Ferrari Testarossa
Encyclopedia
The Ferrari Testarossa is a 12-cylinder mid-engine
sports car
manufactured by Ferrari
, which went into production in 1984 as the successor to the Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer
. The Pininfarina
-designed car was originally produced from 1984 to 1991, with two model revisions following the ending of Testarossa production and the introduction of the 512 TR and F512 M which were produced from 1992 to 1996. Almost 10,000 Testarossas, 512 TRs, and F512 Ms were produced, making it one of the most common Ferrari models, despite its high price and exotic design. In 1995, the F512 M retailed for $220,000. Testarossa means "redhead" in Italian.
The Testarossa is a two-door coupe
with a fixed roof that premiered at the 1984 Paris Auto Show. All versions of the Testarossa had the power fed through the wheels from a rear-mounted, five-speed manual transmission
. The Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout (engine between the axles but behind the cabin) keeps the centre of gravity in the middle of the car, which increases stability and improves the car's cornering ability, and thus results in a standing weight distribution
of 40% front: 60% rear. The original Testarossa was re-engineered for 1992 and released as the 512 TR, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, effectively as a completely new car, and an improved weight distribution of 41% front: 59% rear. The F512 M was introduced at the 1994 Paris Auto Show. The car dropped the TR initials and added the M which in Italian
stood for modificata, or translated to modified, and was the final version of the Testarossa, and continued its predecessor's weight distribution improvement of 42% front: 58% rear. The F512 M was Ferrari's last mid-engine 12-cylinder car, apart from the F50
and Ferrari Enzo
, featuring the company's last flat engine
. The Testarossa was replaced in 1996 by the front-engined
550 Maranello
coupe.
The vehicle should not be confused with the Ferrari TR
"Testa Rossa" of the late 1950s and early 1960s, which were GT sports cars
that ran in the World Sportscar Championship
, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans
.
The Testarossa name, which means "red head" in Italian
, comes from the red-painted cam covers on the flat-12
engine. The double entendre
with a red-headed
woman was intentional – Ferrari and Pininfarina regularly use descriptive terms related to a female's body when describing the style of their automobiles.
. The problems that the Testarossa was conceived to fix, included a cabin that got increasingly hot from the indoor plumbing that ran between the front-mounted radiator and the midships-mounted engine and a lack of luggage space. To fix these problems Ferrari
and Pininfarina designed the Testarossa to be larger than its predecessor, the Berlinetta Boxer
. For instance, at 1976 millimetres (78 in) wide the Testarossa was half a foot wider than the Boxer. This resulted in an increased wheelbase
that stretched about 64 mm (2.5 in) to 2550 mm (100.4 in) which was used to accommodate luggage in a carpeted storage space under the front forward-opening hood. The increase in length created extra storage space behind the seats in the cabin. Headroom was also increased with a roofline half an inch taller than the Boxer.
Pininfarina
's body was a departure from the curvaceous boxer -- one which caused some controversy. The side strakes sometimes referred to as "cheese graters" or "egg slicers," that spanned from the doors to the rear fenders were needed for rules in several countries outlawing large openings on cars. The Testarossa had twin radiators
in the back with the engine instead of a single radiator up-front. In conjunction the strakes provided cool air to the rear-mounted side radiators, thus keeping the engine from overheating. The strakes also made the Testarossa wider at the rear than in the front, thus increasing stability and handling.
One last unique addition to the new design was a single high mounted rear view mirror on the driver's side. On US based cars, the mirror was lowered to a more normal placement in 1987 and quickly joined by a passenger side rear view mirror for the driver to be able to make safe easy lane changes.
Like its predecessor, the Testarossa used double wishbone
front and rear suspension systems. Ferrari improved traction by adding 10-inch-wide alloy rear wheels. The Testarossa drivetrain was also an evolution of the BB 512i. Its engine used near identical displacement and compression ratio, but unlike the BB 512i had four-valve cylinder heads that were finished in red.
engine mid mounted. Each cylinder
has four valves
, with forty-eight valves total, lubricated via a dry sump
system, and a compression ratio
of 9.20:1. These combine to provide a maximum torque of 490 newton metres (361 ft·lbf) at 4500 rpm
and a maximum power of 291 kW at 6300 rpm. Early U.S. versions of the car had the same engine, but slightly less power with only 283 kW.
