 849's performance numbers aren't far off its predecessor's lofty figures. The new droptop hits 62 mph in 2.3 seconds, a scant .05 seconds quicker than the SF90 Spider. One lap of the Fiorano circuit is completed 1.5 seconds sooner than before. There's a breathtaking rush of power when accelerating hard, and a seemingly relentless ability to accumulate forward momentum while the dual-clutch eight-speed transmission whizzes through the gears. In more aggressive settings, shifts can get a bit abrupt, but the gearbox's general demeanor is that of quick-shifting capability that plays nicely with the hybrid power train. Crank it up to Qualify mode—to unleash the full power of the EV components—and the 849 launches forward with rocket-like thrust.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe 849 feels incrementally smoother and more confidence inspiring than its predecessor when driven in anger, thanks to drivetrain and suspension improvements. Grip is phenomenal, as are the electric motors These differences are subtle but important distinctions that bolster the 849 as a more refined follow-up to the SF90. The cabriolet aspect brings even more inspiration to spirited driving; especially on the stunning road up the Teide volcano with the wind in your hair, sun on your skin, and sound of the turbocharged V-8 echoing off the nearby rocks. Your local neighborhood drive may not be as epic, but regardless of locale, the 849 Testarossa Spider does deliver on the promise of feeling every bit a Ferrari: lively, engaging, and nearly as exciting to witness passing by as it is to drive. There's a breathtaking rush of power when accelerating hard, and a seemingly relentless ability to accumulate forward momentum.Is It Worth It?During this time when Porsche's GT models demand significant premiums over sticker price, and virtually every desirable nameplate is breaking new price barriers, the 849 Testarossa Spider, which starts at $577,000, will likely face greater customer demand than Ferrari's assembly lines can satisfy.SpecificationsVehicle TypeHybrid two-seat sports carAdvertisementAdvertisementIn Production Since2026Power TrainTwin-Turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 7.45 kWh lithium-ion batteryThree electric motors (1 rear, 2 front)Output: 819 hp (V-8), 217 hp (EV motors); 1,036 hp totalPerformance0-62 mph: 2.3 secondsTop speed > 205 mphPrice as Tested$630,000 (est.)Click here for more photos of the Ferrari 849 Testarossa Spider.Driving an example of the 1,036 hp Ferrari 849 Testarossa Spider.Best of Robb ReportThe 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine BeastThe World's Best Superyacht ShipyardsThe ABCs of Chartering a YachtSign up for RobbReports's Newsletter. 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