The
Ferrari Testarossa (Type F110) 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 Mwhich were produced from 1992 to 1996. Almost 10,000 Testarossas, 512 TRs, and F512 Ms were produced, making it one of the most-produced Ferrari models, despite its high price and exotic design.
[3][4] In 1995, the F512 M retailed for $220,000 (£136,500).
[5]The Testarossa is a two-door
coupe with a fixed roof that premiered at the 1984 Paris Auto Show.
[6] 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.
[3] 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,
[4] and an improved weight distribution of 41% front: 59% rear.
[7] The F512 M was introduced at the 1994
Paris Auto Show.
[4] 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,
[4][6] and continued its predecessor's weight distribution improvement of 42% front: 58% rear.
[8] The F512 M was Ferrari's last
mid-engine 12-cylinder car, apart from the
F50,
Ferrari Enzo and
LaFerrari, featuring the company's last
flat engine. The Testarossa was replaced in 1996 by the
front-engined 550 Maranello coupe.
Via: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrari_Testarossa