The Ferrari Testarossa can accelerate from 0–100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) in 5.3 seconds and from 0–60 miles per hour (97 km/h) in 5.2 seconds and on to 100 mph (161 km/h) in 11.40 seconds (though Motor Trend Magazine
managed 5.29 seconds and 11.3 seconds, respectively). It can complete a standing (from stationary) quarter mile (~400 m) in 13.50 seconds or a standing kilometre in 23.80 seconds. The maximum speed of the Testarossa is 290 kilometres per hour (180 mph).
and International versions. The tire code for the U.S. version of the vehicle had Goodyear
225/50 VR 16 and 255/50 VR 16 for the rear tires, whilst the tire codes for the international version had Michelin
TRX 240/45 VR 415 for the front tires and TRX 280/45 VR 415 for the rear tires. The front brakes have a diameter of 309 millimetres (12.17 in) and the rear brakes have a diameter of 310 millimetres (12.2 in).
magazine nine times in just five years. The price of the Testarossa in the US was $181,000 in 1989, including a $2,700 "gas-guzzler" tax
. The original selling price in the UK was £62,666.
Jack Nerad of Driving Today states, the Testarossa "... [was] a car designed and built to cash in on an image. And since cashing in was what the Eighties were all about, it was the perfect vehicle for its time. The saving grace was, it was also a damn good automobile."
Although successful on the road, the Testarossa did not appear on race tracks, unlike the BB 512i, which had done so with minor success.
As Ferrari's range-topper during the 1980s, the car made appearances in numerous video games, most notably the arcade games Out Run
and also in the TV series Miami Vice
, as Sonny Crockett's undercover car from season three. The car has subsequently become synonymous with 80s "yuppies" and is an icon of 80s retro culture. Its side strakes have became a popular aftermarket body component for wide arch aesthetic body kits. The strakes spawned knock-off treatments that were designed for cars such as the Pontiac Trans Am, and a wide variety of Japanese and american sporty cars and motorcycles such as the Honda VFR.
The Testarossa Spider, serial number 62897, is the sole official convertible
variant of the Testarossa commissioned by Ferrari
and designed by Pininfarina to be built. The car was specially made for the late Gianni Agnelli
, head of Fiat
at the time, as a gift. The Testarossa Spider had a silver exterior, a white magnolia leather interior with a dark blue stripe running above the matt black sills, and a white top that could be manually stowed away. The vehicle was delivered to Agnelli in 1986, and had a silver Ferrari logo on the hood instead of an aluminium one.
A second is in existence, which is rumoured to have been commissioned by the Sultan of Brunei. As of Aug 2011 it was for sale for $775,000 (USD). (http://ferraricollectionforsale.com/ferrari-testarossa-spider.html)
Many customers requested their own Testarossa Spider, but Ferrari declined every one of them for spatial and structural challenges that would be a challenge to resolve, and so Pininfarina
and other conversion firms had to make unofficial Spider conversions. The official Spider was no different mechanically than the normal Testarossas available in the European market. It had a standard 4.9 L 291 kW flat-12 engine. The only difference, other than being a convertible, was that the Spider's front window and door windows were both shorter than those of the normal car.
has four valves
, with forty-eight valves total, lubricated via a dry sump
system, and a compression ratio
of 10.00:1. These combine to provide a maximum torque of 491 newton metres (362 ft·lbf) at 5500 rpm and a maximum power of 319 kW at 6750 rpm.
The Ferrari 512 TR can accelerate from 0–97 kilometres per hour (60 mph) in 4.90 seconds and on to 161 km/h (100 mph) in 10.70 seconds. It can complete a standing (from stationary) quarter mile in 13.20 seconds or a standing kilometre in 23.40 seconds. The maximum speed the 512 TR can attain is 314 kilometres per hour (195 mph).
A recall was issued in 1995, regarding fuel hose
fitting issues. Over 400 models had this defect which was caused by variances in temperature and environment. Another recall was issued in relation to the passive restraint system on seat belt
s not functioning properly, on over 2,000 512TR's. If the restraint system suffered a mechanical or electrical failure only the lap belt would provide the occupant protection.
The 512 TR's engine was modified in many ways. Nikasil
liners were added, along with a new air intake system, Bosch
engine management system, larger intake valves, and a revised exhaust system. In addition to the higher peak power, the modifications delivered a more broad power curve for better acceleration.
Gearshifting effort, long a complaint about the Testarossa, was eased with a new single-plate clutch, sliding ball bearings, and better angle for the shifter. The braking system included larger front rotors and cross-drilling all around. Quicker steering, lower-profile tires, and new shock settings improved handling. Most importantly, engine and gearbox position was rethought, which improved the centre of gravity, aiding the handling and making the car less fearsome on the limit.
The interior was revised too, with the center console split from the dashboard, and the climate controls relocated. Pininfarina tweaked the body of the car to better integrate the spoilers and engine cover and update the design in line with the recently released 348
.
It cost US$
212,160 in 1992 with luxury items, the "gas-guzzler" taxes, and destination freight.
engine longitudinally mid mounted. This provides a maximum torque of 500 newton metres (369 ft·lbf) at 5500 rpm
and a maximum power of 328.1 kW at 6750 rpm. Each cylinder
has four valves
, for forty-eight valves total, lubricated via a dry sump
system, with a compression ratio
of 10.40:1. Due to new titanium
connecting rods and a new crankshaft
that together weigh 7.26 kilograms (16 lb) less than those that they replace, the engine can spin up to and thus tolerate 7500 rpm, its electronic cutoff limit.
The Ferrari F512 M can accelerate from 0–100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.70 seconds, on to 161 km/h (100 mph) in 10.20 seconds, and it can complete a standing (from stationary) quarter mile in 12.70 seconds or a standing kilometre in 22.70 seconds. The maximum speed of the F512 M is 315 kilometres per hour (196 mph).
s.
finish, the aluminum pedals are drilled, and air conditioning is now standard equipment. Carbon fiber
racing bucket seats are also available at no extra cost as they are only 14.97 kilograms (33 lb), much less than the standard seats. Pininfarina
and Ferrari flags line the dash board.
P Zero, with codes for the front wheels of 235/40 ZR 18 and 295/35 ZR 18 for the rear tires. The front brakes have a diameter of 315 millimetres (12.4 in) and the rear brakes have a diameter of 310 mm (12.2 in).
in 1989, the Testa d'Oro was designed to break land speed record
s. It was based on a Testarossa with a 5.0 Ferrari-Lotec twin-turbo
on its flat-12, outputting 750 hp at 4000 rpm and 900 newton metre at 5000 rpm. It successfully broke the record in its class in 1991, reaching 351 kilometre per hour with catalytic converters.
, it was a follow up to Zagato
's series of Ferrari specials.
Mid-engine design
A mid-engine layout describes the placement of an automobile engine between the rear and front axles. Another term for this is mid-ship.-Benefits:The mid-engine layout is typically chosen for its relatively favorable weight distribution...
sports car
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
manufactured by Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
, which went into production in 1984 as the successor to the Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer
Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer
A Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer is one of a series of cars produced by Ferrari in Italy between 1973 and 1984. They used a mid-mounted flat-12 engine, replacing the FR layout Daytona, and were succeeded in the Ferrari stable by the Testarossa. It was designed by Leonardo Fioravanti.Production of the...
. The Pininfarina
Pininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
-designed car was originally produced from 1984 to 1991, with two model revisions following the ending of Testarossa production and the introduction of the 512 TR and F512 M which were produced from 1992 to 1996. Almost 10,000 Testarossas, 512 TRs, and F512 Ms were produced, making it one of the most common Ferrari models, despite its high price and exotic design. In 1995, the F512 M retailed for $220,000. Testarossa means "redhead" in Italian.
The Testarossa is a two-door coupe
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
with a fixed roof that premiered at the 1984 Paris Auto Show. All versions of the Testarossa had the power fed through the wheels from a rear-mounted, five-speed manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
. The Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout (engine between the axles but behind the cabin) keeps the centre of gravity in the middle of the car, which increases stability and improves the car's cornering ability, and thus results in a standing weight distribution
Weight distribution
Weight distribution is the apportioning of weight within a vehicle, especially cars, airplanes, and trains.In a vehicle which relies on gravity in some way, weight distribution directly affects a variety of vehicle characteristics, including handling, acceleration, traction, and component life...
of 40% front: 60% rear. The original Testarossa was re-engineered for 1992 and released as the 512 TR, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, effectively as a completely new car, and an improved weight distribution of 41% front: 59% rear. The F512 M was introduced at the 1994 Paris Auto Show. The car dropped the TR initials and added the M which in Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
stood for modificata, or translated to modified, and was the final version of the Testarossa, and continued its predecessor's weight distribution improvement of 42% front: 58% rear. The F512 M was Ferrari's last mid-engine 12-cylinder car, apart from the F50
Ferrari F50
The Ferrari F50 is a mid-engined range-topping sports car made by Ferrari. The F50 was introduced in 1995 to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary. The car is a two door, two seat convertible with a removable hardtop...
and Ferrari Enzo
Enzo Ferrari (car)
The Enzo Ferrari is a 12 cylinder mid-engine berlinetta named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. It was built in 2002 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fibre body, F1-style electrohydraulic shift transmission, and Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide ceramic composite...
, featuring the company's last flat engine
Flat engine
A flat engine is an internal combustion engine with multiple pistons that move in a horizontal plane. Typically, the layout has cylinders arranged in two banks on either side of a single crankshaft and is sometimes known as the boxer, or horizontally opposed engine. The concept was patented in 1896...
. The Testarossa was replaced in 1996 by the front-engined
Front-engine design
A front-mounted engine describes the placement of an automobile engine in front of the vehicle passenger compartment.Historically, this designation was used regardless of whether or not the entire engine was behind the front axle line...
550 Maranello
Ferrari 550
The Ferrari 550 Maranello and 550 Barchetta are 2-seat grand tourers built by Ferrari. Introduced in 1996, the 550 was an upmarket front-engined V12 coupe of the kind not seen since the Daytona. It shared its platform and 5.5 L engine with the 2+2 456 but was positioned as the company's...
coupe.
The vehicle should not be confused with the Ferrari TR
Ferrari TR
The Ferrari TR, or 250 Testa Rossa, is a race car model built by Ferrari in the 1950s and 60s. These cars dominated their arenas, with variations winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1958, 1960, and 1961. They were closely related to the rest of the Ferrari 250 line, especially the legendary 250...
"Testa Rossa" of the late 1950s and early 1960s, which were GT sports cars
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
that ran in the World Sportscar Championship
World Sportscar Championship
The World Sportscar Championship was the world series run for sports car racing by the FIA from 1953 to 1992.The championship evolved from a small collection of the most important sportscar, endurance and road racing events in Europe and North America with dozens of gentleman drivers at the grid,...
, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
.
Name
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
, comes from the red-painted cam covers on the flat-12
Flat-12
A flat-12 is an internal combustion engine in a flat configuration, having 12 cylinders.The flat-12 is wider than a V12...
engine. The double entendre
Double entendre
A double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
with a red-headed
Red hair
Red hair occurs on approximately 1–2% of the human population. It occurs more frequently in people of northern or western European ancestry, and less frequently in other populations...
woman was intentional – Ferrari and Pininfarina regularly use descriptive terms related to a female's body when describing the style of their automobiles.
Development
The Testarossa can trace its roots back to the faults of the 1981 512i BBFerrari Berlinetta Boxer
A Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer is one of a series of cars produced by Ferrari in Italy between 1973 and 1984. They used a mid-mounted flat-12 engine, replacing the FR layout Daytona, and were succeeded in the Ferrari stable by the Testarossa. It was designed by Leonardo Fioravanti.Production of the...
. The problems that the Testarossa was conceived to fix, included a cabin that got increasingly hot from the indoor plumbing that ran between the front-mounted radiator and the midships-mounted engine and a lack of luggage space. To fix these problems Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
and Pininfarina designed the Testarossa to be larger than its predecessor, the Berlinetta Boxer
Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer
A Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer is one of a series of cars produced by Ferrari in Italy between 1973 and 1984. They used a mid-mounted flat-12 engine, replacing the FR layout Daytona, and were succeeded in the Ferrari stable by the Testarossa. It was designed by Leonardo Fioravanti.Production of the...
. For instance, at 1976 millimetres (78 in) wide the Testarossa was half a foot wider than the Boxer. This resulted in an increased wheelbase
Wheelbase
In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels.- Road :In automobiles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the center of the front wheel and the center of the rear wheel...
that stretched about 64 mm (2.5 in) to 2550 mm (100.4 in) which was used to accommodate luggage in a carpeted storage space under the front forward-opening hood. The increase in length created extra storage space behind the seats in the cabin. Headroom was also increased with a roofline half an inch taller than the Boxer.
Pininfarina
Pininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
's body was a departure from the curvaceous boxer -- one which caused some controversy. The side strakes sometimes referred to as "cheese graters" or "egg slicers," that spanned from the doors to the rear fenders were needed for rules in several countries outlawing large openings on cars. The Testarossa had twin radiators
Radiator (engine cooling)
Radiators are used for cooling internal combustion engines, mainly in automobiles but also in piston-engined aircraft, railway locomotives, motorcycles, stationary generating plant or any similar use of such an engine....
in the back with the engine instead of a single radiator up-front. In conjunction the strakes provided cool air to the rear-mounted side radiators, thus keeping the engine from overheating. The strakes also made the Testarossa wider at the rear than in the front, thus increasing stability and handling.
One last unique addition to the new design was a single high mounted rear view mirror on the driver's side. On US based cars, the mirror was lowered to a more normal placement in 1987 and quickly joined by a passenger side rear view mirror for the driver to be able to make safe easy lane changes.
Like its predecessor, the Testarossa used double wishbone
Double wishbone suspension
In automobiles, a double wishbone suspension is an independent suspension design using two wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each wishbone or arm has two mounting points to the chassis and one joint at the knuckle. The shock absorber and coil spring mount to the wishbones to control...
front and rear suspension systems. Ferrari improved traction by adding 10-inch-wide alloy rear wheels. The Testarossa drivetrain was also an evolution of the BB 512i. Its engine used near identical displacement and compression ratio, but unlike the BB 512i had four-valve cylinder heads that were finished in red.
Engine
The Testarossa sports a 4.9 litre (4943 cc) Ferrari Colombo flat-12Flat-12
A flat-12 is an internal combustion engine in a flat configuration, having 12 cylinders.The flat-12 is wider than a V12...
engine mid mounted. Each cylinder
Cylinder (engine)
A cylinder is the central working part of a reciprocating engine or pump, the space in which a piston travels. Multiple cylinders are commonly arranged side by side in a bank, or engine block, which is typically cast from aluminum or cast iron before receiving precision machine work...
has four valves
Poppet valve
A poppet valve is a valve consisting of a hole, usually round or oval, and a tapered plug, usually a disk shape on the end of a shaft also called a valve stem. The shaft guides the plug portion by sliding through a valve guide...
, with forty-eight valves total, lubricated via a dry sump
Dry sump
A dry sump is a lubricating motor oil management method for four-stroke and large two-stroke piston internal combustion engines that uses external pumps and a secondary external reservoir for oil, as compared to a conventional wet sump system....
system, and a compression ratio
Compression ratio
The 'compression ratio' of an internal-combustion engine or external combustion engine is a value that represents the ratio of the volume of its combustion chamber from its largest capacity to its smallest capacity...
of 9.20:1. These combine to provide a maximum torque of 490 newton metres (361 ft·lbf) at 4500 rpm
Revolutions per minute
Revolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis...
and a maximum power of 291 kW at 6300 rpm. Early U.S. versions of the car had the same engine, but slightly less power with only 283 kW.
The Ferrari Testarossa can accelerate from 0–100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) in 5.3 seconds and from 0–60 miles per hour (97 km/h) in 5.2 seconds and on to 100 mph (161 km/h) in 11.40 seconds (though Motor Trend Magazine
Motor Trend
Motor Trend is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, issued by Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, and bearing the tag line "The Magazine for a Motoring World". Petersen Publishing was sold to British publisher EMAP in 1998, who sold the former Petersen...
managed 5.29 seconds and 11.3 seconds, respectively). It can complete a standing (from stationary) quarter mile (~400 m) in 13.50 seconds or a standing kilometre in 23.80 seconds. The maximum speed of the Testarossa is 290 kilometres per hour (180 mph).
| Gear | Reverse | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ratio | 2.523:1 | 3.139:1 | 2.104:1 | 1.526:1 | 1.167:1 | 0.875:1 | 3.210:1 |
Wheels
The Testarossa has 16 inches (406 mm) wheels with a width of 8 inches (203.2 mm) at the front and 10 inches (254 mm) at the rear for both U.S.United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and International versions. The tire code for the U.S. version of the vehicle had Goodyear
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
225/50 VR 16 and 255/50 VR 16 for the rear tires, whilst the tire codes for the international version had Michelin
Michelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
TRX 240/45 VR 415 for the front tires and TRX 280/45 VR 415 for the rear tires. The front brakes have a diameter of 309 millimetres (12.17 in) and the rear brakes have a diameter of 310 millimetres (12.2 in).
Reception
The car won many comparison tests and admirers - it was featured on the cover of Road & TrackRoad & Track
Road & Track is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, and is published monthly. The editorial offices are located in Newport Beach, California.-History:...
magazine nine times in just five years. The price of the Testarossa in the US was $181,000 in 1989, including a $2,700 "gas-guzzler" tax
Energy Tax Act
The Energy Tax Act is a law passed by the U.S. Congress as part of the National Energy Act. The objective of this law was shift from oil and gas supply toward energy conservation; thus, to promote fuel efficiency and renewable energy through taxes and tax credits.- Tax credits for conservation...
. The original selling price in the UK was £62,666.
Jack Nerad of Driving Today states, the Testarossa "... [was] a car designed and built to cash in on an image. And since cashing in was what the Eighties were all about, it was the perfect vehicle for its time. The saving grace was, it was also a damn good automobile."
Although successful on the road, the Testarossa did not appear on race tracks, unlike the BB 512i, which had done so with minor success.
As Ferrari's range-topper during the 1980s, the car made appearances in numerous video games, most notably the arcade games Out Run
Out Run
is an arcade game released by Sega in 1986. It was designed by Yu Suzuki and Sega-AM2. The game was a critical and commercial success. It is notable for its innovative hardware , pioneering graphics and music, a choice in both soundtrack and route, and its strong theme of luxury and relaxation...
and also in the TV series Miami Vice
Miami Vice
Miami Vice is an American television series produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series starred Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as two Metro-Dade Police Department detectives working undercover in Miami. It ran for five seasons on NBC from 1984–1989...
, as Sonny Crockett's undercover car from season three. The car has subsequently become synonymous with 80s "yuppies" and is an icon of 80s retro culture. Its side strakes have became a popular aftermarket body component for wide arch aesthetic body kits. The strakes spawned knock-off treatments that were designed for cars such as the Pontiac Trans Am, and a wide variety of Japanese and american sporty cars and motorcycles such as the Honda VFR.
Testarossa Spider
The 1980s computer game Outrun, published by SEGA, famously featured a Ferrari Testarossa Spider. This is despite this not being a standard production vehicle.The Testarossa Spider, serial number 62897, is the sole official convertible
Convertible
A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
variant of the Testarossa commissioned by Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
and designed by Pininfarina to be built. The car was specially made for the late Gianni Agnelli
Gianni Agnelli
Giovanni Agnelli , better known as Gianni Agnelli , was an Italian industrialist and principal shareholder of Fiat. As the head of Fiat, he controlled 4.4% of Italy's GDP, 3.1% of its industrial workforce, and 16.5% of its industrial investment in research...
, head of Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
at the time, as a gift. The Testarossa Spider had a silver exterior, a white magnolia leather interior with a dark blue stripe running above the matt black sills, and a white top that could be manually stowed away. The vehicle was delivered to Agnelli in 1986, and had a silver Ferrari logo on the hood instead of an aluminium one.
A second is in existence, which is rumoured to have been commissioned by the Sultan of Brunei. As of Aug 2011 it was for sale for $775,000 (USD). (http://ferraricollectionforsale.com/ferrari-testarossa-spider.html)
Many customers requested their own Testarossa Spider, but Ferrari declined every one of them for spatial and structural challenges that would be a challenge to resolve, and so Pininfarina
Pininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
and other conversion firms had to make unofficial Spider conversions. The official Spider was no different mechanically than the normal Testarossas available in the European market. It had a standard 4.9 L 291 kW flat-12 engine. The only difference, other than being a convertible, was that the Spider's front window and door windows were both shorter than those of the normal car.
Engine
The 512 TR sports a 4.9 litre (4943 cc) Ferrari Colombo 180° v-12engine longitudinally mid mounted. Each cylinderCylinder (engine)
A cylinder is the central working part of a reciprocating engine or pump, the space in which a piston travels. Multiple cylinders are commonly arranged side by side in a bank, or engine block, which is typically cast from aluminum or cast iron before receiving precision machine work...
has four valves
Poppet valve
A poppet valve is a valve consisting of a hole, usually round or oval, and a tapered plug, usually a disk shape on the end of a shaft also called a valve stem. The shaft guides the plug portion by sliding through a valve guide...
, with forty-eight valves total, lubricated via a dry sump
Dry sump
A dry sump is a lubricating motor oil management method for four-stroke and large two-stroke piston internal combustion engines that uses external pumps and a secondary external reservoir for oil, as compared to a conventional wet sump system....
system, and a compression ratio
Compression ratio
The 'compression ratio' of an internal-combustion engine or external combustion engine is a value that represents the ratio of the volume of its combustion chamber from its largest capacity to its smallest capacity...
of 10.00:1. These combine to provide a maximum torque of 491 newton metres (362 ft·lbf) at 5500 rpm and a maximum power of 319 kW at 6750 rpm.
The Ferrari 512 TR can accelerate from 0–97 kilometres per hour (60 mph) in 4.90 seconds and on to 161 km/h (100 mph) in 10.70 seconds. It can complete a standing (from stationary) quarter mile in 13.20 seconds or a standing kilometre in 23.40 seconds. The maximum speed the 512 TR can attain is 314 kilometres per hour (195 mph).
| Gear | Reverse | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ratio | 2.428:1 | 2.916:1 | 1.882:1 | 1.421:1 | 1.087:1 | 0.815:1 | 3.45:1 |
A recall was issued in 1995, regarding fuel hose
Fuel line
A fuel line is a hose used to bring fuel from one point in a vehicle to another or from a storage tank to a vehicle. It is commonly made of reinforced rubber to prevent splitting and kinking....
fitting issues. Over 400 models had this defect which was caused by variances in temperature and environment. Another recall was issued in relation to the passive restraint system on seat belt
Seat belt
A seat belt or seatbelt, sometimes called a safety belt, is a safety harness designed to secure the occupant of a vehicle against harmful movement that may result from a collision or a sudden stop...
s not functioning properly, on over 2,000 512TR's. If the restraint system suffered a mechanical or electrical failure only the lap belt would provide the occupant protection.
The 512 TR's engine was modified in many ways. Nikasil
Nikasil
Nikasil is a trademarked electrodeposited lipophilic nickel matrix silicon carbide coating for engine components, mainly piston engine cylinder liners. It was introduced by Mahle in 1967, initially developed to allow rotary engine apex seals to work directly against the aluminum housing...
liners were added, along with a new air intake system, Bosch
Robert Bosch GmbH
Robert Bosch GmbH is a multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components...
engine management system, larger intake valves, and a revised exhaust system. In addition to the higher peak power, the modifications delivered a more broad power curve for better acceleration.
Gearshifting effort, long a complaint about the Testarossa, was eased with a new single-plate clutch, sliding ball bearings, and better angle for the shifter. The braking system included larger front rotors and cross-drilling all around. Quicker steering, lower-profile tires, and new shock settings improved handling. Most importantly, engine and gearbox position was rethought, which improved the centre of gravity, aiding the handling and making the car less fearsome on the limit.
The interior was revised too, with the center console split from the dashboard, and the climate controls relocated. Pininfarina tweaked the body of the car to better integrate the spoilers and engine cover and update the design in line with the recently released 348
Ferrari 348
The Ferrari 348 is a mid-engined, rear wheel drive V8-powered 2-seat sports car by Ferrari S.p.A., replacing the 328 in 1989 and continuing until 1995.- Overview :...
.
It cost US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
212,160 in 1992 with luxury items, the "gas-guzzler" taxes, and destination freight.
Wheels
The 512 TR has 18 inches (457 mm) wheels with a width of 8 in (203.2 mm) at the front and 10.5 in (266.7 mm) at the rear. The tire code for the front wheels are 235/40 ZR 18 and 295/35 ZR 18 for the rear tires. The front brakes have a diameter of 315 millimetres (12.4 in) and the rear brakes have a diameter of 310 mm (12.2 in).Engine
The F512 M sports a 4.9 litre (4943 cc) Ferrari Colombo Flat-12Flat-12
A flat-12 is an internal combustion engine in a flat configuration, having 12 cylinders.The flat-12 is wider than a V12...
engine longitudinally mid mounted. This provides a maximum torque of 500 newton metres (369 ft·lbf) at 5500 rpm
Revolutions per minute
Revolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis...
and a maximum power of 328.1 kW at 6750 rpm. Each cylinder
Cylinder (engine)
A cylinder is the central working part of a reciprocating engine or pump, the space in which a piston travels. Multiple cylinders are commonly arranged side by side in a bank, or engine block, which is typically cast from aluminum or cast iron before receiving precision machine work...
has four valves
Poppet valve
A poppet valve is a valve consisting of a hole, usually round or oval, and a tapered plug, usually a disk shape on the end of a shaft also called a valve stem. The shaft guides the plug portion by sliding through a valve guide...
, for forty-eight valves total, lubricated via a dry sump
Dry sump
A dry sump is a lubricating motor oil management method for four-stroke and large two-stroke piston internal combustion engines that uses external pumps and a secondary external reservoir for oil, as compared to a conventional wet sump system....
system, with a compression ratio
Compression ratio
The 'compression ratio' of an internal-combustion engine or external combustion engine is a value that represents the ratio of the volume of its combustion chamber from its largest capacity to its smallest capacity...
of 10.40:1. Due to new titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
connecting rods and a new crankshaft
Crankshaft
The crankshaft, sometimes casually abbreviated to crank, is the part of an engine which translates reciprocating linear piston motion into rotation...
that together weigh 7.26 kilograms (16 lb) less than those that they replace, the engine can spin up to and thus tolerate 7500 rpm, its electronic cutoff limit.
The Ferrari F512 M can accelerate from 0–100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.70 seconds, on to 161 km/h (100 mph) in 10.20 seconds, and it can complete a standing (from stationary) quarter mile in 12.70 seconds or a standing kilometre in 22.70 seconds. The maximum speed of the F512 M is 315 kilometres per hour (196 mph).
| Gear | Final Drive |
|---|---|
| Ratio | 3.31:1 |
Exterior
The front and rear lamps received a design change. The front lamps are now square framed lamps that are no longer hidden. The rear taillamps are round and the bumpers have been restyled to yield a more unified look for the F512 M. This car featured a different front lid with twin NACA ductNACA duct
A NACA duct also sometimes called a NACA scoop or NACA Inlet, is a common form of low-drag air inlet design, originally developed by the U.S. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics , the precursor to NASA, in 1945....
s.
Interior
The F512 M's interior received a minor update from the 512 TR. The gearshift knob now has a chromedChrome plating
Chrome plating, often referred to simply as chrome, is a technique of electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto a metal object. The chromed layer can be decorative, provide corrosion resistance, ease cleaning procedures, or increase surface hardness.-Process:A component to be chrome plated will...
finish, the aluminum pedals are drilled, and air conditioning is now standard equipment. Carbon fiber
Carbon fiber
Carbon fiber, alternatively graphite fiber, carbon graphite or CF, is a material consisting of fibers about 5–10 μm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber...
racing bucket seats are also available at no extra cost as they are only 14.97 kilograms (33 lb), much less than the standard seats. Pininfarina
Pininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
and Ferrari flags line the dash board.
Wheels
The F512 M has 18 inches (457 mm) wheels with a width of 8 inches (203.2 mm) for front and 10.5 inches (266.7 mm) for the rears. The tires are PirelliPirelli
Pirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy. The company, the world’s fifth largest tyre manufacturer, is present in over 160 countries, has 20 manufacturing sites around the world and a network of around 10,000 distributors and retailers.Founded in Milan in 1872,...
P Zero, with codes for the front wheels of 235/40 ZR 18 and 295/35 ZR 18 for the rear tires. The front brakes have a diameter of 315 millimetres (12.4 in) and the rear brakes have a diameter of 310 mm (12.2 in).
Colani Ferrari Testa d'Oro
Designed by Luigi ColaniLuigi Colani
Luigi Colani, , is a German industrial designer whose father came from Madulain near St. Moritz in Switzerland....
in 1989, the Testa d'Oro was designed to break land speed record
Land speed record
The land speed record is the highest speed achieved by a wheeled vehicle on land. There is no single body for validation and regulation; in practice the Category C flying start regulations are used, officiated by regional or national organizations under the auspices of the Fédération...
s. It was based on a Testarossa with a 5.0 Ferrari-Lotec twin-turbo
Twin-turbo
Twin-turbo refers to a turbocharged engine, in which two turbochargers compress the intake charge. There are two commonly used twin turbo configurations: parallel twin-turbo and sequential twin-turbo...
on its flat-12, outputting 750 hp at 4000 rpm and 900 newton metre at 5000 rpm. It successfully broke the record in its class in 1991, reaching 351 kilometre per hour with catalytic converters.
FZ93
The FZ93 (Formula Zagato '93) was designed by Ercole SpadaErcole Spada
Ercole Spada is an Italian automobile designer. His most notable designs were made in the 1960s, for the Zagato design studio house, where Spada was chief stylist...
, it was a follow up to Zagato
Zagato
Zagato is a design consultancy and engineering services company situated just outside Milan, Italy.The company's premises occupy an area of , of which are covered....
's series of Ferrari specials.
External links
- Official Ferrari website with information on the Testarossa